Far-side airbag device and diffuser

Abstract

Provided is a far-side airbag device that stably inflates and deploys between a center console and an occupant, and which can provide good occupant restraint performance. The far-side airbag device is provided with an airbag 1, a diffuser 30 provided inside the airbag 1, and an inflator 21 disposed inside the diffuser 30. The airbag 1 comprises a lower inflating section 2 that inflates and deploys between a seat occupant P and a center console 8 of a vehicle, an upper inflating section 4 provided above the lower inflating section, and a middle inflating section 3 between the lower inflating section 2 and the upper inflating section 4. The lower inflating section 2 inflates and deploys below an upper surface of the center console 8. The inflated and deployed middle inflating section 3 comes into contact with the upper surface of the center console 8. The diffuser 30 has an end portion on a seat rear side and an upper portion that are closed, and a bottom portion that serves as an open first gas outflow port 32, and when the airbag 1 is inflating and deploying, the first gas outflow port 32 is located below the upper surface of the center console 8.

Description

Far side airbag device and diffuser

[0001] The present invention relates to a far side airbag device that inflates and deploys to the side of a vehicle occupant, and a diffuser used in the far side airbag device.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A side airbag device is known in which an airbag is inflated by an inflator to the side of an occupant, and the inflated airbag restrains the body of the occupant.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a side airbag device for a vehicle that includes a rear bag portion, a diffuser that is provided within the rear bag portion and houses an inflator inside, and a front bag portion that inflates and deploys toward the front and upper sides of the vehicle of the rear bag portion, whereby the rear bag portion inflates and deploys earlier and to a higher pressure than the front bag portion, and the low-pressure front bag portion that inflates and deploys later is supported by the high-pressure rear bag portion, thereby stabilizing the deployment behavior of the upper part of the airbag and contributing to improved head protection performance.

[0004] JP 2016-78507 A

[0005] However, in the diffuser structure of the above-mentioned side airbag device, if the lower communication port of the diffuser is temporarily blocked during the airbag deployment process due to interference with the center console or the like, the gas that should have flowed to the lower communication port is instead forced to flow forward inside the airbag through the middle communication port. If this diffuser structure is applied to a far side airbag, the gas that should have flowed to the lower communication port is instead supplied from the middle communication port to the airbag middle inflation portion, which is expected to slow the deployment speed of the lower inflation portion and increase the deployment speed of the middle inflation portion, and there is a risk that the desired occupant restraint performance will not be achieved.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a far side airbag device and a diffuser for use in a far side airbag device that stably inflates and deploys between the center console and the occupant, thereby achieving good occupant restraint performance.

[0007] The far side airbag device of the present invention is a far side airbag device that is disposed to the side of a vehicle seat and includes an airbag, a diffuser provided within the airbag, and an inflator located within the diffuser, wherein the airbag has a lower inflation section that inflates and deploys between the seat occupant and the center console of the vehicle, an upper inflation section provided at an upper portion, and a middle inflation section between the lower inflation section and the upper inflation section, wherein the lower inflation section inflates and deploys below an upper surface of the center console, and the inflated middle inflation section abuts against the upper surface of the center console, and the diffuser has a first gas outlet that is closed at an upper portion and an end toward the rear of the seat and an open bottom, and when the airbag inflates and deploys, the first gas outlet is located below the upper surface of the center console.

[0008] In one aspect of the present invention, one end of the first gas outlet port of the diffuser is sewn together with the main panel sewn portion of the airbag, and the opening diameter of the other end is restricted by a diffuser front end line.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the diffuser has a second gas outlet formed at the height of a lower end of the upper expansion section.

[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the diffuser is formed by folding a panel along a center line, and the folded portion of the panel forms a front portion of the diffuser.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, a bolt insertion hole through which a stud bolt provided on the inflator is inserted is provided on one half side of the panel, and the second gas outlet is provided on the other half side.

[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, a bolt insertion hole through which a stud bolt provided on the inflator is inserted is provided on one half of the panel, and the second gas flow outlet is formed on the center line.

[0013] The diffuser of the present invention is provided within an airbag of a far side airbag device, and has a lower inflation section that inflates and deploys between a seat occupant and the center console of the vehicle and below the upper surface of the center console, an upper inflation section provided at the top, and a middle inflation section between the lower inflation section and the upper inflation section, and has an inflator disposed inside.The upper and rear end portions of the diffuser are closed, and the bottom portion forms a first gas outlet that is open, and when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the first gas outlet is located below the upper surface of the center console.

[0014] According to the present invention, stable inflation and deployment occurs between the center console and the occupant, and good occupant restraint performance is achieved.

[0015] FIG. 4 is a front view of an automobile seat equipped with a far side airbag device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a side view of a deployed airbag. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a diffuser panel. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a diffuser. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a deployed state of an airbag according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a deployed state of an airbag according to another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a side view showing a deployed state of an airbag according to another embodiment.

[0016] A far side airbag device according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5. In the following embodiments, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions correspond to the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle unless otherwise specified. UP, CENTER, and FRONT in the figures respectively indicate the upper direction of the vehicle, the center of the vehicle width, and the front of the vehicle.

[0017] 1 and 2, the airbag 1 of the far side airbag device is configured to inflate between an occupant P seated in a vehicle seat S and a center console 8 (console box). The seat S includes a seat cushion 5, a seat back 6, and a headrest 7.

[0018] The airbag 1 is folded and stored on the side of the seat back 6, and is covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or other member (not shown).

[0019] The airbag 1 has a lower inflation section 2 that inflates and deploys below the upper surface of the center console 8, a middle inflation section 3 that inflates and deploys above the lower inflation section 2 and abuts against the upper surface of the center console 8, and an upper inflation section 4 that inflates and deploys above the middle inflation section 3. The lower end of the lower inflation section 2 is located above the upper surface of the seat cushion 5.

[0020] As shown in Figure 2, this airbag 1 is formed into a bag shape by folding back and overlapping one piece of fabric (panel) 11, or by overlapping two pieces of fabric (panels) and sewing the peripheral edges with a seam 12.

[0021] The lower inflatable section 2, the middle inflatable section 3 and the upper inflatable section 4 are defined by annular connecting portions 13, 14, 15 and a linear connecting portion 16 that connect one half (occupant side) of the panel 11 to the other half (opposite the occupant side).

[0022] When the airbag 1 is inflated and deployed, the annular joint 13 is located lower than the upper surface of the center console 8 , and the part of the airbag 1 below the highest point of the annular joint 13 becomes the lower inflatable part 2 .

[0023] Annular joints 14 and 15 are arranged above the annular joint 13 at a distance in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. One end of the linear joint 16 is connected to the annular joint 14, and the other end is connected to the annular joint 15. The region of the airbag 1 above the highest point of the annular joint 13 and below the annular joints 14 and 15 or the linear joint 16 forms the central inflatable portion 3.

[0024] The region of the airbag 1 above the annular joints 14, 15 and the linear joint 16 constitutes the upper inflatable portion 4. An annular joint 17 is provided in the center of the upper inflatable portion 4 in the up-down and front-rear directions, and the inflated thickness and inflated shape of the upper inflatable portion 4 are adjusted.

[0025] The annular joints 13, 14, 15, 17 and the linear joints 16 are formed by strong joining means that joins the panels together airtightly and prevents the panels from separating even when the internal pressure of the airbag 1 rises to the upper design pressure limit. For example, stitching with high-strength sewing thread, bonding with a highly adhesive adhesive, or welding can be used.

[0026] A diffuser 30 extends vertically in the rear portion of the airbag 1. The diffuser 30 is made by folding a fabric (panel) and sewing the folded body together, and an inflator 21 is disposed inside the diffuser 30. The top surface (upper portion) and rear end (side surface) of the diffuser 30 are closed by being sewn together with the periphery stitching of the airbag (main panel stitching portion). The bottom surface (bottom) of the diffuser 30 is open and forms a gas outlet 32. The front end of the gas outlet 32 ​​is determined by the diffuser front end line, and the rear end of the gas outlet 32 ​​is determined by being sewn together with the periphery stitching of the airbag, thereby restricting the opening diameter of the gas outlet 32. In addition, a gas outlet 33 is provided on the side surface of the diffuser 30 facing away from the occupant.

[0027] The gas outlet 32 ​​has a larger opening area than the gas outlet 33. For example, the opening area of ​​the gas outlet 32 ​​is about 1.2 to 6.0 times the opening area of ​​the gas outlet 33.

[0028] The gas outlet 32 ​​is located below the upper surface of the center console 8. The gas outlet 33 is located above the lower end of the upper inflation section 4, and is preferably located 80 mm or more above the upper surface of the center console 8. Although Fig. 2 shows an example in which the inflator 21 is disposed with the gas outlet at the upper end, the gas outlet may also be disposed at the lower end.

[0029] For example, the diffuser 30 is produced using a panel 31 as shown in Fig. 3. The panel 31 is surrounded by sides a to k and has a shape that is symmetrical with respect to the panel center line L as the axis of symmetry.

[0030] Bolt insertion holes 34 and 35 are formed in one half side H1 of the panel 31. A gas outlet 33 is formed in the other half side H2 of the panel 31.

[0031] The panel 31 is folded along the panel center line L, and one half H1 and the other half H2 of the panel 31 are overlapped. The diffuser 30 is then placed inside the airbag 1. At this time, the half H1 of the panel 31, where the bolt insertion holes 34 and 35 are formed, is positioned on the seat S side. At least some of the overlapping edges of the diffuser are sewn together with the seam 12 that sews the periphery of the panel 11 of the airbag 1. For example, edges a and k, edges b and j, and edges d and g are sewn together with the panel 11 of the airbag 1 with the seam 12.

[0032] 4 and 5, the overlapping edges a and k, b and j, c and h, and d and g may be sewn together with seams 36 before being placed inside the airbag 1. In this case, the bottom edges e and f are not sewn. This produces a diffuser 30 that is closed except for the bottom, which is open and serves as the gas outlet 32. The front of the diffuser 30 is a folded panel portion and has no seams.

[0033] The inflator 21 is inserted into the diffuser 30 through a slit (not shown) in the panel 11 of the airbag 1 and a gas outlet 32 ​​or a slit (not shown) in the diffuser 30, and then the stud bolts 22, 23 provided on the side of the inflator 21 are passed through bolt insertion holes 34, 35 and the bolt insertion holes in the panel 11 to protrude outside the airbag 1. Each of the stud bolts 22, 23 passes through a bolt insertion hole in a case (not shown) of the far side airbag device and protrudes outside the case. The airbag 1 is folded, housed in the case, and covered with a soft cover, a hard cover, or another member. The inflator 21 may be entirely contained within the airbag 1, or a portion of it may be disposed within the airbag 1.

[0034] Stud bolts 22, 23 protruding from the case of this far side airbag device are inserted into bolt insertion holes in the seatback frame and tightened with nuts, thereby fixing the far side airbag device including the airbag 1, inflator 21, and case to the seatback frame.

[0035] The gas ejected by activation of the inflator 21 is guided to the diffuser 30 and distributed to the vehicle lower side (under the seat) and the vehicle upper side. That is, because the top of the diffuser 30 is closed, the gas ejected from the inflator 21 preferentially flows out from the fully opened gas outlet 32 ​​on the bottom surface toward the vehicle lower side, and also flows out from the gas outlet 33 toward the seat upper side. The middle inflation section 3 is pressurized by gas that has passed through the lower inflation section 2 or the upper inflation section 4. As a result, the airbag 1 is inflated while the inflation speed of the lower, middle, and upper inflation sections is controlled. The occupant is then restrained by the fully inflated airbag 1.

[0036] In this embodiment, the diffuser 30 is sewn together with the airbag 1, the gas outlets 32 are located below the upper surface of the center console 8, and the opening diameter of the lower gas outlets 32 is sufficiently larger than that of the upper gas outlets 33. This structure makes it possible to reliably and preferentially inflate the lower inflation section 2 from an extremely early stage of deployment. Even if inflation of the lower inflation section 2 during deployment of the airbag 1 is temporarily hindered due to changes in the position or shape of the center console 8 or the seating position of the occupant P following a collision, inflation of the lower inflation section 2 can be firmly maintained while minimizing gas leakage to the other inflation sections (the middle inflation section 3 and the upper inflation section 4), thereby achieving both good occupant protection performance and improved occupant protection performance in irregular seating positions.

[0037] Furthermore, because the lower inflation section 2 that has been preferentially inflated and deployed is sandwiched between the occupant P and the center console 8 and the middle inflation section 3 that has been inflated and deployed then abuts against the upper surface of the center console 8, it is possible to reliably restrict the deployment position of the middle inflation section 3. This effectively prevents the occupant P from moving sideways in a far-side collision. Furthermore, by suppressing an excessive increase in the inflation speed of the middle inflation section 3 during the airbag deployment process, it is possible to improve occupant protection performance in irregular seating positions and effectively restrain the occupant.

[0038] When the airbag 1 is mounted on the seat S and deployed in an uninflated state, it is preferable that the front end of the gas outlet 32 ​​is located within 400 mm forward of the fixing point of the airbag 1 to the seat back frame, i.e., the stud bolts 22, 23.

[0039] 6, a gas outlet 37 that opens toward the front may be provided instead of the gas outlet 33. The gas outlet 37 is located on the center line L of the panel 31.

[0040] 2 shows a configuration in which the upper end of the front portion of the diffuser 30 (the folded portion of the panel 31) extends to the peripheral portion (seam 12) of the airbag 1, but as shown in FIG. 7, an upper edge U extending rearward from the upper end of the front portion may be continuous with the peripheral portion of the airbag 1. This upper edge U is formed by folding the panel 31 and sewing the overlapping edges together, and is closed.

[0041] The diffuser 30 may be formed by folding the panel 31 and sewing together the sides other than the bottom side, or by overlapping two panels and sewing together the sides other than the bottom side.

[0042] 8, a gas outlet 38 that opens toward the front may be provided instead of the gas outlet 33. For example, a diffuser 30 having gas outlets 32 and 38 can be produced by overlapping two panels and sewing together the other edges while leaving the upper edge F3 and lower edge of the front edge F unsewn. The front edge F of the diffuser panel includes a linear lower edge F1, a curved portion F2 that connects the upper end of the lower edge F1 to the lower end of the upper edge F3 and that is higher toward the front, and a linear upper edge F3. The upper end of the upper edge F3 is continuous with the front end of the upper edge U.

[0043] The deployment performance of the airbag 1 can be adjusted by changing the diameter, shape, and number of the gas outlets of the diffuser 30. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, a gas outlet 39 may be provided in addition to the gas outlet 33 on the side of the diffuser 30 opposite the occupant.

[0044] The gas outlet 39 is disposed between the gas outlet 33 and the upper surface of the center console 8, and in the vicinity of the panel folded portion. The provision of the gas outlet 39 promotes inflation of the central inflatable section 3. The opening area of ​​the gas outlet 32 ​​is larger than the sum of the opening areas of the gas outlets 33 and 39.

[0045] The diffuser 30 may have a reinforcing panel near the orifice of the inflator 21 .

[0046] In the above embodiment, the far side airbag device is attached to the seat back frame, but it may also be attached to the center console 8.

[0047] The above-described embodiment shows one mode of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0048] Although the present invention has been described in detail using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-147738 filed on August 29, 2024, and is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Airbag 2 Lower inflation section 3 Middle inflation section 4 Upper inflation section 21 Inflator 30 Diffuser 32, 33 Gas outlet

Claims

1. A far-side airbag device disposed to the side of a vehicle seat, comprising: an airbag; a diffuser disposed within the airbag; and an inflator disposed within the diffuser; wherein the airbag has a lower inflatable section that inflates and deploys between the seat occupant and the center console of the vehicle, an upper inflatable section disposed at an upper portion, and a middle inflatable section between the lower inflatable section and the upper inflatable section, wherein the lower inflatable section inflates and deploys below an upper surface of the center console, and the inflated middle inflatable section abuts against the upper surface of the center console, and the diffuser has a first gas outlet that is closed at the top and at the end toward the rear of the seat and is open at the bottom, and wherein when the airbag inflates and deploys, the first gas outlet is located below the upper surface of the center console.

2. The far side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein one end of the first gas outlet of the diffuser is sewn together with the main panel stitching of the airbag, and the opening diameter of the other end is restricted by the diffuser front end line.

3. The far side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser has a second gas outlet formed above the lower end of the upper inflatable section.

4. The far side airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the diffuser is formed by folding a panel along its centerline, with the folded portion of the panel forming the front portion of the diffuser.

5. A far side airbag device as described in claim 4, wherein one half of the panel is provided with a bolt insertion hole through which a stud bolt provided on the inflator is inserted, and the other half is provided with the second gas outlet.

6. A far side airbag device as described in claim 4, wherein a bolt insertion hole for inserting a stud bolt provided on the inflator is provided on one half of the panel, and the second gas outlet is formed on the center line.

7. A diffuser that is installed within an airbag of a far side airbag device having a lower inflation section that inflates and deploys between a seat occupant and a center console of a vehicle and below the upper surface of the center console, an upper inflation section provided at the top, and a middle inflation section between the lower inflation section and the upper inflation section, and has an inflator disposed inside, the upper and rear end portions of the diffuser being closed and the bottom portion being an open first gas outlet, and the first gas outlet being located below the upper surface of the center console when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

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