Occupant protection device and vehicle seat

Abstract

The invention improves performance with respect to restraining an occupant's pelvis by controlling the orientation of deployment of an airbag. In order to achieve the foregoing, an occupant protection device (30) as in the present disclosure is provided to the interior of or below a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, and is provided with: a vertical wall piece (24P) provided near the rear end of a seat pan (24); a rearward extending piece (24Q) provided integrally with the vertical wall piece (24P) and extending rearward from near an upper end section (24P1) of the vertical wall piece (24P); an airbag cushion (52) that is provided in a folded state and can be deployed by inflation; and an inflator (54) for providing an inflating deployment gas to an interior space of the airbag cushion (52) in the event of a vehicle emergency. The inflator (54) is mounted onto the vertical wall piece (24P) in a state in which the rearward extending piece (24Q), having deformed during inflation and deployment of the airbag cushion (52), can abut against part of the inflator (54).

Description

Occupant protection device and vehicle seat

[0001] The present invention relates to an occupant protection device provided inside or below a vehicle seat and its seat cushion.

[0002] When the vehicle collides head-on, the occupant tends to move forward due to inertia. At the time of such a head-on collision, a PRC (Pelvis Restraint Cushion), which instantaneously inflates and deploys an airbag fixed on a seat pan in the vehicle seat to raise the front end of the seat cushion and thereby suppress the forward movement of the occupant's waist, is used as a type of occupant protection device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The airbag in such a conventional occupant protection device is configured to start inflating and deploying on the upper surface of the seat pan and inflate and deploy while receiving a reaction force from the upper surface of the seat pan.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-118820

[0004] However, depending on the form of the seat pan, the seat pan may be greatly deformed by the load from the inflated airbag. Due to the large deformation of the seat pan, the airbag may not exhibit its intended deployment behavior. As a result, the pushing up of the seat surface by the airbag may not be sufficient, and there is a possibility that the restraint performance of the occupant's pelvis and waist may decrease.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an occupant protection device and a vehicle seat that improve the occupant's waist restraint performance by controlling the deployment direction of the airbag.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an occupant protection device provided inside or below the seat cushion of a vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat frame disposed within the seat cushion, and a seat pan extending in the width direction in at least the front portion of the seat frame, comprising: a vertical wall piece provided near the rear end of the seat pan; a rear extension piece provided integrally with the vertical wall piece and extending rearward from near the upper end of the vertical wall piece; a foldable and inflatable airbag cushion; and an inflator that supplies gas for inflation and deployment to the internal space of the airbag cushion in the event of a vehicle emergency, wherein the inflator is attached to the vertical wall piece in such a state that the rear extension piece, which is deformed when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, can come into contact with a part of the inflator.

[0007] In the occupant protection device described above, when the vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, the rear extension piece provided on the rear end of the seat pan is pushed and deformed by the occupant moving forward relative to it, causing it to come into contact with a part of the inflator, thereby controlling the direction of the inflator. By using the deformation of the seat pan in this way to control the direction of the inflator, the occupant protection device can be made to deploy the airbag cushion as originally intended.

[0008] In the occupant protection device described above, a hinge portion may be formed at the boundary between the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece.

[0009] In the occupant protection device described above, the rear extension piece may be configured to be deformable so as to rotate downward from the hinge portion.

[0010] In the occupant protection device described above, the rear extension piece may be configured to deform by rotating downward from the hinge, thereby acting on the vertical wall piece to deform upward from the hinge.

[0011] In the occupant protection device described above, the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece may be configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when a pressing force is applied to the rear extension piece from the inflated and deployed airbag cushion.

[0012] In the occupant protection device described above, the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece may be configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is pressed against it as the occupant moves forward during a vehicle collision.

[0013] In the occupant protection device described above, the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece may be formed integrally with the seat pan.

[0014] In the occupant protection device described above, the inflator may be mounted in a position such that it does not protrude above the seat pan when viewed from the side of the vehicle seat, with respect to the front-rear cross-section at the center of the width of the seat pan.

[0015] In the occupant protection device described above, the inflator may be mounted at a position lower than the straight line connecting the upper end of the rear end of the seat pan and the upper end of the vertical wall piece.

[0016] In the occupant protection device described above, the airbag cushion, when folded, has an inflator housing section located on the lower side of the seat pan for housing the inflator, and a main inflation section located on the upper side of the seat pan, and the main inflation section may be configured to inflate and unfold in a direction that lifts the seat cushion, located behind the inflator housing section.

[0017] In the occupant protection device described above, the connecting portion that connects the insides of the inflator housing and the main inflation section may be configured to pass through the opening of the seat pan.

[0018] In the occupant protection device described above, the airbag cushion may be provided such that the main inflation portion wraps around to one side of the rear extension when inflated and deployed.

[0019] In the occupant protection device described above, the front ends of the multiple seat springs arranged within the seat cushion may be positioned near the rear end of the seat pan.

[0020] In the occupant protection device described above, the seat pan may be in the shape of a plate.

[0021] In the occupant protection device described above, the inflator may be attached to the vertical wall piece with the stud bolt facing rearward, such that the rear extension piece that deforms when the airbag cushion inflates and deploys can come into contact with the stud bolt of the inflator.

[0022] In the occupant protection device described above, the seat cushion may be positioned behind the inflator.

[0023] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle seat equipped with the occupant protection device described above.

[0024] This is a perspective view showing the external shape of a vehicle seat equipped with an occupant protection device according to the embodiment. This is a perspective view showing the internal frame structure of the vehicle seat in Figure 1A. This is a perspective view showing the front part of the vehicle seat with a portion omitted. This is a diagram showing the occupant protection device according to Embodiment 1 in a lateral cross-section of the front part of the vehicle seat, showing the state before the airbag cushion inflates and deploys. This is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the seat pan of the vehicle seat. This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section along line VV in Figure 4, showing an example of the cross-sectional structure of the seat pan and the arrangement of the inflator. This is a diagram showing the first step of the operation when the airbag cushion inflates and deploys. This is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the seat pan and inflator in the first step. This is a diagram showing the second step of the operation when the airbag cushion inflates and deploys. This is a schematic diagram showing the movement of the seat pan and inflator in the second step.

[0025] A occupant protection device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In this document, up and down, left and right, and front and back are defined as follows. When an occupant is seated in a seat (vehicle seat) in a normal posture, the direction the occupant is facing is called the front, and the opposite direction is called the rear, and when indicating the axis of the coordinate system, it is called the front and back direction. Similarly, when an occupant is seated in a vehicle seat in a normal posture, the right side of the occupant is called the right direction, and the left side of the occupant is called the left direction, and when indicating the axis of the coordinate system, it is called the left and right direction or the seat width direction. Likewise, when an occupant is seated in a normal posture, the direction of the occupant's head is called up, and the direction of the occupant's waist is called down, and when indicating the axis of the coordinate system, it is called the up and down direction.

[0026] Furthermore, in this book, "occupant" refers to a dummy used for frontal crash tests (a human body dummy for frontal crash tests as defined by the Hybrid III AM50 / NHTSA [National Highway Traffic Safety Administration] standards [49CFR Part 572 Subpart E and O]), who has a physique equivalent to an average American male, with approximate dimensions of 175 cm in height, 88 cm in sitting height, and 78 kg in weight.

[0027] First, an example configuration of the vehicle seat 100 and the occupant protection device 30 will be described (see Figures 1A to 3). As shown in Figures 1A and 1B, the vehicle seat 100 includes a seat back 1 that supports the occupant's back, a seat cushion 2 on which the occupant sits, and a headrest 3 that supports the occupant's head. The vehicle seat 100 is, for example, the driver's seat or the passenger seat, but it may also be a rear seat.

[0028] Inside the seat back 1 and seat cushion 2, there is a back frame 10 and a seat frame (seat frame) 20, respectively, which form the framework of the seat. The back frame 10 and the seat frame 20 are made of metal parts or processed hard resin and are connected to each other via a reclining mechanism 4. The seat frame 20 has a pair of side frames 22, 22 that are spaced apart on the left and right sides, and a seat pan 24 (see Figure 2) is installed between the front ends of the pair of side frames 22, 22. The seat pan 24 is located below the front part of the seat cushion 2, and a seat spring 25 that supports the seat cushion 2 is provided behind the seat pan 24.

[0029] The seat cushion 2 includes, for example, a seat pad made of urethane foam or the like that covers the surface and surrounding area of ​​the seat frame 20, and a seat cover made of leather, fabric or the like that that covers the surface of the seat pad. The upper surface of the seat cover constitutes the surface on which the occupant sits, i.e., the seat surface 26 of the seat cushion 2.

[0030] The occupant protection device 30 consists of a PRC (Personal Retainer Control) installed inside or below the seat cushion 2. For example, the occupant protection device 30 is installed inside the seat cushion 2 and covered by a seat cover. As will be described later, a part of the occupant protection device 30 (particularly the inflator 54) is installed on the underside of the seat pan 24.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the sheet pan 24 extends in the sheet width direction, bridging a pair of side frames 22, 22. Here, the sheet pan 24 is installed between the front ends of the pair of side frames 22, 22 and is bolted to the upper surfaces of the pair of side frames 22, 22 at multiple points (two points) on both the left and right sides. The sheet pan 24 is made, for example, by processing an iron or steel plate.

[0032] The seat springs 25 are positioned inside the seat cushion 2 to provide cushioning to the seat cushion 2, and are, for example, bent into a wave shape. Multiple seat springs 25 are provided in the seat width direction, and each extends in the front-rear direction. One end (rear end) of the seat spring 25 is locked to a connecting bar 28 that connects the rear ends of a pair of side frames 22, 22 (see Figure 1B). The other end (front end) of the seat spring 25 is locked to a submarine bar 27. Note that the submarine bar 27 is omitted in Figure 1B.

[0033] The submarine bar 27 is designed to suppress the submarine effect and extends in the seat width direction, bridging a pair of side frames 22, 22. The submarine bar 27 is located behind the rear end 24a of the seat pan 24. The space between the submarine bar 27 and the rear end 24a of the seat pan 24 is an open space 29 in the seat width direction and the seat front-rear direction, and the occupant protection device 30 is provided on the upper and lower sides of the seat pan 24 via this space 29.

[0034] In other embodiments, bridge members other than the submarine bar 27 may be used to support the pair of side frames 22, 22. Alternatively, the submarine bar 27 may not be provided at all. In this case, the front end of the seat spring 25 may be connected to the rear end of the seat pan 24.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the occupant protection device 30 includes an inflatable and deployable airbag cushion 52 and an inflator 54 that supplies gas for inflation and deployment to the internal space of the airbag cushion 52 in the event of a vehicle emergency. A vehicle emergency is, for example, a frontal collision of the vehicle.

[0036] The inflator 54 is positioned below the seat pan 24 and is electrically connected to a vehicle-side ECU (not shown). For example, the inflator 54 receives a signal from the vehicle-side ECU detecting the impact during a frontal collision of the vehicle and activates, instantly supplying gas to the airbag cushion 52. Various types of inflators can be used for the inflator 54, such as those filled with a gas generating agent, compressed gas, or both. For example, the inflator 54 has an ignition device at the open end of a bottomed cylindrical body. This ignition device ignites the gas generating agent inside the cylinder, generating gas, which is then supplied to the airbag cushion 52 for inflation and deployment through multiple ejection holes on the circumferential surface of the cylinder.

[0037] The inflator 54 may be configured to activate at least twice in the event of a vehicle emergency, supplying inflation gas to the internal space of the airbag cushion 52 at least twice. In the case of such two (or more) activations, two (or more) inflators 54 may be used, or one inflator 54 may be equipped with two (or more) squibs.

[0038] The airbag cushion 52 is a bag that inflates and deploys upon receiving gas from the inflator 54. The airbag cushion 52 is formed by joining (e.g., sewing or bonding) one or more base fabrics, such as nonwoven fabric, at appropriate positions, or by weaving using OPW (One-Piece Woven). The airbag cushion 52 is provided folded in at least a portion. The folding configuration is arbitrary and can be, for example, accordion-like, roll-like, or a combination thereof, or it may be a configuration in which only a portion is folded.

[0039] In its folded state, the airbag cushion 52 has an inflator housing 61 and a main inflation section 62. The inflator housing 61 is located on the underside of the seat pan 24, and the main inflation section 62 is located on the upper side of the seat pan 24. In this folded state, the main inflation section 62 extends flat without being substantially folded, and the inflator housing 61 is located on the underside of the seat pan 24 by being folded downward from the main inflation section 62. The interior of the inflator housing 61 and the interior of the main inflation section 62 are in communication with each other.

[0040] The inflator housing 61 houses the inflator 54. The inflator housing 61 inflates and deploys upon receiving gas from the inflator 54. The inflator 54 is attached to the seat pan 24 on its underside. For example, if the bottomed cylindrical body described above is used as the inflator 54, the axial direction of the cylindrical body is aligned with the seat width direction and housed inside the inflator housing 61, positioned on the underside of the rear end of the seat pan 24. Stud bolts 54a protruding from the outer circumference of the cylindrical body are made to protrude to the outside of the inflator housing 61, and the seat pan 24 is inserted through them and fastened to the seat pan 24 with nuts (not shown). In this way, the occupant protection device 30 is mounted on the seat pan 24 by the stud bolts 54a and nuts. The airbag cushion 52 itself does not have any fastening points to the seat pan 24.

[0041] The main inflatable portion 62 is disposed in the longitudinal direction above the seat pan 24 at the rear portion of the seat pan 24 and rearward thereof. For example, the front portion 62a of the main inflatable portion 62 is disposed above the rear portion of the seat pan 24, and the rear portion 62b of the main inflatable portion 62 extends rearward beyond the submarine bar 27 and is disposed above the front end portions of the submarine bar 27 and the seat spring 25. The front portion 62a and the rear portion 62b can be portions that constitute the front half and the rear half of the main inflatable portion 62. The front portion 62a and the rear portion 62b each extend flatly without being substantially folded. On the other hand, the lower portion between the front portion 62a and the rear portion 62b is folded downward and protrudes into the space 29 between the submarine bar 27 and the rear end of the seat pan 24. This protruding portion serves as the inflator housing portion 61.

[0042] The interior of the main inflatable portion 62 communicates with the interior of the inflator housing portion 61 and receives the supply of gas from the inflator 54. Thereby, the main inflatable portion 62 expands and deploys. However, since the inflator 54 is housed in the inflator housing portion 61, the main inflatable portion 62 expands and deploys after the inflator housing portion 61 expands and deploys.

[0043] Hereinafter, a passenger protection device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The passenger protection device 30 of the present embodiment is configured to improve the waist restraint performance of a passenger by controlling the deployment direction of the airbag cushion 52 (see FIGS. 4 to 9).

[0044] The seat pan 24 in the passenger protection device 30 of the present embodiment is formed of a plate-like member, and a rear plate-like portion 24J, a vertical wall piece 24P, a rear extension piece 24Q, and a hinge portion 24H are integrally formed on the seat pan 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0045] The rear plate-like portion 24J is formed of a plate-like member extending in the left-right direction provided on the rear side of the space 29. In the case of the present embodiment, the space 29 that is open in the seat width direction and the seat longitudinal direction is formed between the rear plate-like portion 24J and the rear end 24a (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0046] The vertical wall piece 24P is composed of a member provided in a flange shape at a position near the rear end of the seat pan 24. The vertical wall piece 24P in the present embodiment is composed of a plate-shaped member that extends downward forward and is supported in a cantilever manner by the rear plate-shaped portion 24J via the hinge portion 24H (see FIG. 5). The vertical wall piece 24P functions as a part (inflator mount portion) where the inflator 54 is attached (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0047] The rear extension piece 24Q is composed of a plate-shaped member that extends downward rearward and is supported in a cantilever manner by the rear plate-shaped portion 24J via the hinge portion 24H (see FIG. 5). This rear extension piece 24Q is formed in a size and shape that is deformed by being pushed forward when the occupant moves relatively forward during a vehicle emergency (front collision of the vehicle) (see FIG. 8 etc.).

[0048] The hinge portion 24H is a bent portion formed at the boundary between the vertical wall piece 24P and the rear extension piece 24Q, and the rear extension piece 24Q is in a deformable state so as to rotate downward starting from the hinge portion 24H (see FIG. 5 etc.).

[0049] With respect to the vertical wall piece 24P of the seat pan 24 as described above, the inflator 54 is fastened and fixed by a nut (not shown) in a state where a stud bolt 54a protruding from the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical body thereof is inserted (see FIGS. 4 and 5). At this time, when the vehicle collides (in this case, it is normal for the airbag cushion 52 to expand and deploy), the rear extension piece 24Q deformed by the occupant moving relatively forward abuts against a part of the inflator 54 (in the case of the present embodiment, the stud bolt 54a), and the stud bolt 54a is attached to the vertical wall piece 24P in a state facing rearward (see FIG. 8 etc.). Note that at least the rear portion of the cushion that holds the vicinity of the occupant's buttocks in the seat cushion 2 is disposed at a position rearward of the inflator 54.

[0050] Furthermore, in the occupant protection device 30 of this embodiment, the inflator 54 is mounted in a position that does not protrude above the seat pan 24 when viewed from the side of the vehicle seat 100, with the front-rear cross section at the center of the width direction of the seat pan 24 (see Figure 5). More specifically, in this case, the inflator 54 is mounted at a position lower than the straight line L connecting the upper end 24a1 of the rear end 24a of the seat pan 24 (in this embodiment, the front end of the space 29) 24a and the upper end 24P1 of the vertical wall piece 24P (in this embodiment, coinciding with the position of the hinge portion 24H) (see Figure 5). With such an occupant protection device 30, in which the inflator 54 does not protrude from the seat pan 24, it is possible to avoid adverse effects on the comfort of the occupants.

[0051] In this embodiment, the airbag cushion 52 in the occupant protection device 30 has an inflator housing 61 and a main inflation section 62 when folded. The inflator housing 61 is provided on the lower side of the seat pan 24, and the main inflation section 62 is provided on the upper side of the seat pan 24. The main inflation section 62 is provided to inflate and unfold in a direction that lifts the seat cushion 2, behind the inflator housing 61. A connecting section 63, which connects the interiors of the inflator housing 61 and the main inflation section 62, is provided between the inflator housing 61 and the main inflation section 62, and is configured to pass through the opening 24c of the seat pan 24 (an opening formed by the space 29 that connects the upper and lower parts of the seat pan 24). Furthermore, it is preferable that the airbag cushion 52 is provided such that the main inflation section 62 wraps around to the rear extension piece 24Q side when inflated and unfolded (see Figure 8).

[0052] With respect to such a sheet pan 24, the front ends of the multiple sheet springs 25 (see Figure 2) arranged within the seat cushion 2 are positioned in the vicinity of a part of the sheet pan 24, for example, near the rear end 24a of the sheet pan.

[0053] The operation of the occupant protection device 30 of this embodiment, configured as described above, will now be explained (see Figures 6 to 9, etc.). The occupant protection device 30 is positioned so that the inflated main inflatable part 62 pushes up the area near the occupant's thighs, close to their buttocks. It is assumed that the occupant is seated on the seat cushion 2 in a normal posture and is wearing a seat belt (not shown).

[0054] <Step 1> When a vehicle is hit in a frontal collision, the vehicle's ECU receives a signal detecting the impact and activates the inflator 54. Gas is supplied instantaneously, causing the inflator housing 61 to inflate and deploy first, followed instantly by the main inflation section 62, thus inflating and deploying the airbag cushion 52. The main inflation section 62 inflates and deploys diagonally upward and backward, pushing up the seat surface 26, thereby lifting the area near the occupant's thighs, close to their buttocks. This creates a force that causes the occupant's pelvis to rotate clockwise in the diagram (backward flexion and rotation of the waist), and this action restrains the occupant's pelvis and waist. Specifically, since the occupant's spine is not pushed up, no phase difference occurs in the rib cage, and no strain is placed on the occupant's chest, while suppressing forward movement of the occupant's waist and preventing the submarining effect.

[0055] It should be noted that the main inflation section 62 of the airbag cushion 52 does not actively utilize the upper surface 24u of the sheet pan 24 as a reaction surface to inflate and deploy. In the airbag cushion 52, the inflator housing 61 is first supplied with gas and inflates and deploys on the underside of the sheet pan 24, and then the main inflation section 62 is instantly inflated and deploys as gas flows in from the inflator housing 61. This gas flow from the inflator 54 and the inflation and deployment of the airbag cushion 52 reduce the load on the upper surface 24u of the sheet pan 24 when the inflator 54 is operating, thereby suppressing large deformations of the sheet pan 24.

[0056] When the airbag cushion 52 is inflated and deployed, the load from the occupant acts on the main inflatable section 62. The lower surface of the inflated main inflatable section 62 is supported by the upper surface 24u of the seat pan 24, etc., but at this time, the load from the occupant is also supported by the connecting section 63 sandwiched between the rear end of the seat pan 24 and the submarine bar 27, and the inflator housing section 61 which is inflated and deployed below it. This suppresses the occupant from sinking.

[0057] Now, during the series of operations described above, even if an external force acting on the inflator 54 to rotate forward (an external force in the direction indicated by the counterclockwise arrow A1 in Figure 6) is applied, the tip of the stud bolt 54a will come into contact with the rear plate-like portion 24J and become jammed, thereby restricting the amount of deformation of the vertical wall piece 24P (see Figure 6). This prevents the inflator 54 from escaping downwards (sinking downwards) and thus controls the orientation of the inflator 54, making it possible to improve the initial restraining force. Furthermore, while bending of the seat pan 24 may lead to a decrease in restraining performance, controlling the orientation of the inflator 54 by restricting deformation as described above makes it possible to suppress the decrease in initial restraining performance.

[0058] Furthermore, even if a force acts on the vertical wall piece 24P to which the inflator 54 is mounted to indent backward when the airbag cushion 52 is inflated and deployed, the occupant protection device 30 of this embodiment, configured as described above, can prevent the vertical wall piece 24P from deforming in a way that causes it to indent, by acting like a stopper (see Figure 7). As a result, there is less obstruction to the airbag cushion 52 inflating and deploying as intended, and the main inflation part 62 inflates and deploys so as to wrap around to the rear extension piece 24Q side (see the arrow indicated by reference numeral A4), raising the front end of the seat cushion 2 and allowing the PRC (Personal Retaining Control) to perform its original function as a PRC, which is to suppress the forward movement of the occupant's waist.

[0059] <Second Step> In the second step following the first step, the inflated airbag cushion 52 is pressed against the rear extension piece 24Q of the seat pan 24 as the occupant moves forward during a vehicle collision, and a load (see arrow indicated by symbol F) acts on it, causing deformation (see Figure 8). At this time, the rear extension piece 24Q deforms to rotate around the hinge portion 24H as its starting point or center (see arrow indicated by symbol A2), and along the way it comes into contact with and presses against the stud bolt 54a of the inflator 54, deforming the vertical wall piece 24P so as to lift the inflator 54 around the hinge portion 24H (see Figures 8 and 9). In this way, when the stud bolt 54a is pressed over the rear extension piece 24Q, the inflator mounting surface is lifted and moves closer to the occupant, and as a result the orientation of the inflator 54 is controlled (see the arrow indicated by symbol A3), causing the airbag cushion 52 to inflate and deploy so as to fly out toward the occupant, thereby improving the occupant restraint performance of the airbag cushion 52.

[0060] With the occupant protection device 30 having the structure of this embodiment, the occupant's lumbar restraint performance can be further improved by controlling the manner in which the airbag cushion 52 inflates and deploys, particularly its orientation. Furthermore, such a structure that achieves improved restraint performance can be applied even to a seat pan 24 with low rigidity. In other words, the occupant protection device 30 having the structure of this embodiment can contribute to reducing the weight of the seat pan 24. Moreover, because the occupant's lumbar restraint performance is improved by structurally controlling the manner in which the airbag cushion 52 inflates and deploys, particularly its orientation, it is possible to achieve the required restraint performance even if the bag capacity of the airbag cushion 52 is reduced.

[0061] The embodiments described above are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit its interpretation. The elements of the embodiments, as well as their arrangement, materials, conditions, shapes, and sizes, are not limited to those exemplified and can be modified as appropriate.

[0062] For example, in the above-described embodiment, an occupant protection device 30 was described in which the rear extension piece 24Q and the vertical wall piece 24P are deformed starting from the hinge portion 24H as the inflated and deployed airbag cushion 52 is pressed against the occupant as the occupant moves forward during a vehicle collision (see Figure 7, etc.). However, this is merely one preferred example of a structure that improves the occupant's lumbar restraint performance by controlling the direction of deployment of the airbag cushion 52. In addition, the occupant protection device 30 may be configured such that, for example, the rear extension piece 24Q and the vertical wall piece 24P are deformed starting from the hinge portion 24H as a pressing force is applied to the rear extension piece 24Q from the inflated and deployed airbag cushion 52. Although not specifically illustrated, a structure in which the airbag cushion 52 moves around independently of the occupant can be realized, for example, by having a seat pad made of urethane foam or the like of the seat cushion 2 that has an inclined surface that slopes backward in the area where the airbag cushion 52 inflates and deploys, in a shape that guides the airbag cushion 52. Alternatively, it can be realized by having a structure in which a small gap is provided from the inflator housing 61 to the rear to facilitate the rearward deployment of the airbag cushion 52.

[0063] <Additional considerations regarding various embodiments>

[0064] [Embodiment 1] An occupant protection device provided inside or below the seat cushion of a vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat frame disposed within the seat cushion, and a seat pan extending in the width direction in at least the front portion of the seat frame, comprising: a vertical wall piece provided near the rear end of the seat pan; a rear extension piece provided integrally with the vertical wall piece and extending rearward from near the upper end of the vertical wall piece; a foldable and inflatable airbag cushion; and an inflator that supplies gas for inflation and deployment to the internal space of the airbag cushion in the event of a vehicle emergency, wherein the inflator is attached to the vertical wall piece in such a state that the rear extension piece, which is deformed when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, can come into contact with a part of the inflator.

[0065] [Embodiment 2] The occupant protection device according to Embodiment 1, wherein a hinge portion is formed at the boundary between the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece.

[0066] [Embodiment 3] The occupant protection device according to Embodiment 2, wherein the rear extension piece is configured to be deformable so as to rotate downward with respect to the hinge portion.

[0067] [Embodiment 4] The occupant protection device according to Embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the rear extension piece deforms to rotate downward from the hinge portion, and as a result, a force acts on the vertical wall piece to deform it to rotate upward from the hinge portion.

[0068] [Embodiment 5] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 2 to 4, wherein the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece are configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when a pressing force is applied to the rear extension piece from the inflated and deployed airbag cushion.

[0069] [Embodiment 6] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 2 to 5, wherein the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece are configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is pressed against it as the occupant moves forward during a vehicle collision.

[0070] [Embodiment 7] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece are integrally formed with the seat pan.

[0071] [Embodiment 8] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein, in a side view of the vehicle seat, the inflator is mounted in a position that does not protrude above the seat pan when viewed from the side of the vehicle seat, at the center of the width of the seat pan in the front-rear direction.

[0072] [Embodiment 9] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the inflator is mounted at a position lower than the straight line connecting the upper end of the rear end of the sheet pan and the upper end of the vertical wall piece.

[0073] [Embodiment 10] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the airbag cushion, in a folded state, has an inflator housing portion provided on the lower side of the seat pan for housing the inflator, and a main inflation portion provided on the upper side of the seat pan, and the main inflation portion is provided to inflate and unfold in a direction that lifts the seat cushion behind the inflator housing portion.

[0074] [Embodiment 11] The occupant protection device according to Embodiment 10, wherein a connecting portion that connects the interiors of the inflator housing and the main inflation portion is configured to pass through the opening of the sheet pan.

[0075] [Embodiment 12] The occupant protection device according to Embodiment 10 or 11, wherein the airbag cushion is provided such that the main inflation portion wraps around to the rear extension side when inflated and deployed.

[0076] [Embodiment 13] An occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the front ends of a plurality of seat springs arranged in the seat cushion are located near the rear end of the seat pan.

[0077] [Embodiment 14] The occupant protection device according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the sheet pan is plate-shaped.

[0078] [Embodiment 15] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the inflator is attached to the vertical wall piece with the stud bolt facing rearward, such that the rear extension piece that is deformed when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed can come into contact with the stud bolt of the inflator.

[0079] [Embodiment 16] The occupant protection device according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the seat cushion is positioned behind the inflator.

[0080] [Embodiment 17] A vehicle seat equipped with an occupant protection device according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 16.

[0081] 1...Seat back, 2...Seat cushion, 3...Headrest, 4...Reclining mechanism, 10...Back frame, 20...Seating frame (seat frame), 22...Side frame, 24...Seat pan, 24a...Rear end, 24a1...Upper end of rear end, 24c...Opening, 24H...Hinge part, 24J...Rear plate-like part, 24P...Vertical wall piece, 24P1...Upper end, 24Q...Rear extension piece, 24u...Upper surface of seat pan, 25...Seat spring, 26...Seat surface, 27...Submarine bar (bridge member), 28 ...connecting bar, 29...space, 30...occupant protection device, 52...airbag cushion, 54...inflator, 54a...stud bolt, 61...inflator housing, 62...main inflation section, 62a...front section, 62b...rear section, 63...connecting section, 65...support member, 70...base fabric, 71...first section, 72...second section, 73...third section, 75...waist section, 76...hole, 100...vehicle seat, 240b...rear end, L...straight line connecting the upper end 24a1 of the rear end 24a of the seat pan 24 and the upper end 24P1 of the vertical wall piece 24P

Claims

1. An occupant protection device provided inside or below the seat cushion of a vehicle seat having a seat cushion, a seat frame disposed within the seat cushion, and a seat pan extending in the width direction in at least the front portion of the seat frame, comprising: a vertical wall piece provided near the rear end of the seat pan; a rear extension piece provided integrally with the vertical wall piece and extending rearward from near the upper end of the vertical wall piece; a foldable and inflatable airbag cushion; and an inflator that supplies gas for inflation and deployment to the internal space of the airbag cushion in the event of a vehicle emergency, wherein the inflator is attached to the vertical wall piece in such a state that the rear extension piece, which is deformed when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed, can come into contact with a part of the inflator.

2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein a hinge portion is formed at the boundary between the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece.

3. The occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the rear extension piece is configured to be deformable so as to rotate downward with respect to the hinge portion.

4. The occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the rear extension piece is deformed to rotate downward from the hinge portion, and as a result, a force acts on the vertical wall piece to deform it to rotate upward from the hinge portion.

5. The occupant protection device according to claim 4, wherein the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece are configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when a pressing force is applied to the rear extension piece from the inflated and deployed airbag cushion.

6. The occupant protection device according to claim 4, wherein the rear extension piece and the vertical wall piece are configured to deform starting from the hinge portion when the inflated and deployed airbag cushion is pressed against it as the occupant moves forward during a vehicle collision.

7. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the vertical wall piece and the rear extension piece are integrally formed with the seat pan.

8. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, in a side view of the vehicle seat, the inflator is mounted in a position that does not protrude above the seat pan when viewed from the side of the vehicle seat, at the center of the width of the seat pan in the front-rear direction.

9. The occupant protection device according to claim 8, wherein the inflator is mounted at a position lower than the straight line connecting the upper end of the rear end of the sheet pan and the upper end of the vertical wall piece.

10. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the airbag cushion, in a folded state, has an inflator housing portion provided on the lower side of the seat pan for housing the inflator, and a main inflation portion provided on the upper side of the seat pan, the main inflation portion being provided to inflate and unfold in a direction that lifts the seat cushion, behind the inflator housing portion.

11. The occupant protection device according to claim 10, wherein a connecting portion that connects the interiors of the inflator housing and the main inflation portion is configured to pass through the opening of the sheet pan.

12. The occupant protection device according to claim 10, wherein the airbag cushion is provided such that the main inflation portion wraps around to the rear extension side when inflated and deployed.

13. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the front ends of a plurality of seat springs arranged within the seat cushion are positioned near the rear end of the seat pan.

14. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheet pan is plate-shaped.

15. The occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inflator is attached to the vertical wall piece with the stud bolt facing rearward, such that the rear extension piece that is deformed when the airbag cushion is inflated and deployed can come into contact with the stud bolt of the inflator.

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