Vehicle front center airbag system

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle front center airbag device which can inhibit increase in the size of a front center airbag and properly protect an occupant with the front center airbag whether a vehicle is collided at a driver seat side or a front passenger seat side during a lateral collision.SOLUTION: A vehicle front center airbag device 20 includes a front center airbag 22 mounted on a side part on an inner side in a vehicle width direction in a seat back of a vehicle seat serving as a driver's seat and inflated and deployed by a gas being supplied from an inflator. The front center airbag 22 is configured such that when a lateral collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's seat side, a deployment region in a vehicle front-rear direction is larger and an internal pressure is smaller than when a lateral collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger's seat side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a front center airbag device for vehicles.

Background Art

[0002] A front center airbag device mounted on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back of the driver's seat and inflating and deploying between adjacent passenger seats is conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a front center airbag device, there is a configuration in which the deployment state is different when the occupant is riding only in the driver's seat and when the occupant is riding in both the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

[0003] Specifically, when the occupant is riding only in the driver's seat, the sub-chamber is deployed toward the front side of the vehicle together with the main chamber to more largely deploy the front part of the front center airbag and maintain the internal pressure of the front center airbag at an appropriate pressure. On the other hand, when the occupant is riding in both the driver's seat and the passenger seat, the sub-chamber is deployed toward the lower side of the vehicle together with the main chamber to more largely deploy the lower part of the front center airbag and reduce the internal pressure of the front center airbag.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the front center airbag system described above does not take into account whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side during a side collision. In order to adequately protect occupants regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side during a side collision, it is necessary to increase both the length in the longitudinal direction and the thickness in the width direction of the front center airbag (hereinafter referred to as "enlarging"). However, since the front center airbag is mounted on the inner side in the width direction of the seat back of the driver's seat, miniaturization is required.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vehicle front center airbag system that can suppress the enlargement of the front center airbag and can appropriately protect occupants with the front center airbag regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side during a side collision of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the first embodiment of the vehicle front center airbag system according to the present invention includes a front center airbag mounted on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back of the vehicle seat which is the driver's seat, and which is inflated and deployed by the supply of gas from an inflator, wherein the front center airbag is configured such that when the vehicle is hit on the driver's side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is larger and the internal pressure is lower than when the vehicle is hit on the passenger side.

[0008] According to the first embodiment of the invention, a front center airbag is installed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back of the vehicle seat which is the driver's seat, and is inflated and deployed by gas supplied from an inflator. When a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side, it is preferable to increase the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle rather than increasing the internal pressure of such a front center airbag in order to adequately protect the passenger-side occupant, and when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger-side, it is preferable to increase the internal pressure rather than increasing the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to adequately protect the driver-side occupant.

[0009] Here, the front center airbag according to the present invention is configured such that when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is larger and the internal pressure is lower than when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger's side. In other words, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger's side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is not larger and the internal pressure is not lower than when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side. Therefore, the size of the front center airbag is suppressed, and the occupants are adequately protected by the front center airbag regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side during a side collision of the vehicle.

[0010] Furthermore, a second embodiment of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the present invention includes a front center airbag mounted on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back of the vehicle seat which is the driver's seat, and which is inflated and deployed by gas supplied from an inflator, wherein the front center airbag is configured such that when the vehicle is hit on the passenger side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is smaller and the thickness in the vehicle width direction is larger than when the vehicle is hit on the driver's side.

[0011] According to the second embodiment of the invention, a front center airbag is mounted on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat back of the vehicle seat which is the driver's seat, and is inflated and deployed by gas supplied from an inflator. When a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger side, it is preferable to increase the thickness in the vehicle width direction rather than increasing the deployment area in the vehicle longitudinal direction in order to adequately protect the occupant on the driver's side, and when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side, it is preferable to increase the deployment area in the vehicle longitudinal direction rather than increasing the thickness in the vehicle width direction in order to adequately protect the occupant on the passenger side.

[0012] Here, the front center airbag according to the present invention is configured such that when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is smaller and the thickness along the vehicle width direction is larger than when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side. In other words, when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side, the front center airbag according to the present invention is thinner along the vehicle width direction and has a larger deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle than when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger side. Therefore, the size of the front center airbag is suppressed, and the occupants are appropriately protected by the front center airbag regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side during a side collision of the vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, a third embodiment of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the present invention is a vehicle front center airbag device according to the first embodiment, wherein a part of the front center airbag is folded in an accordion shape and restrained by a string-like member, and the restraint by the string-like member is released when the vehicle is hit on the driver's side.

[0014] According to the third embodiment of the invention, a portion of the front center airbag is folded in an accordion-like manner and restrained by a string-like member, and is configured so that the restraint by the string-like member is released when the vehicle is involved in a side collision on the driver's side. Therefore, an increase in the size of the front center airbag is avoided with a simple configuration, and as a result, the size of the inflator is reduced.

[0015] Furthermore, a fourth embodiment of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the present invention is a vehicle front center airbag device according to the second embodiment, wherein the front center airbag is restrained by a string-like member such that its thickness along the vehicle width direction is reduced, and the restraint by the string-like member is released when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the passenger side.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the front center airbag is restrained by a string-like member so that its thickness along the vehicle width direction is reduced, and the restraint by the string-like member is released when the vehicle is involved in a side collision on the passenger side. Therefore, an increase in the size of the front center airbag is avoided with a simple configuration, and as a result, the size of the inflator is reduced.

[0017] Furthermore, a fifth embodiment of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the present invention is a vehicle front center airbag device according to the fourth embodiment, wherein a plurality of the string-like members are provided.

[0018] According to the fifth embodiment of the invention, a plurality of string-like members are provided. Therefore, in the front center airbag, compared to the case where a single string-like member is provided, a thinner thickness along the vehicle width direction and a larger deployment area in the vehicle longitudinal direction are more effectively achieved. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the enlargement of the front center airbag, and when the vehicle collides on the side, whether the collision side is the driver's side or the passenger's side, the front center airbag can appropriately protect the occupant.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] (A) It is a schematic plan view showing the case where the driver's side of a vehicle equipped with a front center airbag device for vehicles according to the first embodiment collides on the side. (B) It is a schematic plan view showing the case where the passenger's side of a vehicle equipped with a front center airbag device for vehicles according to the first embodiment collides on the side. [Figure 2] It is a schematic plan view showing a partially enlarged configuration of a front center airbag device for vehicles according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) It is a schematic plan view showing the deployment state when the passenger's side of the front center airbag according to the first embodiment collides on the side. (B) It is a schematic plan view showing the deployment state when the driver's side of the front center airbag according to the first embodiment collides on the side. [Figure 4] (A) It is a schematic rear view showing the deployment state when the driver's side of the front center airbag according to the second embodiment collides on the side together with a strap provided inside. (B) It is a schematic plan view showing the deployment state when the driver's side of the front center airbag according to the second embodiment collides on the side together with a strap provided inside. [Figure 5] (A) It is a schematic plan view showing the deployment state when the passenger's side of the front center airbag according to the second embodiment collides on the side together with a strap provided inside. (B) It is a schematic plan view showing the deployment state when the driver's side of the front center airbag according to a modification of the second embodiment collides on the side together with a strap provided inside. [Figure 6](A) It is a flowchart showing the operation process of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the first embodiment. (B) It is a flowchart showing the operation process of the vehicle front center airbag device according to the second embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the arrow UP shown appropriately in each figure is the upward direction of the vehicle, the arrow FR is the forward direction of the vehicle, the arrow LH is the leftward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH is the rightward direction of the vehicle. Therefore, in the following description, when the directions of up and down, front and back, left and right are described without special mention, they indicate up and down, front and back, left and right in the vehicle. Also, the left and right directions are synonymous with the vehicle width direction.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment is, as an example, a left-hand drive vehicle, in which the left vehicle seat 12 is the driver's seat 12L and the right vehicle seat 12 is the passenger seat 12R. Also, the occupant P shown in the figure is, as an example, an occupant corresponding to AM50 (50th percentile of American adult males) of WorldSID (International Unified Side Impact Dummy: World Side Impact Dummy). In the following, the occupant sitting on the driver's seat 12L may be referred to as "occupant P1", and the occupant sitting on the passenger seat 12R may be referred to as "occupant P2" for explanation.

[0023] <First Embodiment> First, the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B), the left and right vehicle seats 12 (driver's seat 12L and passenger seat 12R) provided as front seats in the vehicle 10 each have a seat cushion 14 that supports the buttocks and thighs of the occupant P, a seat back 16 that supports the back of the occupant P, and a headrest 18 that supports the head of the occupant P. Note that the occupant P sitting on each vehicle seat 12 is restrained by a seat belt device (not shown).

[0024] A vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the inner side portion 16A in the vehicle width direction of the seat back 16 of the driver's seat 12L. This vehicle front center airbag device 20 is composed of an inflator (not shown) embedded in the side portion 16A of the seat back 16, and a front center airbag (far side airbag) 22 that inflates and deploys when gas ejected from the inflator is supplied to the inside.

[0025] The inflator is, for example, a cylindrical gas generator formed in a roughly cylindrical shape, with its axial direction aligned with the side frames (not shown) that constitute the left and right sides of the seat back 16 (roughly vertical direction). The inflator activates when a side collision of the vehicle 10 is detected or predicted (hereinafter referred to as "side collision"), enabling it to instantly supply gas to the inside of the front center airbag (hereinafter simply referred to as "airbag") 22.

[0026] The airbag 22 is formed into a single bag shape by sewing the outer edges of two base fabrics together, and when gas ejected from the inflator is supplied to the inside, it inflates and deploys inward in the vehicle width direction to cover the occupant P1 seated in the driver's seat 12L, and is formed to a size that can cover at least the occupant P1 from the buttocks to the head when viewed from the side.

[0027] As shown in Figures 1(A) and 1(B), there are two types of side collisions in which the vehicle 10 collides: one where the driver's side collides and one where the passenger's side collides. The airbag 22 according to this first embodiment is configured such that when the vehicle 10 collides on the driver's side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction is larger and the internal pressure is lower than when the vehicle 10 collides on the passenger's side.

[0028] To explain in more detail, as shown in Figure 2, a portion of the front of the airbag 22 is folded in an accordion-like manner and restrained by a strap 24, which is a string-like member. The airbag is configured so that when a side collision of the vehicle 10 occurs on the driver's side, the restraint by the strap 24 is released.

[0029] The release mechanism 30 for releasing the restraint of the strap 24 is provided on the side 16A of the seat back 16 of the driver's seat 12L, and is configured as follows, for example. That is, the release mechanism 30 is composed of a cylindrical pin 32 inserted through one end 24A of the strap 24 which is formed in a ring shape, a holding part 34 which holds one end of the pin 32, and a cover part 38 which houses the pin 32 after it has been removed from the holding part 34.

[0030] A support plate 35 extends from the holding portion 34 to hold the other end of the pin 32, and the other end of the pin 32 is inserted into and supported by a through hole 35B formed in the tip portion 35A of the support plate 35. The opening of the cover portion 38 is attached to the tip portion 35A of the support plate 35.

[0031] Furthermore, an inflator 36 is connected to the holding portion 34. When the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the driver's side, the inflator 36 activates and injects gas into the holding portion 34. The pressure of this gas ejects the pin 32, detaching it from one end 24A of the strap 24. The ejected pin 32 is then housed in the cover portion 38.

[0032] The other end 24B of the strap 24 is inserted through the bellows-folded portion of the airbag 22, and the other end 24B is sewn to the airbag 22 to prevent it from falling out.

[0033] Therefore, when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the driver's side, as shown in Figure 3(A), when the release mechanism 30 releases the restraint on one end 24A of the strap 24, the airbag 22 expands significantly, as shown in Figure 3(B), allowing gas to enter the bellows-folded portion and making it longer in the front-to-back direction, thereby slightly reducing the internal pressure.

[0034] Although not shown in the diagram, the vehicle 10 is equipped with sensors on both the left and right sides for detecting or predicting side collisions, and sensors for detecting or predicting whether the side collision is on the driver's side or the passenger's side. The vehicle 10 is also equipped with a control device that is electrically connected to these sensors, as well as to the inflator of the airbag 22 and the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30. In other words, the control device controls the operation of the inflator of the airbag 22 and the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30 based on the detection or prediction results of each sensor.

[0035] The operation of the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to the first embodiment, which has the configuration described above, will now be explained.

[0036] The airbag 22, which inflates and deploys from the side 16A of the seatback 16 of the driver's seat 12L, is preferable to have a larger deployment area in the longitudinal direction rather than increasing its internal pressure in order to adequately protect the passenger-side occupant P2, who is likely to move towards the driver's side due to inertia, when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the driver's side. This is because the passenger-side occupant P2 is further from the airbag 22 than the driver-side occupant P1.

[0037] Furthermore, when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the passenger side, it is preferable to increase the internal pressure of the airbag 22 rather than increasing its deployment area in the longitudinal direction, in order to properly protect the driver's side occupant P1, who is likely to move towards the passenger side due to inertia. This is because the driver's side occupant P1 is closer to the airbag 22 than the passenger side occupant P2, and there is no reaction force surface when there is no occupant P2 on the passenger side.

[0038] Therefore, in the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to the first embodiment, the length in the longitudinal direction and the internal pressure differ depending on whether the side collision of the vehicle 10 is on the driver's side or the passenger's side. That is, as shown in Figure 6(A), first a side collision of the vehicle 10 is detected (step S11). Next, it is determined whether or not the side collision exceeds a threshold that requires the deployment of the airbag 22 (step S12). In step S12, if it is determined that the threshold is not exceeded, the airbag 22 does not inflate and deploy, and the process ends.

[0039] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the threshold has been exceeded, it is then determined whether the side collision occurred on the passenger side or not (step S13). In step S13, if it is determined that the side collision of the vehicle 10 occurred on the passenger side, the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30 does not activate, and only the inflator of the airbag 22 activates, causing the airbag 22 to inflate and deploy (step S14).

[0040] In other words, the airbag 22 inflates and deploys with a portion of the front section folded in an accordion-like manner. Therefore, at this time, the deployment area of ​​the airbag 22 in the front-to-rear direction is not enlarged, and the internal pressure is not reduced (it is considered to be in a state of high internal pressure). Consequently, when the passenger side of the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision, the occupant P1, who is seated in the driver's seat 12L and is about to move towards the passenger side due to inertia, can be adequately protected.

[0041] On the other hand, in step S13, if it is determined that the side collision of the vehicle 10 occurred on the driver's side and not the passenger side, then not only the inflator of the airbag 22 but also the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30 is activated, causing the airbag 22 to inflate and deploy. In other words, the restraint on one end 24A of the strap 24 is released, and the airbag 22 inflates and deploys, including the bellows-folded portion (step S15).

[0042] Therefore, in this case, the deployment area of ​​the airbag 22 in the longitudinal direction becomes larger, and as a result, the internal pressure is slightly reduced. Consequently, when the driver's side of the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision, the occupant P2, who is seated in the passenger seat 12R and is about to move towards the driver's side due to inertia, can be adequately protected.

[0043] Thus, according to the vehicle front center airbag device 20 of the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the enlargement of the airbag 22, suppress the decrease in mounting capacity on the side portion 16A of the seat back 16, and the airbag 22 can appropriately protect the occupant P in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 10, regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side.

[0044] Furthermore, in the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to this first embodiment, a portion of the front side of the airbag 22 is folded in an accordion-like manner and restrained by a strap 24, and the restraint by the strap 24 is released when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the driver's side. As a result, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the airbag 22 with a simple configuration, and consequently, the size of the inflator that supplies gas to the airbag 22 can be reduced. In other words, a low-power inflator is sufficient.

[0045] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that parts equivalent to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0046] As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the airbag 22 according to this second embodiment is configured such that when the vehicle 10 is hit on the passenger side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction is smaller and the thickness along the vehicle width direction is larger than when the vehicle 10 is hit on the driver's side.

[0047] Specifically, the airbag 22 is restrained at approximately its center in the front-rear and up-down directions by a strap 26, which is a string-like member provided inside the airbag 22, so that its thickness along the width of the vehicle is reduced. When the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the passenger side, the restraint by the strap 26 is released. The mechanism for releasing the restraint of the strap 26 may be the same as the release mechanism 30 in the first embodiment described above.

[0048] The strap 26 has one end 26A restrained by the release mechanism 30, its middle portion 26C is inserted into a ring portion 28 which serves as a strap direction changing guide and is provided on the inner surface 22A of the airbag 22 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (passenger side), and folded back, while the other end 26B is attached by sewing to the inner surface 22B on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (driver side) of the airbag 22. Therefore, when the restraint by the strap 26 is released, as shown in Figure 5(A), the thickness of the airbag 22 along the vehicle width direction increases, and as a result the length in the front-to-rear direction decreases.

[0049] The operation of the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to the second embodiment, which has the configuration described above, will now be explained.

[0050] The airbag 22, which inflates and deploys from the side 16A of the seatback 16 of the driver's seat 12L, is preferably thicker in the vehicle width direction, i.e., has a larger energy absorption stroke, rather than increasing its deployment area in the longitudinal direction, in order to adequately protect the driver's side occupant P1, who is likely to move towards the passenger side due to inertia, when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the passenger side. This is because the driver's side occupant P1 is closer to the airbag 22 than the passenger side occupant P2, and there is no reaction force surface when there is no occupant P2 on the passenger side.

[0051] Furthermore, when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the driver's side, it is preferable to increase the deployment area of ​​the airbag 22 in the longitudinal direction rather than increasing its thickness in the width direction, in order to adequately protect the passenger-side occupant P2, who is likely to move towards the driver's side due to inertia. This is because the passenger-side occupant P2 is further from the airbag 22 than the driver-side occupant P1.

[0052] Therefore, in the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to the second embodiment, the length in the longitudinal direction and the thickness in the vehicle width direction differ depending on whether the side collision of the vehicle 10 is on the driver's side or the passenger's side. That is, as shown in Figure 6(B), first a side collision of the vehicle 10 is detected (step S21). Next, it is determined whether the side collision exceeds a threshold that requires the deployment of the airbag 22 (step S22). In step S22, if it is determined that the threshold is not exceeded, the airbag 22 does not inflate and deploy, and the process ends.

[0053] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S22 that the threshold has been exceeded, it is then determined whether the side collision occurred on the driver's side or not (step S23). In step S23, if it is determined that the side collision of the vehicle 10 occurred on the driver's side, the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30 does not activate, and only the inflator of the airbag 22 activates, causing the airbag 22 to inflate and deploy (step S24).

[0054] In other words, the airbag 22 inflates and deploys while being restrained by the strap 26 in such a way that its thickness along the width of the vehicle is reduced. As a result, the deployment area of ​​the airbag 22 in the longitudinal direction is larger at this time. Therefore, when the driver's side of the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision, the occupant P2, who is seated in the passenger seat 12R and is about to move towards the driver's side due to inertia, can be adequately protected.

[0055] On the other hand, in step S23, if it is determined that the side collision of the vehicle 10 occurred on the passenger side, not the driver's side, then not only the inflator of the airbag 22 but also the inflator 36 of the release mechanism 30 is activated, causing the airbag 22 to inflate and deploy. In other words, the airbag 22 inflates and deploys with the restraint at one end 26A of the strap 26 released (step S25).

[0056] Therefore, in this case, the airbag 22 has a greater thickness along the width of the vehicle, and consequently, its deployment area in the front-to-rear direction is reduced. Thus, when the passenger side of the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision, the occupant P1, who is seated in the driver's seat 12L and is about to move towards the passenger side due to inertia, can be adequately protected.

[0057] Thus, according to the vehicle front center airbag device 20 of the second embodiment, it is possible to suppress the enlargement of the airbag 22, suppress the decrease in mounting capacity on the side portion 16A of the seat back 16, and the airbag 22 can appropriately protect the occupant P in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 10, regardless of whether the collision occurs on the driver's side or the passenger's side.

[0058] Furthermore, in the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to this second embodiment, the airbag 22 is restrained only by the strap 26 so that its thickness along the vehicle width direction is reduced, and the restraint by the strap 26 is released when the vehicle 10 is involved in a side collision on the passenger side. As a result, it is possible to avoid increasing the size of the airbag 22 with a simple configuration, and consequently, the size of the inflator that supplies gas to the airbag 22 can be reduced. In other words, a low-power inflator is sufficient.

[0059] As shown in Figure 5(B), multiple (for example, two) straps 27 may be connected to one end 26A of the strap 26, and multiple ring portions 29 may be provided on the inner surface 22A of the airbag 22 on the inner side (passenger side) in the vehicle width direction (for example, one each on the front and rear sides of the ring portion 28) to serve as strap direction changing guides.

[0060] In other words, similar to the strap 26, each strap 27 may also be attached by inserting its middle portion 27C into each ring portion 29 and folding it back, and sewing the other end 27B to the inner surface 22B on the outer side (driver's side) in the vehicle width direction of the airbag 22. This makes it possible to more effectively achieve a state in the airbag 22 where the thickness in the vehicle width direction is thinner and the deployment area in the front-rear direction is larger compared to when a single strap 26 is provided.

[0061] The vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to this embodiment has been described above based on the drawings. However, the vehicle front center airbag device 20 according to this embodiment is not limited to the illustrated version, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the release mechanism 30 is not limited to the illustrated mechanism. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10 vehicles 12 Vehicle seats 12L Driver's seat 12R Passenger Seat 16 Seatback 20. Front center airbag system for vehicles 22 Front center airbag 24. Strap (string-like component) 26. Strap (string-like component)

Claims

1. The vehicle's driver's seat is equipped with a front center airbag mounted on the inner side of the seatback in the vehicle's width direction, which inflates and deploys when gas is supplied from an inflator. The aforementioned front center airbag is A front center airbag system for a vehicle is configured such that, when a vehicle is hit from the driver's side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is larger and the internal pressure is lower than when the vehicle is hit from the passenger side.

2. The vehicle's driver's seat is equipped with a front center airbag mounted on the inner side of the seatback in the vehicle's width direction, which inflates and deploys when gas is supplied from an inflator. The aforementioned front center airbag is A front center airbag system for a vehicle, configured such that when a side collision occurs on the passenger side, the deployment area in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is smaller and the thickness along the vehicle width is larger than when a side collision occurs on the driver's side.

3. The front center airbag device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the front center airbag is folded in an accordion-like manner and restrained by a string-like member, and the restraint by the string-like member is released when a side collision of the vehicle occurs on the driver's side.

4. The front center airbag is restrained by a string-like member so as to reduce its thickness in the vehicle width direction, and the restraint by the string-like member is released when the vehicle is hit on the passenger side, according to claim 2.

5. The vehicle front center airbag device according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of the string-like members are provided.

Images