Far side airbag device

Abstract

To provide a far-side airbag device which can prevent an air bag from moving an occupant to the vehicle width direction outer side.SOLUTION: A far-side airbag device in which an air bag expands and spreads between an occupant seated on a vehicle seat and a console box comprises: an inflator which is attached to a side frame and generates gas; and a bag-like air bag which expands and spreads with the gas in the activation of the inflator to protect the side part of the occupant. The air bag comprises: an occupant side base cloth and a center side base cloth which are respectively located on the occupant side and the opposite side in the expansion and spread of the air bag; and a thickness suppression part which joins the occupant side base cloth and the center side base cloth to each other and suppresses thickness in the vehicle width direction of the air bag in the expansion and spread of the air bag. The thickness suppression part is located on the vehicle lower side with respect to the upper surface of the console box in the expansion and spread of the air bag.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a far side airbag device, and more particularly to a far side airbag device that inflates and deploys on the vehicle widthwise inner side of an occupant in the event of a side collision of a vehicle such as an automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] A side airbag device is known that inflates and deploys an airbag between the side of a console box and the side of the occupant, including the waist area, and restricts the movement of the airbag when it catches the occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In addition, a vehicle seat in which a typical occupant sits has a side airbag device attached to the side frame of the seat back, and the side frame is covered with a seat cover with a cushion pad interposed between it and the occupant (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 to 4).

[0004] Patent Document 5 discloses a side airbag device that inflates and deploys on the outer side of an occupant in the vehicle width direction in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-77216 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-026161 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-090226 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-132086 [Patent Document 5] International Publication No. 2016 / 152245 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a far side airbag device according to a comparative embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, showing the initial state. Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a far side airbag device according to a comparative embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and when the airbag is restraining the occupant).

[0007] As shown in FIG. 9, a typical far side airbag device 100 is attached by fixing an inflator 110 to a side frame 133 of a seat back 131 of a vehicle seat 130, and the side frame 133 is covered by a seat cover (not shown) with a cushion pad 134 interposed between it and the occupant 40.

[0008] 10 , when the airbag 120 is inflated and deployed by gas from the inflator 110, the cushion pad 134 of the seat back 131 and the inflated and deployed airbag 120 are interposed between the waist 42 of the occupant 40 and the console box 160, and therefore the following are positioned on the side of the console box 160 from the inside in the vehicle width direction: console box 160, airbag 120, cushion pad 134, and occupant 40 (waist 42). Therefore, the inflated airbag 120, whose deployment position is restricted by the console box 160, pushes the cushion pad 134, and the occupant 40 itself moves outward in the vehicle width direction and comes into contact with the near-side airbag or the door trim, which may impose a load on the occupant 40.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and aims to provide a far side airbag device that can prevent the airbag from moving the occupant outward in the vehicle width direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is a far side airbag device in which an airbag is inflated and deployed between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, the vehicle seat having a seatback that supports the back of the occupant, the seatback having side frames that fix the far side airbag device, and a cushion pad provided between the side frames and the occupant, the far side airbag device being attached to the side frames and including an inflator that generates gas, and a bag-shaped airbag that inflates and deploys with the gas when an inflator is activated to protect the side of the occupant, the airbag having an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric that are located on the occupant side and the opposite side, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and a thickness suppression portion that joins the occupant-side base fabric and the central-side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion being located below the upper surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

[0011] Another aspect of the present invention is a far side airbag device in which an airbag inflates and deploys between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, the vehicle seat having a seatback that supports the back of the occupant, the seatback having side frames that secure the far side airbag device, and a cushion pad provided between the side frames and the occupant, the far side airbag device having an inflator attached to the side frames and generating gas, and a bag-shaped airbag that inflates and deploys with the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the side of the occupant, the airbag having an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric that are positioned respectively on the occupant side and the opposite side when the airbag inflates and deploys, and a thickness suppression portion that joins the occupant-side base fabric and the central-side base fabric to each other and suppresses a thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag inflates and deploys, the thickness suppression portion being provided in a position that overlaps at least the cushion pad when the airbag is inflated and deployed as viewed from the side of the vehicle.

[0012] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a far side airbag device in which an airbag is inflated and deployed between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, the vehicle seat having a seatback that supports the back of the occupant, the seatback having side frames that fix the far side airbag device, and a cushion pad provided between the side frames and the occupant, the far side airbag device being attached to the side frames and including an inflator that generates gas, and a bag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the side of the occupant. and an airbag having a shape similar to that of a cushion pad, wherein the airbag has an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric that are located on the occupant side and the opposite side, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and a thickness suppression portion that joins the occupant-side base fabric and the central-side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, wherein the thickness suppression portion is located below the upper surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and is provided in a position that overlaps with at least the cushion pad when viewed from the side of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a far side airbag device that can prevent the airbag from moving the occupant outward in the vehicle width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a far side airbag device according to a first embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the far side airbag device in an initial state. [Figure 2] 2 is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the front of the vehicle. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the far side airbag device shown in FIG. 1 taken along line AA. [Figure 4]This is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device of embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat as seen from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. [Figure 6] 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the far side airbag device according to the first embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, showing the airbag immediately after inflation and deployment, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the far side airbag device according to the first embodiment attached to a vehicle seat, showing the early stage of inflation and deployment of the airbag, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the far side airbag device of embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat, showing the airbag when it is inflated and deployed (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining an occupant), and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a far side airbag device according to a comparative example attached to a vehicle seat, showing the initial state. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a far side airbag device according to a comparative example attached to a vehicle seat, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining an occupant). FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Unless otherwise specified, directions in this specification are based on the vehicle, and the arrow FR shown as appropriate in each drawing indicates the front direction of the vehicle, the arrow RE indicates the rear direction of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper direction of the vehicle, the arrow DOWN indicates the lower direction of the vehicle, the arrow IN indicates the inner direction in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow OUT indicates the outer direction in the vehicle width direction. Note that members arranged inside the vehicle seat are illustrated in a perspective view of the vehicle seat.

[0016] [Embodiment 1] A far side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a far side airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the initial state of the far side airbag device. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the front of the vehicle. Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the far side airbag device shown in Fig. 1 taken along line AA.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a far side airbag device 1 of the first embodiment is fixed to a vehicle seat (vehicle seat) 30.

[0019] The vehicle seat 30 includes a seat back (backrest portion) 31 that supports the back of the occupant 40, and the seat back 31 has a seat frame 32 that functions as the framework of the entire seat back 31, and the seat frame 32 includes side frames 33 that are located on the sides of the seat back 31. A far side airbag device 1 is fixed to the side frame 33, and a cushion pad 34 is provided between the side frame 33 and the occupant 40.

[0020] The vehicle seat 30 may be, for example, a driver's seat, a passenger seat, or the like of a vehicle.

[0021] The far side airbag device 1 includes an inflator 10 and an airbag 20.

[0022] In this specification, the term "initial state" refers to the state before the inflator is activated, i.e., before the airbag is inflated and deployed.

[0023] The inflator 10 is provided inside the airbag 20. The inflator 10 is a cylindrical (columnar) gas generating device, and is arranged along the extension direction (height direction) of the seatback 31. A pair of bolts 10a protrudes from the top and bottom of the inflator 10, and the pair of bolts 10a penetrates the airbag 20. The inflator 10 is fixed to a side frame 33 on the side of the seatback 31 (the side on the inner side in the vehicle width direction) by this pair of bolts 10a.

[0024] The inflator 10 is activated when the vehicle experiences a side collision. Specifically, when a collision detection sensor mounted on the vehicle detects a side collision of the vehicle, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) calculates a signal sent from the collision detection sensor and determines the level of the collision. If the determined level of the collision corresponds to a level that requires the airbag 20 to be inflated, the inflator 10 is ignited, and gas is generated by a chemical reaction caused by the combustion of the internal explosive. As a result, the gas generated from the inflator 10 is ejected from a gas ejection hole 10b provided at the upper end of the inflator 10 and introduced into the airbag 20.

[0025] The type of inflator 10 is not particularly limited, and examples include a pyrotechnic inflator that uses gas generated by burning a gas generating agent, a stored inflator that uses compressed gas, and a hybrid inflator that uses a mixture of gas generated by burning a gas generating agent and compressed gas.

[0026] The airbag 20 is bag-shaped and is fixed in a folded state to the side frame 33 before the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed, and is stored together with the cushion pad 34 covered by a seat cover (skin, not shown) of the seat back 31.

[0027] The airbag 20 is held in a predetermined shape by a fixing member such as tape, and then fixed to a synthetic resin cover 11, thereby maintaining the outer shape of the far side airbag device 1 in a predetermined shape, in this case an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0028] In this embodiment, a World Side Impact Dummy (World-SID) 40 is seated in a vehicle seat 30. The seating posture of the World-SID dummy 40 is determined by the side impact test method (ECE R95) currently adopted in Japan and Europe or the side impact test method (FMVSS214) currently adopted in the United States. The position and size of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed (hereinafter simply referred to as when inflated and deployed) are set according to the positions of the torso 41, waist 42, head 43, arms 44, shoulders 45, etc. of the World-SID dummy 40 as shown in FIG. 1 . In this specification, the World-SID dummy 40 is referred to as the "occupant 40."

[0029] In addition, in this specification, "when the airbag is inflated and deployed" means any point in time or any period during the period from when the inflator is activated until when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment), and may be, for example, the period from when the inflator is activated until when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment), or the time when the airbag is fully inflated and deployed (full deployment). Furthermore, multiple "times when the airbag is inflated and deployed" described in this specification may be the same point in time or period, or may be different points in time and / or periods.

[0030] The vehicle side wall 50 is not particularly limited to any part of the vehicle body located on the outer side of the vehicle width direction (opposite the console box 60) of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and collectively refers to the side door, pillar, side window, etc.

[0031] The console box 60 is provided on the inner side of the vehicle seat 30 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the console box 60 is provided between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The console box 60 may function as an armrest that supports the arms 44 of the occupant 40 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat as viewed from the side of the vehicle, showing the airbag inflating and deploying (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and the airbag is restraining the occupant). Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the far side airbag device shown in Fig. 4 as viewed from the front of the vehicle.

[0033] When the vehicle collides with an obstacle (e.g., another vehicle) in a side collision, specifically, when the obstacle collides with the vehicle side wall 50 opposite in the vehicle width direction (when the vehicle seat 30 is the driver's seat, the vehicle body portion located on the outer side of the passenger seat in the vehicle width direction), the inflator 10 is activated. Gas generated from the inflator 10 is introduced into the airbag 20, and the airbag 20 inflates while unfolding. When the seat cover of the seat back 31 is torn from a predetermined position by the force applied by the inflated airbag 20, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys above the console box 60 and to the side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , to protect the side of the occupant 40. The airbag 20 that inflates and deploys in this manner is also called a far-side airbag.

[0034] 4 and 5, the airbag 20 has an occupant-side base cloth 21, a central-side base cloth 22, and an intermediate base cloth 23. When inflated and deployed, the occupant-side base cloth 21 is located on the occupant 40 side, the central-side base cloth 22 is located on the opposite side of the occupant 40, and the intermediate base cloth 23 is located between the occupant-side base cloth 21 and the central-side base cloth 22. The occupant-side base cloth 21 and the central-side base cloth 22 are both substantially rectangular base cloths, and have substantially the same width in the vehicle longitudinal direction, while the width of the central-side base cloth 22 in the vehicle height direction is larger. One intermediate base fabric 23 is provided on each side of the airbag 20 in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the outer peripheral edge of the occupant-side base fabric 21 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and one outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23 are joined along a joining line (for example, a sewing line), and the outer peripheral edge of the central-side base fabric 22 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the other outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23 are joined along a joining line (for example, a sewing line). Thereafter, by joining the outer peripheral edge of the occupant-side base fabric 21 in the vehicle vertical direction and the outer peripheral edge of the central-side base fabric 22 in the vehicle vertical direction, the airbag 20 is formed into a three-dimensional bag shape as a whole when inflated and deployed.

[0035] Here, the "base fabric" refers to the fabric that defines the outer shape of the airbag when inflated and deployed.

[0036] For example, fabric woven with yarns of nylon 66, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), etc. is used as each base fabric constituting the airbag 20. The surface of this fabric may be coated with an inorganic material such as silicon in order to improve heat resistance, airtightness, etc.

[0037] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the occupant-side base cloth 21 is disposed in an area extending from the waist 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, via the torso 41, to the head 43 during inflation and deployment. The central-side base cloth 22 is stretched from a position corresponding to the waist 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30 along the side surface 61 and top surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment, and is then disposed in an area extending via the torso 41 to the head 43. The intermediate base cloth 23 has a protrusion 23a above the console box 60 when viewed from the front and rear of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. Therefore, the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction during inflation and deployment varies at the protrusion 23a, and the thickness is thicker in the area corresponding to the protrusion 23a. Note that the outer peripheral edge of the occupant-side base cloth 21 and the outer peripheral edge of the central base cloth 22 may be joined without providing the intermediate base cloth 23, and the protrusion 23a may be omitted.

[0038] The airbag 20 inflates and deploys to have a torso protection section 24, a lumbar protection section 25, and a head protection section 26. The torso protection section 24 inflates and deploys to the side of a torso 41 of an occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and comes into contact with the torso 41. The lumbar protection section 25 inflates and deploys between a lumbar region 42 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30 and a side surface 61 of the console box 60. The head protection section 26 inflates and deploys to the side of a head 43 of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30, and comes into contact with the head 43.

[0039] In the event of a side collision of the vehicle, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys, and the torso protection section 24 receives the torso 41 of the occupant 40, i.e., the portion below the shoulders 45, thereby restraining the occupant 40. The lumbar protection section 25 receives the lumbar region 42 of the occupant 40, thereby restraining the lumbar region 42, and the head protection section 26 receives the head 43 of the occupant 40, thereby restraining the head 43. At this time, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occupant 40 from being pressed by the airbag 20 and moving outward in the vehicle width direction. This will be described in detail below.

[0040] 4, the airbag 20 has a thickness restriction portion 27 that joins the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 together, and the thickness restriction portion 27 restricts the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed. That is, the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed is smaller at the thickness restriction portion 27 than at either side of the thickness restriction portion 27. Here, the thickness restriction portion 27 is a joining line 27a (e.g., a sewing line) that directly joins the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 together, and the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction at the thickness restriction portion 27 when inflated and deployed is substantially zero.

[0041] The joining method is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include sewing, adhesion, welding, and combinations thereof, with sewing being preferred.

[0042] This embodiment has a structural feature in the location where the thickness suppressing portion 27 is disposed.

[0043] 4, the thickness restriction portion 27 is located below the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 when inflated and deployed. In other words, when viewed from the side of the vehicle when inflated and deployed, the thickness restriction portion 27 is located within a region below the contour line that defines the upper surface 62 of the console box 60, and may be contained within the arrangement region of the console box 60.

[0044] 4, the thickness restriction portion 27 is provided at a position overlapping at least the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. That is, at least a portion of the thickness restriction portion 27 is provided so as to overlap with the cushion pad 34 protruding from the seat cover when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. As a result, at least a portion of the thickness restriction portion 27 and the cushion pad 34 protruding from the seat cover are aligned in the vehicle width direction during inflation and deployment.

[0045] Furthermore, when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, the thickness restricting portion 27 is provided from a position where it overlaps with the cushion pad 34 to extend toward the vehicle front of the cushion pad 34. Here, when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, one end 27b of the thickness restricting portion 27 overlaps with the cushion pad 34, and the thickness restricting portion 27 extends from the end 27b toward the vehicle front to an area where it does not overlap with the cushion pad 34.

[0046] Furthermore, thickness restriction portion 27 has a serpentine shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. Here, thickness restriction portion 27 extends from one end 27b toward the front of the vehicle, then changes direction in a U-shape toward the rear of the vehicle, and finally extends downward toward the bottom of the vehicle.

[0047] In addition, "the thickness suppression portion meanders" refers to a state in which, when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, the thickness suppression portion is extended so as to bend alternately clockwise and counterclockwise from one end to the other, and the number of times it bends clockwise and the number of times it bends counterclockwise are not particularly limited, as long as they are at least once each.

[0048] Furthermore, the thickness restriction portion 27 intersects with the lower edge 28 of the airbag 20. Here, the "lower edge of the airbag" refers to the edge of the airbag that is located below the vehicle when inflated and deployed.

[0049] More specifically, when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, one end 27b of the thickness control portion 27 overlaps with the cushion pad 34, and the thickness control portion 27 extends from the end 27b toward the front of the vehicle to an area where it does not overlap with the cushion pad 34, then changes direction in a U-shape toward the rear of the vehicle, and then extends toward the bottom of the vehicle to intersect with the lower edge 28 of the airbag 20.

[0050] 4, the thickness restriction portion 27 and the inflator 10 are positioned such that the gas outlet holes 10b are located above the vehicle when the inflator 10 is inflated and deployed. That is, when viewed from the side of the vehicle when the inflator 10 is inflated and deployed, the thickness restriction portion 27 is contained within an area located below the vehicle when the gas outlet holes 10b are inflated and deployed.

[0051] The thickness suppression portion 27 is provided at a position corresponding to the waist 42 of the occupant 40 when inflated and deployed. In other words, at least a portion of the thickness suppression portion 27 is provided at a position overlapping the waist 42 of the occupant 40 when viewed from the side of the vehicle when inflated and deployed.

[0052] Next, the operation of the far side airbag device according to embodiment 1, particularly the behavior of the area around thickness suppression portion 27 during inflation and deployment, will be described using Figures 3 and 6 to 8. Figures 6 to 8 are cross-sectional schematic diagrams of the far side airbag device according to embodiment 1 attached to a vehicle seat, and correspond to the cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 3. Figure 6 shows the airbag immediately after inflation and deployment, Figure 7 shows the airbag in the early stage of inflation and deployment, and Figure 8 shows the airbag during inflation and deployment (particularly after inflation and deployment is complete and when the airbag is restraining the occupant).

[0053] As shown in FIG. 3, in the initial state, the airbag 20 is folded and the inflator 10 is fixed to the side frame 33, and the far side airbag device 1 is stored together with the cushion pad 34 covered by the seat cover of the seat back 31.

[0054] In the initial state, the airbag 20 is folded into a rectangular parallelepiped shape by folding the upper part of the airbag 20 downward in the center of the vehicle in the vertical direction, folding the lower end of the airbag 20 upward, and then rolling it from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0055] When the inflator 10 is activated, as shown in Fig. 6, gas flows into the airbag 20 from the gas outlet holes 10b (see Fig. 1, etc.) of the inflator 10, causing the airbag 20 to begin to inflate, and the seat cover of the seat back 31 is broken by the force applied by the inflated airbag 20. Then, as shown in Fig. 7, the airbag 20 jumps out of the seat cover toward the front of the vehicle, and the cushion pad 34 is pushed by the airbag 20 to deploy (expand) toward the front of the vehicle.

[0056] However, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment, the area around the inflator 10 inflates and deploys first, as shown in Fig. 7. Therefore, in the initial stage of inflation and deployment, the area of ​​the thickness restriction portion 27 on the vehicle rear side inflates and deploys, but the area of ​​the thickness restriction portion 27 on the vehicle front side has not yet inflated and remains in a rolled-up state.

[0057] When gas is further supplied into the airbag 20 from the inflator 10, the airbag 20 unfolds and inflates toward the front and upper sides of the vehicle, and as shown in Figures 4 and 8, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys above the console box 60 and to the side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30.

[0058] 8, the following order is positioned on the side of the console box 60 from the inside in the vehicle width direction: the console box 60, the airbag 20, the cushion pad 34, and the occupant 40 (hips 42). However, in this embodiment, due to the presence of the thickness suppressing portion 27 as described above, the cushion pad 34 is suppressed from being pushed by the airbag 20 and moving outward in the vehicle width direction, and the cushion pad 34 can be suppressed from unnecessarily pushing the occupant 40 outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0059] As described above, in this embodiment, the thickness restriction portion 27 is located below the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment, and therefore the cushion pad 34 and the airbag 20, the thickness of which is restricted by the thickness restriction portion 27, can be accommodated in the space between the side of the console box 60 and the occupant 40 during inflation and deployment. Furthermore, the thickness restriction portion 27 is provided in a position that overlaps with at least the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, and therefore the thickness of the airbag 20 can be restricted in the region where the cushion pad 34 is interposed between the airbag 20 and the occupant 40. Therefore, the airbag 20 can effectively restrict the occupant 40 from moving outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the gas ejection holes 10b are preferably located higher than the thickness limiting portion 27 when the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed. This allows the gas ejected from the gas ejection holes 10b to flow into the interior of the airbag 20 without being blocked by the thickness limiting portion 27, thereby enabling the airbag 20 to be smoothly unfolded. That is, the airbag 20 can be inflated and deployed early at a position where it does not overlap with the cushion pad 34 and the console box 60. Furthermore, at a position that is further forward than the cushion pad 34 and overlaps with the console box 60, the gas can flow in so as to avoid the thickness limiting portion 27, as shown in FIG. 4 . This prevents the cushion pad from being forcefully pushed open in the narrow space between the console box 60 and the side of the occupant 40.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the thickness restricting portion 27 is preferably provided from a position overlapping with the cushion pad 34 to a position forward of the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. This allows the thickness restricting portion 27 to restrict the thickness of the airbag 20 over a wide range.

[0062] In this embodiment, the thickness restriction portion 27 preferably has a serpentine shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment, which also enables the thickness restriction portion 27 to restrict the thickness of the airbag 20 over a wide range.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it is preferable that the thickness restriction portion 27 intersects with the lower edge 28 of the airbag 20. As a result, during inflation and deployment, the airbag 20 first inflates rearward of the thickness restriction portion 27, and the airbag 20 quickly deploys into the narrow space between the console box 60 and the side of the occupant 40. Thereafter, as the airbag 20 inflates and deploys, gas flows from the inflator 10 toward the vehicle front side of the thickness restriction portion 27. Therefore, the airbag 20 can effectively prevent the occupant 40 from moving outward in the vehicle width direction not only after inflation and deployment is complete but also in the early stages of inflation and deployment.

[0064] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the thickness suppression portion 27 is preferably provided at a position corresponding to the waist 42 of the occupant 40 when the airbag 20 is inflated and deployed. When the airbag 20 presses against the waist 42 of the occupant 40 and moves the occupant 40 from the waist 42 outward in the vehicle width direction, the entire upper body of the occupant 40 moves outward in the vehicle width direction, making the occupant 40 more likely to come into contact with a near-side airbag (a side airbag on the vehicle side wall 50 side) that inflates and deploys on the outer side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 30 in the vehicle width direction, or with the door trim. Therefore, by providing the thickness suppression portion 27 at a position corresponding to the waist 42 and restricting the thickness of the airbag 20, it is possible to more effectively suppress the movement of the occupant 40 outward in the vehicle width direction.

[0065] Other modifications of this embodiment will be described below.

[0066] The above describes a case where the thickness restriction portion 27 (1) is located below the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment, and (2) is located at a position that overlaps with at least the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. However, the far side airbag device 1 may satisfy only one of the characteristics (1) or (2). For example, the thickness restriction portion 27 (3) may be located not below the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment (i.e., at least a portion of the thickness restriction portion 27 is located above the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment), and may be located at a position that overlaps with at least the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. Furthermore, the thickness restriction portion 27 (4) may be located below the upper surface 62 of the console box 60 during inflation and deployment, and may not be located at a position that overlaps with the cushion pad 34 when viewed from the side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment. In these cases, the airbag 20 can prevent the occupant 40 from moving outward in the vehicle width direction, as in the above-mentioned case. However, to more effectively obtain this effect, it is preferable that the far side airbag device 1 has both features (1) and (2).

[0067] In the present embodiment, at least a portion of the thickness suppression portion 27 may be a fabric (for example, a strip-shaped tether) that indirectly joins the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 to each other. However, from the viewpoint of productivity and from the viewpoint of effectively suppressing the thickness of the airbag 20 in the vehicle width direction at the thickness suppression portion 27 during inflation and deployment, it is preferable that the thickness suppression portion 27 (more preferably the entire thickness suppression portion 27) be a joining line 27a (for example, a sewing line) that directly joins the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 to each other, as described above.

[0068] Although the above description has been given of the case where the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 are made of different base fabrics, in the present embodiment, the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 may be made of a single piece of base fabric. For example, the airbag 20 may be formed by folding a single piece of base fabric in half, making the folded portion the lower edge 28 of the airbag 20, and joining the intermediate base fabric 23 to the outer peripheral edge of the folded base fabric in a region excluding the lower edge 28.

[0069] In the above description, one intermediate base fabric 23 is provided in each of the vehicle longitudinal directions of the airbag 20. However, in the present embodiment, the intermediate base fabric 23 may be formed into a cylindrical shape by joining both longitudinal ends of a single strip-shaped base fabric. In this case, the outer peripheral edges of both the occupant-side base fabric 21 and the central-side base fabric 22 in the vehicle vertical direction are joined to the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate base fabric 23. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 1, 100: Far side airbag device 10, 110: Inflator 10a: Bolt 10b: Gas vent 11: Cover 20, 120: Airbag 21: Passenger side base fabric 22: Center side base fabric 23: Intermediate base fabric 23a: Convex part 24: Torso protection part 25: Waist protection part 26:Head protection part 27: Thickness control section 27a: Joint line 27b: End 28: Lower edge 30, 130: Vehicle seats 31, 131: Seat back (backrest) 32: Seat frame 33, 133: Side frame 34, 134: Cushion pad 40: Occupant (Internationally Harmonized Side Impact Dummy) 41: Torso 42: Lower back 43:Head 44: Arm 45:Shoulder 50: Vehicle side wall 60, 160: Console box 61: Side 62:Top surface

Claims

1. A far side airbag device inflates and deploys an airbag between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other at least at a position away from the respective outer peripheral edges and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the thickness restricting portion is located below the upper surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

2. A far side airbag device in which an airbag is inflated and deployed between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion is located below an upper surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the inflator has a gas ejection hole through which the gas is ejected when activated, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the gas ejection hole is located higher on the vehicle than the thickness restricting portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

3. A far side airbag device in which an airbag is inflated and deployed between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion is located below an upper surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the thickness restriction portion intersects with a lower edge of the airbag.

4. A far side airbag device inflates and deploys an airbag between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion is provided at a position overlapping at least with the cushion pad when viewed from a side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment of the airbag, the inflator has a gas ejection hole through which the gas is ejected when activated, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the gas ejection hole is located higher on the vehicle than the thickness restricting portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

5. A far side airbag device in which an airbag is inflated and deployed between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion is provided at a position overlapping at least with the cushion pad when viewed from a side of the vehicle during inflation and deployment of the airbag, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the thickness restriction portion intersects with a lower edge of the airbag.

6. A far side airbag device inflates and deploys an airbag between an occupant seated in a vehicle seat and a console box, The vehicle seat includes a seat back that supports the back of the occupant, The seat back includes a side frame that fixes the far side airbag device; a cushion pad provided between the side frame and the occupant, The far side airbag device includes an inflator attached to the side frame and configured to generate gas; a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas when the inflator is activated to protect the sides of the occupant, The airbag includes an occupant-side base fabric and a central-side base fabric, which are positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side thereof, respectively, when the airbag is inflated and deployed; a thickness suppressing portion that joins the occupant side base fabric and the central side base fabric to each other and suppresses the thickness of the airbag in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the thickness suppression portion is located below the vehicle surface of the console box when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and is provided in a position that overlaps with at least the cushion pad when viewed from the side of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

7. The far side airbag device according to claim 1 or 6, the inflator has a gas ejection hole through which the gas is ejected when activated, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the gas ejection hole is located higher on the vehicle than the thickness restricting portion when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

8. 8. The far side airbag device according to claim 1, 2, 4, 6 or 7, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the thickness restriction portion intersects with a lower edge of the airbag.

9. The far side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the thickness restriction portion is provided from a position overlapping with the cushion pad to a position forward of the cushion pad when viewed from the side of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

10. The far side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The far side airbag device, wherein the thickness restriction portion is serpentine when viewed from the side of the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

11. The far side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, The far side airbag device is characterized in that the thickness restricting portion is provided at a position corresponding to the lumbar region of the occupant when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

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