Airbag device for protecting rear seat occupant of vehicle

Abstract

[Problem] To provide an airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle, the airbag device having improved occupant restraint performance while suppressing the occupant injury value. [Solution] An airbag device 100 is characterized in that an airbag cushion 108 thereof has formed therein: a cushion base part 126 which follows a seat back surface part 112; a cushion upper part 128 which inflates and deploys, protruding in the direction of a rear seat 104 from an upper part of the cushion base part 126; a pair of side chambers 122, 124 which inflate and deploy, protruding in the direction of the rear seat 104 from both sides of the cushion base part 126; and a cushion recessed part 134 which is formed within an area that is below the cushion upper part 128 and between the pair of side chambers 122, 124, and which is recessed in the direction of 102.

Description

Airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants of a vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants of a vehicle, which restrains rear seat occupants.

[0002] Airbag systems are now standard equipment on most modern vehicles. Airbag systems are safety devices that activate in emergencies such as vehicle collisions, and protect occupants by using an airbag cushion that inflates and deploys using gas pressure. There are various types of airbag systems depending on their installation location and purpose. For example, in the driver's seat, a front airbag is installed in the center of the steering wheel. In the passenger seat, a passenger airbag is installed in the instrument panel or its surrounding area.

[0003] Airbag cushions of various shapes have been developed taking into consideration the contact points with surrounding structures and occupants. For example, Fig. 1 of Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag 11 for a front passenger seat, which includes a center bag 21 and a pair of side bags 22. Patent Document 1 states that the head A1 and shoulders A2 of the occupant A can be protected with desirable characteristics.

[0004] Airbag devices for protecting rear seat passengers have also been developed. For example, Fig. 1 of Patent Document 2 discloses an airbag 1 that inflates and deploys rearward from the rear surface of the seatback of a front seat 1. This airbag 1 can effectively restrain a rear seat passenger 3 from the front.

[0005] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2010-201980 Chinese Utility Model No. 202283906

[0006] As disclosed in Patent Document 2, in an airbag device for protecting rear seat passengers, an airbag cushion is stored behind the seat back of the front seat. However, the seat back of a vehicle can be reclined to change its angle. In an airbag device for protecting rear seat passengers, depending on the angle of the front seat back, a simple cubic airbag cushion may not be effective in restraining the rear seat passenger.

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention has an object to provide an airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle, which has improved occupant restraint performance while suppressing injury levels to the occupant.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a representative configuration of an airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants of a vehicle according to the present invention is an airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants, comprising: a seat back portion that forms the back of the seat back of the front seat of the vehicle; an airbag cushion that is stored in a predetermined storage form in the seat back portion and inflates and deploys between the seat back portion and a rear seat occupant sitting in the rear seat behind the front seat; and an inflator that is installed inside the seat back portion and supplies gas to the airbag cushion, wherein the airbag cushion has a cushion base that inflates and deploys along the seat back portion, a cushion upper portion that protrudes from an upper portion of the cushion base toward the rear seat and inflates and deploys, a pair of side chambers that protrude from both sides of the cushion base in the width direction of the front seat toward the rear seat and inflates and deploys, and a cushion recess that is formed below the cushion upper portion and between the pair of side chambers and is recessed toward the front seat.

[0009] The airbag cushion with the above configuration restrains the head and shoulders of the rear seat occupant with the cushion upper portion and side chambers, but does not come into contact with the rear seat occupant's chest or abdomen due to the formation of the cushion recess, or comes into contact with the chest and abdomen later than the head and shoulders. With this configuration, it is possible to fully restrain the rear seat occupant via the head and shoulders while reducing the injury level to the chest and abdomen.

[0010] The side chambers may be inflated and deployed in a circular shape when viewed in the width direction of the front seat.

[0011] The circular side chamber has no bias in shape, so that the shoulders of rear seat passengers can be suitably restrained by any part on the circumference.

[0012] The lower portion of the side chamber may be in contact with the seat cushion of the rear seat when inflated and deployed.

[0013] According to the above configuration, it is possible to stabilize the position of the side chambers and improve the restraining force, for example, it is possible for the side chambers to suitably restrain the shoulders and knees of rear seat passengers.

[0014] The airbag cushion may further include an inflator connection portion provided in the cushion base and into which a portion of the inflator is inserted, and an inner vent that connects the cushion base and the side chamber and sends gas from the inflator from the cushion base to the side chamber.

[0015] According to the above-described configuration, gas is supplied to the side chambers following the cushion base, and the shoulders of the occupant can be suitably restrained by the side chambers.

[0016] The cushion upper portion may be inflated and deployed so that the interior angle between the cushion upper portion and the cushion base portion is an obtuse angle.

[0017] According to the above configuration, the interior angle between the upper part of the cushion and the base part of the cushion is an obtuse angle, so that when the head of a rear seat passenger enters the upper part of the cushion, the upper part of the cushion is less likely to bend relative to the base part of the cushion, thereby making it possible to appropriately restrain the head of the rear seat passenger.

[0018] The rear seat-side tip of the upper part of the cushion may project further toward the rear seat occupant than the rear seat-side ends of the pair of side chambers when inflated and deployed.

[0019] According to the above-described configuration, the shoulders come into contact with the side chambers after or at the same time as the head comes into contact with the upper part of the cushion, thereby making it possible to efficiently restrain the rear seat occupant.

[0020] The lower end of the cushion base may be positioned near a horizontal line extending from the front end of the upper surface of the seat cushion of the rear seat when inflated and deployed.

[0021] According to the above configuration, the cushion base is disposed in front of the knees of the rear seat passenger, making it possible to suitably restrain the knees of the rear seat passenger.

[0022] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle, which has improved occupant restraint performance while suppressing injury levels to the occupant.

[0023] 1(b) is a diagram illustrating an outline of an airbag device for protecting a vehicle rear seat occupant according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1(b) is a perspective view illustrating the airbag cushion of FIG. 1(b) from various directions; FIG. 2(a) is a development view of each panel member forming the airbag cushion of FIG. 2(a); FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating a process of the airbag cushion of FIG. 1(b) restraining a rear seat occupant as viewed from the side; FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating a process of the airbag cushion of FIG. 1(b) restraining a rear seat occupant as viewed from above; and FIG. 2(b) is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the airbag cushion of FIG. 2.

[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dimensions, materials, and other specific values ​​shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the present invention. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant explanation, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0025] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of an airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as an airbag device 100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of the state of the airbag device 100 before it is activated. The airbag device 100 of this embodiment is installed in a seat back 106 of a front seat 102, and is implemented as a restraint device for restraining a rear seat occupant seated in a rear seat 104 from the front.

[0026] In some cases, seats can be rotated forward and backward within the vehicle, and the forward and backward direction of the seat may not coincide with the forward and backward direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the directions used in the following description are primarily based on the seat, not the vehicle. For example, in each of the drawings from FIG. 1( a) onward, the forward and backward directions of the front seat 102 in the standard position are indicated by arrows F (Forward) and B (Back), the left and right width directions of the front seat 102 are indicated by arrows L (Left) and R (Right), and the vertical direction of the vehicle is indicated by arrows U (Up) and D (Down). Here, "upward" refers to the direction of the head of an occupant properly seated in the seat, and "downward" refers to the direction of the lower legs of the occupant. Furthermore, for example, with respect to the seat back 106 of the front seat 102, the side that comes into contact with the front seat occupant seated in the front seat 102 is referred to as the "front side," and the side opposite the front seat occupant is referred to as the "back side."

[0027] The seat back portion 112 is a portion of the front seat 102 that forms the back of the seat back 106. Before activation, the airbag cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 is rolled up or folded into a small storage form and stored in a storage portion 110 of the seat back portion 112.

[0028] The storage section 110 is installed with an opening 114 facing the rear seat 104. An inflator 116, which is a gas generator, is also installed inside the storage section 110.

[0029] The inflator 116 is a device that supplies gas to the airbag cushion 108, and in this embodiment, a disk-shaped inflator is used. Currently popular inflators include types that are filled with gas generating agent and generate gas by burning the agent, types that are filled with compressed gas and supply gas without generating heat, and hybrid types that use both combustion gas and compressed gas. Any of these types can be used as the inflator 116.

[0030] In this embodiment, the inflator 116 and the airbag cushion 108 are directly connected, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the inflator 116 and the airbag cushion 108 are indirectly connected via, for example, a pipe-shaped gas guide or the like.

[0031] 1B is a diagram illustrating a state after the airbag device 100 has been activated. The airbag device 100 is activated when a frontal collision is predicted or detected by various sensors.

[0032] The inflator 116 is activated by receiving a signal from a control unit (not shown) and ejects gas. The pressure of the gas supplied from the inflator 116 causes the lid of the storage compartment 110 to split open, and the airbag cushion 108 inflates and deploys toward the rear seat 104.

[0033] The airbag cushion 108 inflates and deploys between the seat back portion 112 of the seat back 106 of the front seat 102 and a rear seat occupant (see rear seat occupant 150 in Figure 4(a)) seated in the rear seat 104 behind the front seat 102, restraining the rear seat occupant from the front and preventing the rear seat occupant from moving forward.

[0034] 2A and 2B are perspective views illustrating the airbag cushion 108 of Fig. 1B from various directions: Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the airbag cushion 108 of Fig. 1B as seen from the rear left side;

[0035] The airbag cushion 108 is configured to include a central main chamber 120 and a pair of left and right side chambers 122, 124. The airbag cushion 108 mainly supports the body of a rear seat occupant using a cushion upper portion 128 above the main chamber 120 and the left and right side chambers 122, 124.

[0036] 2B is a diagram illustrating the airbag cushion 108 of FIG. 1B as viewed from the left side. The main chamber 120 has a curved shape when viewed from the width direction of the front seat 102 (see FIG. 1B).

[0037] The cushion base 126 is a portion of the main chamber 120 that inflates and deploys in the vertical direction along the seat back 112 of the front seat 102 (see FIG. 1B). The cushion base 126 inflates and deploys along a range of the seat back 112 from near the headrest 107 to approximately the front of the seat cushion of the rear seat 104. When a rear seat occupant is restrained, the cushion base 126 comes into contact with the seat back 112 of the front seat 102 to support the posture of the airbag cushion 108.

[0038] The cushion upper portion 128 is a portion of the main chamber 120 that bends rearward from the upper end of the cushion base portion 126 and inflates and deploys. The cushion upper portion 128 inflates and deploys in a shape that protrudes from the upper portion of the cushion base portion 126 in the direction of the rear seat 104 (see FIG. 1B). For example, in this embodiment, the cushion upper portion 128 inflates and deploys from a portion of the upper portion of the cushion base 126 near the headrest 107 and protrudes toward the head of the rear seat occupant. The cushion base 128 restrains the head of the rear seat occupant when the rear seat occupant moves forward.

[0039] The side chambers 122, 124 are provided in pairs on the left and right sides of the cushion base 126 in the width direction of the front seat 102 (see FIG. 1(b)). The side chambers 122, 124 inflate and deploy by protruding from both sides of the cushion base 126 in the direction of the rear seat 104. In this embodiment, the side chambers 122, 124 inflate and deploy by protruding toward the shoulders of the rear seat occupant, respectively, and restrain both shoulders when the rear seat occupant moves forward.

[0040] The side chambers 122, 124 are configured to inflate and deploy in a circular shape when viewed in the width direction of the front seat 102 (see FIG. 1(b)). The circular side chambers 122, 124 have no bias in shape, so the shoulders of rear seat occupants can be appropriately restrained by any part on the circumference.

[0041] The airbag cushion 108 has an inflator connection portion 137 (see FIG. 3A) that connects to the inflator 116 (see FIG. 1B) provided on the front side of the cushion base 126. Therefore, the airbag cushion 108 starts to inflate and deploy from the cushion base 126 of the main chamber 120 first.

[0042] The side chambers 122, 124 (see FIG. 2A) are connected to the cushion base 126 of the main chamber 120 by an inner vent 130. For example, the left side chamber 122 has a portion of its inner panel overlapping the side of the cushion base 126, with the inner vent 130 passing through this portion.

[0043] The inner vent 130 sends gas from the inflator 116 from the cushion base 126 to the side chamber 122. With this configuration, gas is supplied to the cushion base 126 and then to the side chamber 122, making it possible for the side chamber 122 to suitably restrain the shoulders of the rear seat occupant.

[0044] 2C is a rear view of the airbag cushion 108 of FIG. 1B. The airbag cushion 108 is provided with a cushion recess 134 below the cushion upper portion 128 and between the pair of side chambers 122, 124.

[0045] The cushion recess 134 is a region of the airbag cushion 108 that is recessed toward the front seat 102. In this embodiment, the cushion recess 134 is formed in a range in front of the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 of a rear seat occupant 150 (see FIG. 4A ) who is seated in a normal posture. The cushion recess 134 makes it possible to reduce the injury level to the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 of the rear seat occupant 150 when the rear seat occupant 150 is restrained by the airbag cushion 108.

[0046] Fig. 3 is a development view of each panel member forming the airbag cushion 108 of Fig. 2(a). Each panel member illustrated in Fig. 3 is a cloth-like member that forms the outer surface of the airbag cushion 108.

[0047] Fig. 3(a) is a diagram illustrating the main panel 136. The main panel 136 is a panel member that forms the surfaces of the main chamber 120 (see Fig. 2(a)) other than the left and right side surfaces.

[0048] The main panel 136 is in the form of a long strip, and the edges of a pair of side panels 138, 140 (see FIGS. 3(b) and 3(c)) are connected to each other by sewing or the like. The ends on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the main panel 136 are joined to each other by sewing or the like.

[0049] The main panel 136 is provided with an inflator connection part 137 that is connected to the inflator 116 (see FIG. 1(b)). The inflator connection part 137 includes a through hole into which part of the inflator 116 is inserted, and a plurality of bolt holes provided around the through hole into which stud bolts of the inflator 116 are inserted. The inflator connection part 137 is fixed to the insole of the storage part 110 together with the inflator 116 by using the stud bolts or the like.

[0050] 3(b) is a diagram illustrating the left side panel 138. The side panel 138 is a panel member that forms the left side surface of the main chamber 120 (FIG. 2(a)). The side panel 138 has a curved shape, and its outer edge is joined to the long side of the main chamber 120. The side panel 138 is formed with an inner vent 130a that supplies gas to the side chamber 122.

[0051] 3(c) is a diagram illustrating the right side panel 140. The side panel 140 is a panel member that forms the right side surface of the main chamber 120 (FIG. 2(a)). The side panel 140 has a shape symmetrical to the side panel 138 in FIG. 3(b), and is formed with an inner vent 132a that supplies gas to the side chamber 124.

[0052] 3(d) is a diagram illustrating the sub-panel 142. The sub-panel 142 is a panel member that forms the inner surface of the left side chamber 122 (FIG. 2(a)). The sub-panel 142 is circular and is provided with an inner vent 130b that is overlapped and connected to the inner vent 130a of the side panel 138.

[0053] Fig. 3(e) is a diagram illustrating the sub-panel 144. The sub-panel 144 is a panel member that forms the inner surface of the right side chamber 124 (Fig. 2(a)), and has a shape that is symmetrical to the sub-panel 142 in Fig. 3(d). The sub-panel 144 is circular and has an inner vent 132b that is overlapped and connected to the inner vent 132a of the side panel 140.

[0054] 3(f) is a diagram illustrating the sub-panel 146. The sub-panel 146 is a panel member that forms the outer surface of the left side chamber 122 (FIG. 2(a)). The sub-panel 146 has a circular shape, and by joining the outer edge to the sub-panel 142, it is possible to form the side chamber 122 that has a circular shape when viewed from the side.

[0055] 3(g) is a diagram illustrating the sub-panel 148. The sub-panel 148 is a panel member that forms the outer surface of the right side chamber 124 (FIG. 2(a)). The sub-panel 148 has a circular shape, and by joining the outer edge to the sub-panel 144, it is possible to form the side chamber 124 that has a circular shape when viewed from the side.

[0056] In this way, the airbag cushion 108 of FIG. 2( a) can be realized with a simpler panel configuration using a total of seven panel members, including the main panel 136, a pair of side panels 138, 140, and sub-panels 142, 144, 146, and 148, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0057] 4A and 4B are side views illustrating the process in which the airbag cushion 108 of Fig. 1B restrains the rear seat occupant 150. Fig. 4A is a view illustrating the state immediately after the airbag cushion 108 is inflated and deployed.

[0058] The rear seat occupant 150 is an example of the AF05, a Hybrid III dummy used in automobile frontal collision tests. The AF05 is a dummy modeled after a petite female, with a height of 145 cm, a seated height of 79 cm, and a weight of approximately 45 kg. All dummy models, including the AF05 dummy, are manufactured in accordance with the standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

[0059] In addition to the AF05, the Hybrid III AM50 and AM95 dummies, as well as the Thor dummy, can also be used as the rear seat occupant 150. The AM50 dummy is an anthropomorphic dummy modeled after an average-sized American adult male, with a height of 175 cm, a seated height of 88 cm, and a weight of approximately 78 kg. The AM95 dummy is an anthropomorphic dummy modeled after a large-sized American adult male, with a height of 183 cm, a seated height of 94 cm, and a weight of approximately 101 kg. The Thor dummy was developed as a successor to the Hybrid III dummy and is modeled only on average-sized men. By using these dummies, it is possible to implement an airbag cushion that can restrain occupants of various physiques.

[0060] As shown in Figure 1(b), the cushion upper portion 128 of the airbag cushion 108 inflates and deploys by projecting toward the head 152 of a rear seat occupant 150 (see Figure 4(a)) seated in a normal posture in the rear seat 104. The side chambers 122 inflate and deploy by projecting toward each of the shoulders 154, 156 (see Figure 5(a)) of the rear seat occupant 150 seated in a normal posture.

[0061] Here, Figure 1(b) illustrates the seat back 106 of the front seat 102 in a standard angle state. However, the seat back 106 may be tilted rearward due to a reclining function. In this case, with a simple cubic airbag cushion 108, the position of the seat back 106 moves downward as the seat back 106 is tilted rearward, which may make it easier for a rear seat occupant 150 (see Figure 4(a)) to come into contact with the vicinity of the headrest 107 of the seat back 106. Therefore, the airbag cushion 108 of this embodiment is configured so that the cushion upper portion 128 is inflated into a shape that protrudes rearward.

[0062] The seat back 106 illustrated in Fig. 4A is tilted further rearward than the seat back 106 illustrated in Fig. 1B. Even in this case, the airbag cushion 108 has a cushion upper portion 128 that protrudes toward the rear seat 104, making it easier for the cushion upper portion 128 to receive the rear seat occupant 150.

[0063] 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rear seat passenger 150 in FIG. 4A has entered forward. When the head 152 and upper body of the rear seat passenger 150 fall forward due to inertia such as a frontal collision, the cushion upper portion 128 restrains and protects the rear seat passenger 150 from the front.

[0064] The airbag cushion 108 has a cushion upper portion 128 that protrudes rearward, and thus can ensure a larger stroke, i.e., a range of motion from when the rear seat occupant 150 makes contact until the movement stops, depending on the amount of protrusion of the cushion upper portion 128. A larger stroke means that a larger amount of load can be absorbed. Therefore, the airbag cushion 108 can restrain the rear seat occupant 150 without causing the rear seat occupant 150, particularly the head 152, to come into contact with the front seat 102. In particular, because the airbag cushion 108 ensures a large stroke for the head 152 of the rear seat occupant 150, the thickness of the airbag cushion 108 is reduced when the head 152 enters, preventing the head 152 from hitting the front seat 102.

[0065] The cushion base 126 is also capable of restraining the rear seat occupant 150. The lower end of the cushion base 126 is located near the front of the seat cushion of the rear seat 104. Therefore, the cushion base 126 can restrain the area around the knees 162 of the rear seat occupant 150 from the front, and can protect the area around the knees 162 of the rear seat occupant 150 from a collision with the front seat 102.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 2B, the airbag cushion 108 of this embodiment has a cushion recess 134 formed below the cushion upper portion 128, which is recessed toward the front seat 102 side.

[0067] The cushion recess 134 is formed in a range in front of the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 as seen from a rear seat occupant 150 seated in the correct posture in the rear seat 104. Therefore, the cushion base 126 does not come into contact with the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 of the rear seat occupant 150, or comes into contact with the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 at a later time than the cushion upper portion 128 and side chamber 122 come into contact with the head 152 or shoulders 154. With this configuration, the airbag cushion 108 can reduce the injury level to the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160.

[0068] 2(b), the airbag cushion 108 is configured such that, when viewed from the side, an interior angle α1 between the cushion upper portion 128 and the cushion base portion 126 is an obtuse angle (90°<α1<180°). More specifically, a tangent line L1 to the lower side of the cushion upper portion 128 forms an obtuse angle with a tangent line L2 to the rear side of the cushion base portion 126.

[0069] In this way, the interior angle α1 between the cushion upper portion 128 and the cushion base portion 126 is an obtuse angle, so that when the head 152 of the rear seat occupant 150 (see FIG. 4B) enters the cushion upper portion 128, the cushion upper portion 128 is less likely to bend relative to the cushion base portion 126. This makes it possible to appropriately restrain the head 152 of the rear seat occupant 150.

[0070] The rear seat-side tip 129 of the cushion upper part 128 is set to protrude further toward the rear seat occupant 150 (see FIG. 4A) than the rear seat-side ends 125 of the side chambers 122, 124 (see FIG. 2A) when inflated and deployed. This causes the shoulders 154 to come into contact with the side chambers 122, 124 after or at the same time as the head 152 comes into contact with the cushion upper part 128, thereby making it possible to efficiently restrain the rear seat occupant 150.

[0071] As shown in Figure 4(a), the lower portions 123 of the side chambers 122, 124 are configured to come into contact with the seat cushion 105 of the rear seat 104 when inflated and deployed. This configuration allows the side chambers 122, 124 to stabilize their posture and improve their restraining force. For example, the side chambers 122, 124 are supported by the seat cushion 105 because the lower portions 123 are in contact with the seat cushion 105. This allows the side chambers 122, 124 to restrain the rear seat occupant 150 in a stable posture when restraining the shoulders 154 from the front or the knees 162 from the left and right.

[0072] A lower end 127 of the cushion base 126 is set to be positioned near a horizontal line H1 extending from the front end of the upper surface of the seat cushion 105 of the rear seat 104 when inflated and deployed. With this configuration, the cushion base 126 is positioned in front of the knees 162 of the rear seat occupant 150, making it possible to appropriately restrain the knees 162 of the rear seat occupant 150.

[0073] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the process in which the airbag cushion 108 of FIG. 1B restrains the rear seat occupant 150, as viewed from above.

[0074] 5A is a diagram illustrating the state immediately after the airbag cushion 108 is inflated and deployed. As described above, the cushion upper portion 128 inflates and deploys so as to protrude toward the head 152 of the rear seat occupant 150.

[0075] The side chambers 122, 124 inflate and deploy from both sides of the main chamber 120, protruding toward the shoulders 154, 156 of a rear seat occupant 150 seated in the normal position in the rear seat 104 (see FIG. 4A).

[0076] 5(b) is a diagram illustrating a state in which the rear seat occupant 150 in FIG. 5(a) has moved forward. When the head 152 and upper body of the rear seat occupant 150 fall forward due to inertia such as a frontal collision, the cushion upper portion 128 restrains the head 152 from the front, and the side chambers 122, 124 restrain the shoulders 154, 156 of the rear seat occupant 150 from the front.

[0077] As described above, the airbag cushion 108 of this embodiment restrains the head 152, shoulders 154, 156, and knees 162 of the rear seat occupant 150 (see FIG. 4B ) by the cushion upper portion 128 and side chambers 122, 124, while reducing the load on the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 by the cushion recess portion 134. This configuration fully restrains the rear seat occupant 150 through strong body parts such as the head 152, shoulders 154, 156, and knees 162, while reducing the impact and deflection of the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160, thereby suppressing injury levels. Therefore, the vehicle rear seat occupant protection airbag device 100 can improve occupant restraint performance while suppressing injury levels of the rear seat occupant 150.

[0078] (Modification) Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a modification (airbag cushion 200) of the airbag cushion 108 in Figure 2. In Figure 6, the same components as those already described are given the same reference numerals, and therefore, description of these components will be omitted. Furthermore, in the following description, components with the same names as those already described will have the same functions, even if they are given different reference numerals, unless otherwise specified.

[0079] The airbag cushion 200 is comprised of a main chamber 202 and an upper cushion portion 204 which is provided as a separate chamber.

[0080] The main chamber 202 is a chamber that integrates the cushion base 126 and the side chambers 122, 124 of the airbag cushion 200 in Fig. 2(a) . The main chamber 202 forms a cushion base 206, a pair of left and right side chamber portions 208, 210, and a cushion recess 212 recessed on the front seat 102 side (see Fig. 1(b) ).

[0081] The cushion upper part 204 is a chamber additionally provided on top of the cushion base part 206 of the main chamber 202, and is capable of performing the same function as the cushion upper part 128 in FIG. 2(a).

[0082] Fig. 6(b) is a diagram illustrating the airbag cushion 200 of Fig. 6(a) as viewed from the left side, with the inner vent 214 and other components inside also being partially visible.

[0083] The side chamber portion 208 of the main chamber 202 has a circular shape when viewed from the side, and inflates and deploys by protruding rearward beyond the cushion base portion 206 .

[0084] The cushion upper portion 204 also inflates and deploys, protruding rearward from the cushion base portion 206. The cushion upper portion 204 is internally connected to the cushion base portion 206 of the main chamber 202 by an inner vent 214, and receives gas from the main chamber 202 to inflate and deploy.

[0085] 6(c) is a rear view of the airbag cushion 200 of FIG. 6(a). The airbag cushion 200 also has a cushion recess 212 formed below the cushion upper portion 204 and between the left and right side chamber portions 208, 210 of the main chamber 202.

[0086] The airbag cushion 200 is configured so that the cushion base 206 and the side chamber portions 208, 210 first begin to inflate and deploy, followed by the cushion upper portion 204. Therefore, the airbag cushion 200 can first restrain the knees 162 and shoulders 154, 156 of the rear seat occupant 150 with the cushion base 206 and the side chamber portions 208, 210, and then restrain the head 152 with the cushion upper portion 204.

[0087] The airbag cushion 200 also has a cushion recess 212 so that it does not come into contact with the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 of the rear seat occupant 150, or can come into contact with the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160 later than the head 152 and shoulders 154, 156.

[0088] The airbag cushion 200 of this modified example can also restrain strong parts of the body of the rear seat occupant 150 (see FIG. 4B), such as the head 152, shoulders 154, 156, and areas near the knees 162, while reducing the impact and deflection of the chest 158 ​​and abdomen 160, thereby suppressing the injury level. Therefore, by using the airbag cushion 200, it is possible to improve the occupant restraint performance while suppressing the injury level of the rear seat occupant 150.

[0089] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the above-described embodiments are merely preferred examples of the present invention, and other embodiments may be implemented or performed in various ways. Unless otherwise specified in the present specification, the present invention is not limited to the detailed shapes, sizes, and configurations of parts shown in the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the expressions and terms used in the present specification are for the purpose of explanation and are not intended to be limiting unless otherwise specified.

[0090] Therefore, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can think of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0091] The present invention can be used in an airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants of a vehicle, which restrains rear seat occupants.

[0092] 100...airbag device, 102...front seat, 104...rear seat, 105...horizontal line, 106...seat back, 107...headrest, 108...airbag cushion, 110...storage section, 112...seat back section, 114...opening, 116...inflator, 120...main chamber, 122, 124...side chamber, 125...end, 126...cushion base, 127...lower end, 128...cushion upper section, 129...tip, 130, 130a, 130b...inner vent, 132, 132a, 132b...inner vent, 134...cushion recess, 13 6...main panel, 137...inflator connection portion, 138...side panel, 140...side panel, 142...sub-panel, 144...sub-panel, 146...sub-panel, 148...sub-panel, 150...rear seat occupant, 152...head, 154, 156...shoulder, 158...thorax, 160...abdomen, 162...knee, H1...horizontal line, L1...tangent, L2...tangent, 200...airbag cushion, 202...main chamber, 204...cushion upper portion, 206...cushion base, 208, 210...side chamber portion, 212...cushion recess, 214...inner vent

Claims

1. An airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant, comprising: a seat back portion forming the back surface of the front seat of a vehicle; an airbag cushion that is stored in a predetermined storage form in the seat back portion and inflates and deploys between the seat back portion and a rear seat occupant sitting in the rear seat behind the front seat; and an inflator that is installed inside the seat back portion and supplies gas to the airbag cushion, wherein the airbag cushion has: a cushion base that inflates and deploys along the seat back portion; an upper cushion portion that protrudes from an upper portion of the cushion base toward the rear seat and inflates and deploys; a pair of side chambers that protrude from both sides of the cushion base in the width direction of the front seat toward the rear seat and inflates and deploys; and a cushion recess that is formed in a range below the upper cushion portion and between the pair of side chambers and is recessed toward the front seat.

2. The airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the side chamber is inflated and deployed in a circular shape when viewed in the width direction of the front seat.

3. An airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower part of the side chamber comes into contact with the seat cushion of the rear seat when inflated and deployed.

4. The airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that the airbag cushion further comprises: an inflator connection portion provided in the cushion base into which a part of the inflator is inserted; and an inner vent connecting the cushion base and the side chamber and transmitting gas from the inflator from the cushion base to the side chamber.

5. The airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper part of the cushion is inflated and deployed so that the interior angle between the upper part of the cushion and the base part of the cushion is an obtuse angle.

6. An airbag device for protecting a rear seat occupant of a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when inflated and deployed, the rear seat side tip of the upper part of the cushion protrudes in the direction of the rear seat occupant beyond the rear seat side ends of the pair of side chambers.

7. An airbag device for protecting rear seat occupants of a vehicle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, when inflated and deployed, the lower end of the cushion base is positioned in the vicinity of a horizontal line extending from the front end of the upper surface of the rear seat cushion.

Images