JP2004058849A - Posterior seat crew's protection device in vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a posterior seat crew's protection device in a vehicle capable of realizing the protection by preventing a rearward movement of the crew seated on the most posterior seat when a rear collision occurs in the vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A tension imparting part 21c is formed on both right and left side parts of an air bag 21 provided corresponding to a rear window glass 18 at a rear end of the vehicle 10 such that it is downwardly prolonged and a lower end of this tension imparting part 21c is fixed to a fixing member of the vehicle. When a gas is fed into the air bag 21 from an inflator 22, the air bag 21 is expanded/developed between tension imparting points 31, 32 with a predetermined tension. Therefore, even if the crew seated on the rear seat is rearwardly and upwardly moved along a backrest by an impact of the collision accident of the vehicle, the movement is prevented by the air bag 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rear occupant protection device for a vehicle for protecting an occupant by preventing the occupant from moving rearward from a rearmost seat when an impact acts on the vehicle from the rear.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as this type of airbag device, for example, a device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-65117 is known. This device includes a sensor for detecting acceleration applied to the rearmost seat portion, and an airbag housed inside the rearmost seat in a folded state. When a rearward acceleration of the vehicle body is detected by the sensor, the airbag is inflated and deployed instantaneously, and the impact on the occupant seated in the rearmost seat is absorbed.
[0003]
Other examples of such an airbag device include an airbag that expands and deploys as described above, which is accommodated in the lower part of a luggage compartment behind the rearmost seat (Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 64-7054). There is also known one that is accommodated in a lower portion of a rear package tray provided at the rear of a section seat (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-186870).
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The conventional airbag device has not been configured to anticipate a situation in which the occupant in the rearmost seat is moved rearward along the backrest of the seat when the vehicle collides violently. Therefore, the occupant could not be sufficiently restrained and could not be prevented from moving.
[0005]
Further, of the above-mentioned conventional airbag devices, in the device for accommodating the airbag inside the seat, the airbag is bulky, so that the seating comfort of the seat is deteriorated, The airbag must be housed in the airbag. Further, in a configuration in which the airbag is housed in the lower part of the luggage compartment or the rear package tray provided at the rear of the rearmost seat, there is a possibility that the inflation and deployment of the airbag may be hindered. Cannot be placed, and the convenience is reduced.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems existing in such conventional technology, and the main purpose of the present invention is to allow a vehicle to be seated in the rearmost seat when a rear-end collision occurs. It is an object of the present invention to provide a rear occupant protection device for a vehicle that can prevent the occupant from moving backward and protect the occupant.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a protection device for a rear occupant in an airbag-type vehicle that can avoid a decrease in seating comfort and convenience in addition to the above objects.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 includes a sensor that detects an impact applied to a vehicle or more than a predetermined value or predicts the impact, and when the sensor is activated, the rear seat The gist of the invention is to provide a movement preventing means for preventing the occupant from moving backward.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the rear occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the first aspect, when the sensor is actuated, the movement preventing means is configured to move the rear seat and the rear window glass from a folded state when the sensor is operated. An airbag that is inflated and deployed between the airbags. The gist of the airbag is that the airbag is provided with tension applying means for applying a tension for preventing the occupant from moving backward.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the rear occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the second aspect, the airbag is accommodated in an upper portion of a rear end of the vehicle, and left and right ends of the airbag are folded. In the retracted state, the ends of the tension applying portions formed on the left and right sides thereof are locked to the vertical sides of the rear window frame, and are configured to apply tension to the inflated and deployed airbag. And
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the rear occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the first aspect, when the sensor is actuated, the movement preventing means causes the backrest constituting the rear seat of the vehicle to move forward. The main point is that at least one is selected from a forward tilting mechanism that tilts the headrest forward, a forward tilting mechanism that tilts the headrest forward, and a lifting mechanism that raises the headrest.
[0012]
(Action)
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle by the sensor, the movement preventing means prevents the rear seat occupant from moving backward, thereby protecting the occupant.
[0013]
According to the second aspect of the invention, when the sensor is operated, the airbag is inflated and deployed between the rearmost seat and the rear window glass, and tension is applied to the airbag by the tension applying means. Therefore, even if the occupant is moved rearward from the rear seat along the backrest, the movement is prevented by the airbag, and the occupant is protected.
[0014]
According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the operation of the second aspect, the airbag does not need to be accommodated in the lower part of the luggage compartment behind the rearmost seat or the lower part of the rear package tray. A reduction in sitting comfort and convenience is avoided.
[0015]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the sensor is operated, the backrest or the headrest of the rear seat is tilted forward or raised to prevent the occupant from moving backward, thereby protecting the occupant.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a rear occupant protection device in a vehicle of the present invention is embodied in an airbag device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0017]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an airbag 21 formed in a bag shape and a gas for inflation when a signal is input are supplied to the end of the roof 11 on the rear side of the vehicle 10. And an inflator 22 that supplies the air to the inflator 21.
[0018]
The roof 11 of the vehicle 10 includes a roof panel 12 as an exterior member, a roof head lining 13 as a decorative member, and an inner panel 14, as shown in FIG. I have. The roof head lining 13 is provided with a flexible material such as a synthetic resin so as to cover the entire surface of the roof panel 12 on the vehicle interior side. The inner panel 14 is provided between the roof panel 12 and the roof head lining 13.
[0019]
The roof head lining 13 is configured such that an end portion 13a on the vehicle rear side, which is in contact with the inner panel 14, is deformed so as to be pushed open by the airbag 21 when the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed. (See the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).
[0020]
At the end of the inner panel 14 on the rear side of the vehicle 10, a plurality of mounting holes 14a are formed, and nuts 15 are welded to correspond to these mounting holes 14a. These nuts 15 are used for mounting the airbag 21 and the inflator 22. The roof 11 has a relatively small deformation when a shock is applied to the vehicle 10 from behind, and has a large degree of freedom when an internal space is provided between the inner panel 14 and the roof head lining 13. Large capacity can be secured. Therefore, in the device of the present embodiment, the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 are fixed to the roof 11 (the inner panel 14) through the nut 15 described above.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 21 is formed in a substantially horizontally long rectangular shape in a state where it is not inflated, and has extended portions 21c extending obliquely downward at both ends. The airbag 21 is folded when attached to the vehicle 10. A plurality of mounting portions 21b having mounting holes 21a are formed in a portion corresponding to one side of the horizontal rectangular shape of the airbag 21 so as to correspond to the mounting holes 14a provided in the inner panel 14. The inflator 22 is also provided with a mounting portion 22b having a mounting hole 22a. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, a bolt 16 is inserted through the mounting holes 21a and 22a and the mounting hole 14a provided in the inner panel 14, and the bolt 16 is screwed to the nut 15, thereby forming the air. The bag 21 and the inflator 22 are fixed to the inner panel 14. Thereby, the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 are accommodated between the roof head lining 13 and the inner panel 14.
[0022]
A pair of left and right extending portions of the airbag 21 are tension applying portions 21c, 21c, and lower ends of the tension applying portions 21c, 21c are attached to left and right side wall portions (vehicle fixing members) of the inner panel 14. The airbag 21 is fixed by bolts and nuts, and the fixed portions are tension applying points 31 and 32 for applying tension to the airbag 21. The tension applying portions 21c, 21c are covered by end portions 13a of a roof head lining 13 extending on both right and left sides so as to correspond to rear pillars (not shown) of the vehicle so as to be invisible from the outside. The tension applying portion 21c may be accommodated between the side pillar garnish and the body.
[0023]
In this embodiment, the tension applying portion 21c and the tension applying points 31 and 32 of the airbag 21 constitute a rearward occupant movement preventing means in the rearmost seat. The airbag 21 is fixed so that the deployment direction of the airbag 21 when inflated is directed to the end 13a of the roof head lining 13 on the vehicle rear side. When the airbag 21 is inflated, as shown by a dashed line in FIGS. 1 to 3, the airbag 21 hangs down from the upper end 13 a in a substantially gravity direction, in other words, the back door 17 of the vehicle 10. Is deployed along the window glass so as to partition between the rear window glass 18 attached to the vehicle and the rearmost seat 19.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the airbag 21 is formed with a front and back integrated portion 21 d, and when the front and back integrated portion 21 d is in a deployed state, the cylindrical cell 21 e extends in the vertical direction, and gas for inflation is provided on both left and right outer sides. , And is supplied to each cylindrical cell 21e.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, a sensor 24 is provided near the rear bumper 23 of the vehicle 10. The sensor 24 outputs a signal to that effect when a predetermined or more impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from behind. Note that the vehicle 10 is a vehicle in which the distance between the rear bumper 23 and the rearmost seat 19 is short, and the rear end of the roof 11 is located behind the rearmost seat 19 ( For example, one box car or two box car) is assumed.
[0026]
The airbag device according to the present embodiment includes an electronic control device 25 including, for example, a microcomputer. The electronic control unit 25 captures the output signal of the sensor 24, calculates whether or not the vehicle 10 has been subjected to an impact based on the signal, and outputs an operation signal to the inflator 22 according to the calculation result. .
[0027]
In this device, when a predetermined or more impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from behind, the sensor 24 outputs a signal, and the output signal is taken into the electronic control device 25. At this time, the electronic control unit 25 determines that an impact has been applied to the vehicle 10 and outputs an operation signal to the inflator 22. Thereby, inflation gas is supplied from the inflator 22 to the inside of the bag-shaped airbag 21 so that the airbag 21 partitions between the rear window glass 18 and the rearmost seat 19 as shown in FIG. Inflated and deployed. As a result, even if the occupant seated in the rearmost seat 19 is moved rearward along the backrest of the rearmost seat 19, the airbag 21 prevents the rearward movement, and the occupant jumps out of the rear window glass 18. Is prevented. In addition, the inflated and deployed airbag 21 reduces the impact on the vehicle interior due to scattered or intruding objects from behind, and absorbs the impact applied to the rear of the vehicle 10.
[0028]
When the airbag 21 is deployed, the internal pressure of the cylindrical cell 21e is maintained at 25 kPa for, for example, one second or more, and a predetermined tension is applied to the airbag 21.
[0029]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, tension applying portions 21 c, 21 c are formed at both left and right ends of the airbag 21, and the lower ends thereof are located at intermediate height positions of the rear window glass 18 in the vertical direction. And fixed to the fixing member of the vehicle as tension applying points 31 and 32. For this reason, tension is applied to the airbag 21 in the inflated and deployed state between the tension applying points 31 and 32, and the occupant seated in the rearmost seat 19 moves rearward along the backrest due to a rear-end collision of the vehicle. Even if it does, the movement can be prevented by the airbag 21 and the occupant can be protected.
[0030]
(2) Since the front and back integrated portion 21d and the cylindrical cell 21e are formed on the airbag 21, the thickness of the airbag 21 can be regulated to a predetermined size as shown in FIG. Appropriate tension can be applied.
[0031]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inflation gas flows downward from both left and right sides and is supplied to the cylindrical cell 21e from the lower entrance of the cylindrical cell 21e. For this reason, the surface of the airbag 21 is formed quickly, and the occupant restraint performance can be further improved.
[0032]
(3) Since the airbag 21 is formed by extending the bag itself to form a tension applying portion 21c and fixing the distal end portions to the vehicle fixing members as tension applying points 31 and 32, the tension applying means is provided. The structure is simplified, and the manufacturing and assembling work can be easily performed.
[0033]
(4) Since the airbag 21 is provided at the end of the roof 11 on the rear side of the vehicle 10, there is no need to bury the airbag device in the rearmost seat 19 or restrict the use of the luggage compartment. . Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the sitting comfort and convenience of the seat.
[0034]
(5) The airbag 21 is fixed to the rear end of the roof 11 that is less deformed when an impact is applied to the vehicle 10 from behind. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the airbag 21 from being hindered from being deployed and to prevent the deployment direction from being changed carelessly. Therefore, when the airbag device is operated, the airbag 21 can be more reliably brought into a desired deployed state.
[0035]
(6) Since the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 are accommodated in the roof 11, a space for accommodating the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 can be easily secured. Moreover, since the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 are accommodated between the roof head lining 13 and the inner panel 14, the airbag 21 and the inflator 22 are covered with the roof head lining 13, so that the appearance is improved. You can also.
[0036]
(7) The airbag 21 is inflated and deployed so as to hang from the end of the roof 11 on the rear side of the vehicle 10 substantially in the direction of gravity. For this reason, the airbag 21 can be inflated and deployed behind the rearmost seat 19, and interference between the airbag 21 and the occupant seated in the rearmost seat 19 during the inflation and deployment can be suppressed.
[0037]
(8) The airbag 21 is deployed so as to partition between the rear window glass 18 and the rearmost seat 19. Thus, when an impact is applied to the rear of the vehicle 10, the rear window glass 18 and the occupant sitting on the rearmost seat 19 are isolated via the airbag 21. Then, the influence on the vehicle interior due to flying objects, entering objects, and the like from behind is reduced. In particular, by mounting such an airbag device in a vehicle in which the distance between the rearmost seat 19 and the rear bumper 23 is short, the above-described effect can be remarkably exhibited.
[0038]
(Another embodiment)
Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in the rearmost seat 19 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0039]
The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a backrest supported by the buttocks 33 of the rear seat portion 33, the backrest portion 34, and the headrest 35 of the rearmost seat 19 via a hinge mechanism 36 so as to be tiltable in the front-rear direction. The portion 34 can be tilted forward by an actuator 37 for tilting forward such as an air cylinder. In this embodiment, a forward tilt mechanism of the backrest 34 is constituted by the collision prediction sensor (not shown) provided separately from the hinge mechanism 36, the forward tilt actuator 37, and the sensor 24.
[0040]
When a collision prediction sensor (not shown) is operated, an operation signal is output from the electronic control unit 25, the backrest portion 34 is tilted forward by the forward tilting actuator 37, and the occupant sitting on the rearmost seat 19. Is moved to the forward leaning posture. As a result, the occupant is prevented from moving backward in the event of a collision, and protection can be achieved. Further, when the rear collision accident of the vehicle is severe, the sensor 24 is operated, and the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed.
[0041]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, a lifting actuator 41 constituting a lifting mechanism is provided inside the backrest 34. Then, when a collision prediction sensor (not shown) provided separately from the sensor 24 is operated, the headrest 35 is raised by the lifting actuator 41 so as to prevent the rear seat occupant from moving backward. It was done.
[0042]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, a forward tilt actuator 42 as a forward tilt mechanism is provided inside the backrest portion 34, and the headrest 35 is tilted forward by the forward tilt actuator 42. . When a collision prediction sensor (not shown) provided separately from the sensor 24 is operated, the headrest 35 is tilted forward by the forward tilt actuator 42, thereby preventing the occupant from moving rearward.
[0043]
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a belt wrapping device (not shown) that automatically winds the seat belt around the rearmost seat 19 is provided, and when the backrest 34 or the headrest 35 is operated, the seatbelt is automatically turned on. You may be made to be involved. In this case, the occupant can be more appropriately protected.
[0044]
8A and 8B, when a rear collision accident of the vehicle is severe, the sensor 24 is operated, and the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed.
The above embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications.
[0045]
-In the embodiment shown in Drawing 7 and Drawing 8, airbag 21 may be omitted. As shown in FIG. 9, the airbag 21 forms the sewn portion 43 by sewing the front and back coating cloths with a sewing machine to form the cylindrical cell 21e. However, with this alone, it is difficult to maintain the internal pressure of the cylindrical cell 21e at 25 kPa for, for example, one second or more in a state where the airbag 21 is deployed. For this reason, it is desirable to apply the coating along the sewn portion 43 so as to close a fine gap formed in the eye of the sewn portion 43.
[0046]
-The spherical cell 21f may be formed in the airbag 21 as shown in FIG. Further, the spherical cells 21f may be communicated with each other by a passage 21g. As shown in FIG. 11, tension applying belts 46 and 47 may be connected to the tension applying points 31 and 32, and their leading ends may be connected to the airbag 21 in a V-shape.
[0047]
12. As shown in FIG. 12, one end of a tension applying belt 51 is fixed to a fixing member on the right side of the vehicle by a locking member 52, and the other end of the tension applying belt 51 is attached to a fixing member on the left side of the vehicle. The take-up device 53 may be configured to enable the take-up. The tension applying belt 51 passes through a guide piece 54 adhered to the airbag 21 and is stretched with a predetermined tension to the locking member 52 and the winding device 53.
[0048]
In the folded state of the airbag 21, the tension applying belt 51 is rewound by a winding device 53 and is housed together with the airbag 21 in, for example, a space between the roof head lining 13 and the inner panel 14.
[0049]
The function as the airbag 21 may be given to a sunshoe used as a curtain instead of the airbag.
The airbag 21 may be inflated by an output from a vehicle collision prediction sensor. In this case, since the airbag is inflated and deployed before the vehicle collides, the occupant can be more reliably restrained.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, the airbag device is housed between the roof head lining 13 and the inner panel 14. On the other hand, the airbag device may be mounted on the roof head lining 13 while being housed in a case or the like that can be opened when the airbag 21 is inflated and deployed.
[0051]
In the above-described embodiment, the airbag 21 is provided at the end of the roof 11 on the rear side of the vehicle 10, but may be provided above the back door 17 of the vehicle 10.
[0052]
In the above embodiment, the inflator 22 is provided at the end of the roof 11 on the rear side of the vehicle 10. However, if the inflation gas can be reliably supplied to the airbag 21, the inflator 22 is provided. The location can be changed arbitrarily.
[0053]
The airbag 21 may be inflated and deployed upward from below. The tension applying points 31, 32 of the airbag 21 may be set at the lowermost end of the vertical side of the rear window frame.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle by the sensor, the movement preventing means can prevent the occupant of the rear seat from moving backward, thereby protecting the occupant.
[0055]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the tension is applied to the airbag by the tension applying means in the inflated and deployed state. Therefore, even if the occupant is moved rearward from the rear seat along the backrest, the movement is controlled by the airbag. Can be prevented and occupants can be protected.
[0056]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to avoid a reduction in seating comfort and convenience.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the sensor is actuated, the backrest or the headrest of the rear seat is tilted forward or moved upward to prevent the occupant from moving backward, thereby protecting the occupant. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a rear portion of a vehicle to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the vehicle.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an undeployed front view of the airbag and the inflator employed in the embodiment as viewed from the rear.
FIG. 5 is a front view of a deployed state of the airbag viewed from the rear.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the deployed state of the airbag.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a rear portion of a vehicle showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are side views of a rear seat showing a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a schematic front view showing a modification of the airbag.
FIG. 10 is a schematic front view showing a modification of the airbag.
FIG. 11 is a schematic front view showing a modification of the airbag.
FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing a modification of the airbag.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: vehicle, 13a: end portion, 18: rear window glass, 21: airbag, 21c: tension applying portion, 24: sensor, 34: backrest portion, 35: headrest.

Claims (4)

A sensor for detecting an impact of a predetermined value or more applied to the vehicle or for predicting the impact, and a movement preventing means for preventing a rear seat occupant from moving backward when the sensor is operated. Rear occupant protection device for vehicles. The movement preventing means is an airbag that inflates and deploys between the rear seat and the rear window glass from the folded state when the sensor is operated, and the airbag prevents the occupant from moving backward. The protection device for a rear occupant in a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a tension applying means for applying a tension for preventing the rear occupant. The airbag is accommodated in an upper portion of a rear end of the vehicle, and left and right ends of the airbag are folded and accommodated, and ends of tension applying portions formed on both left and right sides of the airbag extend vertically of a rear window frame. 3. The protection device for a rear occupant in a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the device is locked to a side and is configured to apply tension to the airbag in an inflated and deployed state. When the sensor is operated, the movement preventing means includes a forward tilt mechanism for tilting a backrest constituting a rear seat of the vehicle in a forward direction, a forward tilt mechanism for tilting a headrest in a forward direction, and a lift for raising the headrest. The protection device for a rear occupant in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the mechanisms is selected.

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