JP2024030069A - Occupant restraint system - Google Patents

Abstract

To quickly lift a seat cushion upward, and suppress forward movement of an occupant.SOLUTION: An occupant restraint device has: a seat cushion 6; a seat frame 4 on which the seat cushion 6 is laid; an air bag G1 arranged between the seat cushion 6 and the seat frame 4; and an inflator 3 for supplying gas to the air bag G1. The expanded and developed air bag G1 has an L shape in side view. The seat frame 4 has a pair of side frames 41a and 41b extending in a seat longitudinal direction; and a front frame 42 bridging front parts of the side frames 41a and 41b. The inflator 3 is arranged in a recess 42 provided on the front frame 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an occupant restraint system.

Various airbag devices and seatbelt devices have been developed to restrain occupants in the event of a vehicle collision. In a head-on collision of a vehicle, there is a possibility that a submarine phenomenon occurs in which the waist of an occupant restrained in a vehicle seat by a seat belt device attempts to pass under the lap belt. Therefore, a device has been proposed in which the front portion of the seat cushion is raised by inflating an airbag disposed at the bottom of the seat cushion.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-199979

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an occupant restraint device that quickly lifts a seat cushion upward to suppress forward movement of an occupant.

The occupant restraint device of the present invention includes a seat cushion, a seat frame on which the seat cushion is mounted, an airbag disposed between the seat cushion and the seat frame, and supplying gas to the airbag. The airbag is provided with an inflator, and when inflated and deployed, the airbag has an L-shape when viewed from the side.

In one aspect of the present invention, the seat frame includes a pair of side frames extending in the front-rear direction of the seat, and a front frame that bridges the front parts of the pair of side frames, and the inflator is attached to the front frame. is placed in a recess provided in the.

In one aspect of the present invention, the rear end of the airbag is not fixed to the seat frame.

In one aspect of the present invention, the airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber connected to a lower front portion of the first chamber, and the inflator is disposed within the second chamber. has been done.

In one aspect of the present invention, the width of the first chamber in the left-right direction of the seat becomes narrower toward the rear of the seat.

In one aspect of the present invention, the airbag is configured by connecting the peripheral edges of an upper panel located on the seat cushion side and a lower panel located on the seat frame side by a seam, and the upper panel is connected to the seat cushion side. It has a tuck portion extending in the left-right direction.

According to the present invention, the seat cushion can be quickly lifted upward to suppress forward movement of the occupant.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the airbag according to the first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the airbag seen from below. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base frame of the vehicle seat. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an airbag during normal operation. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an inflated airbag. It is a figure explaining the panel structure of the 2nd airbag. It is a sectional view showing folding of a panel. 10A and 10B are plan views showing the stitching of panels. 11A and 11B are plan views showing the stitching of panels. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag when inflation is completed.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First embodiment]
The airbag G1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is installed between the base frame 4 and the seat cushion 6 of a vehicle seat S (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Hereinafter, the seat longitudinal direction corresponds to the vehicle longitudinal direction, the seat vertical direction corresponds to the vehicle vertical direction, and the seat width direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. Further, the seat front-rear direction, the seat up-down direction, and the seat width direction are sometimes simply referred to as front-rear, up-down, and left-right.

1 is a plan view of the airbag G1 seen from above, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the airbag G1 seen from below, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a plan view taken along the line IV in FIG. - It is a sectional view taken along the line IV.

The airbag G1 includes a first chamber 1 and a second chamber 2 connected to the front and lower part of the first chamber 1.

The first chamber 1 has a substantially semi-elliptical shape in plan view, with the left and right width increasing toward the front.

The first chamber 1 has a panel 11A forming an upper outer surface and a panel 11B forming a lower outer surface. The panels 11A and 11B have their peripheral edges sewn together with a suture thread 13 to form a bag-like shape. Panel 11A and panel 11B may be separate panels, or may be a series of integral panels.

A circular suture portion 14 is provided at the center in the left-right direction and the center in the front-rear direction of the first chamber 1, and the panel 11A and the panel 11B are connected. By providing the circular suture portion 14, the capacity of the first chamber 1 can be suppressed. A configuration may be adopted in which the circular suture portion 14 is omitted.

The second chamber 2 has a substantially rectangular shape with outwardly curved left and right sides, and its maximum width in the left and right direction is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the maximum width in the left and right direction of the first chamber 1. small. An insertion port for an inflator 3 is provided at the rear of the second chamber 2.

The length of the second chamber 2 in the anteroposterior direction is approximately the same as the length from the circular suture part 14 to the front edge of the first chamber 1, and in the non-inflated state, the front edge of the first chamber 1 and the second chamber The front edge of No. 2 is located at almost the same position. For example, the length of the second chamber 2 in the front-rear direction is about 100 mm.

The second chamber 2 has a panel 21A forming an upper outer surface and a panel 21B forming a lower outer surface. The left and right side edges and front edges of the panels 21A and 21B are sewn together with suture threads 23. The rear edges of the panels 21A and 21B are not sewn together and serve as openings into which the inflator 3 is inserted.

The panel 21A and the panel 21B may be separate panels or may be a series of integrated panels. A vent hole may be provided in the second chamber 2.

The rear end of the panel 21A extends further rearward than the panel 21B. Bolt insertion holes 24 and 25 into which stud bolts 30 erected from the side surface of the inflator 3 are inserted are provided in the rear end extension 21A' of the panel 21A and the rear end of the panel 21B, respectively. .

As shown in FIG. 4, the inflator 3 is inserted into the second chamber 2 from the rear opening of the second chamber 2, and the stud bolt 30 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 25 (second bolt insertion hole) of the panel 21B. Next, the rear end extending portion 21A' of the panel 21A is folded back to the lower surface side, and the stud bolt 30 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 24 (first bolt insertion hole).

A communication port 12 is provided in the lower panel 11B of the first chamber 1 between the circular seam portion 14 and the front edge. A communication port 22 is provided in the upper panel 21A of the second chamber 2 at the center in the front-rear direction. The diameter of the communication port 12 and the diameter of the communication port 22 are approximately the same. Although the number of communication ports 12 and 22 is not particularly limited, in this example, two communication ports 12 and 22 are provided spaced apart from each other in the left and right width direction.

With the communication port 12 of the first chamber 1 and the communication port 22 of the second chamber 2 aligned, the peripheral edges of the communication ports 12 and 22 are joined with the suture thread 15. Thereby, the first chamber 1 and the second chamber 2 are connected, and the inside of the first chamber 1 and the inside of the second chamber 2 are communicated with each other.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base frame 4 (seat frame) of the vehicle seat S to which the airbag G1 is attached. A seat cushion 6 (see FIG. 6) made of urethane or the like is mounted on the base frame 4. The vehicle seat S also includes a seat back 5 rotatably connected to the base frame 4 via a support shaft 9 and a reclining device (not shown), and a headrest ( (not shown).

The base frame 4 includes a pair of side frames 41a and 41b located on the left and right sides of the seat and extending in the front-rear direction, a front frame 42 bridging the front parts of the side frames 41a and 41b, and a side frame 41a. , 41b. An S spring 44 is installed between the front frame 42 and the rear frame 43 as an elastic body.

The S spring 44 extends in the front-rear direction from the front frame 42 to the rear frame 43 while meandering left and right. A plurality of S springs 44 are arranged in multiple rows in the left-right direction between the front frame 42 and the rear frame 43.

As the elastic body provided on the base frame 4, a pan (metal panel) may be used instead of the S spring 44.

The rear part of the front frame 42 has an inclined surface 42a (see FIG. 6) that becomes lower toward the rear, and one end of the S spring 44 is connected to this inclined surface.

A recess 42b for accommodating an inflator is provided at the front of the front frame 42. The recess 42b has a groove shape extending in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the inflator 3 portion inserted into the second chamber 2 of the airbag G1 is placed in the recess 42b, and the stud bolt 30 of the inflator 3 protruding from the rear of the second chamber 2 and the recess 42b are connected to each other. The inflator 3 is fixed to the front frame 42 by fastening to the bottom surface.

The airbag G1 is installed on the front frame 42 and on the S spring 44 between the side frames 41a and 41b without being folded, with the second chamber 2 facing downward. The airbag G1 is not fixed to the base frame 4 or the like other than at the point where it is fixed by the inflator 3.

After installing the airbag G1, the seat cushion 6 is placed on the base frame 4. The airbag G1 is installed between the base frame 4 and the seat cushion 6 in an expanded state.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which an occupant P is seated on the vehicle seat S under normal conditions (when the airbag G is not inflated). The occupant P is wearing a seat belt 8. In the present embodiment, the inflator 3 is disposed within the recess 42b, and the airbag G1 is not folded but spread flat, so that the occupant P seated on the vehicle seat S is less likely to feel a foreign body. Comfort (sitting comfort) can be improved.

When a vehicle collision is detected/predicted by the sensor, a start signal is input to the inflator 3 from the inflator control circuit, and gas is ejected from the inflator 3. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas jetting first inflates the second chamber 2 of the airbag G1. The expansion of the second chamber 2 creates a space between the seat cushion 6 and the base frame 4, and the first chamber 1 is expanded by the gas that has passed through the communication ports 12 and 22. The airbag G1 has a substantially L-shape when viewed from the side (when viewed from the left or right side) upon completion of inflation.

The airbag G1 is supported from below by the S spring 44 and the inclined surface 42a of the front frame 42, and inflates upward so as to increase in thickness (diameter). Thereby, the seat cushion 6 is pushed up, the occupant restraint force by the seat belt 8 (lap belt) is increased, and forward movement of the occupant can be suppressed.

The expanded second chamber 2 supports the front part of the first chamber 1 from below. The inflated airbag G1 has a shape in which the thickness of the bag increases from the rear of the seat to the front of the seat, so the amount of push up of the seat cushion 6 increases as the front of the seat approaches, effectively suppressing forward movement of the occupant. .

[Second embodiment]
In the first embodiment described above, the airbag G1 has two chambers, the first chamber 1 and the second chamber 2, and has a substantially L-shape when inflated and deployed. It may also be an airbag G2 (see FIG. 12) that sometimes has a substantially L-shape when viewed from the side.

The outer surface of the airbag G2 is composed of a panel 50 as shown in FIG. The panel 50 includes a lower panel 50L that forms the lower outer surface of the airbag G2, and an upper panel 50U that forms the upper outer surface. The upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L are a series of integral parts, and the boundary between the upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L is a scheduled folding line L1.

The width of the upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L in the left-right direction becomes narrower as they are closer to the planned folding line L1. By folding back the panel 50 along the planned folding line L1, the upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L are overlapped. At this time, the scheduled return line L1 becomes the trailing edge of the airbag G2. That is, the left and right width of the airbag G2 becomes smaller toward the rear.

A bolt insertion hole 55 is provided near the edge 50a of the lower panel 50L on the front side (opposite to the planned folding line L1).

On the upper panel 50U, three parallel planned return lines L2, L3, and L4 extending in the left-right direction are set in order from the planned return line L1 side at intervals. Further, at the end of the upper panel 50U on the opposite side from the expected folding line L1, the central portion is a projecting portion 50E, and a bolt insertion hole 56 is provided in the projecting portion 50E. Between the overhanging portion 50E and the planned folding line L4, the closer the upper panel 50E is to the overhanging portion 50E, the smaller the horizontal width of the upper panel 50U becomes.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tuck portion T is formed by mountain-folding the upper panel 50U along the planned folding line L3 and valley-folding it along the planned folding lines L2 and L4. The panel 50 is folded back along the planned folding line L1, and the upper panel 50U and lower panel 50L are overlapped.

One end of the tether 60 is connected to the lower panel 50L with a suture 58, and the other end is connected to the tuck portion T of the upper panel 50U (for example, the area between the planned folding line L3 and the planned folding line L4) with the suture 57. Combine by.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the tuck part T is folded backward, and the peripheral edges of the lower panel 50L and the upper panel 50U are sewn together with the suture thread 51 on the front side of the tuck part T. Further, a circular seam portion 53 is formed on the rear side of the tuck portion T that is folded backward, and the upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L are joined together. Here, FIG. 10A is a plan view of the folded panel 50 viewed from the upper panel 50U side, and FIG. 10B is a plan view viewed from the lower panel 50L side.

As in the first embodiment, by providing the circular suture portion 53, the capacity of the airbag can be suppressed even in a one-chamber configuration. A configuration may be adopted in which the circular suture portion 53 is omitted.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the tuck part T is folded forward, and the peripheral edges (left and right side edges and rear edges) of the upper panel 50U and the lower panel 50L, including the tuck part T, are sutured. 52 to produce the airbag G2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the inflator 3 is inserted into the airbag G2 from the side of the overhang 50E, and the stud bolt 30 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 55 of the lower panel 50L. Next, the overhanging portion 50E of the upper panel 50U is folded back to the lower surface side, and the stud bolt 30 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 56.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the inflator 3 portion of the airbag G2 is placed in the recess 42b of the base frame 4 of the vehicle seat S, and the protruding stud bolt 30 of the inflator 3 is connected to the bottom surface of the recess 42b. By tightening, the inflator 3 is fixed to the front frame 42.

The airbag G2 is installed on the front frame 42 and on the S spring 44 between the side frames 41a and 41b without being folded so that the lower panel 50L is on the lower side.

When gas is ejected from the inflator 3, the airbag G2 is inflated as shown in FIG. The tuck portion T deploys forward and the tether 60 restricts the shape of the inflation area at the bottom of the airbag, so that the airbag G2 has a substantially L-shape in side view when inflation is completed. The airbag G2 pushes up the seat cushion 6, increasing the restraining force of the seat belt 8 (lap belt) on the occupant, and suppressing forward movement of the occupant.

The airbag G2 may include an inner panel in addition to the panel 50 forming the outer surface.

The above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and the present invention may have a configuration other than the above.

1 First chamber 2 Second chamber 3 Inflator 4 Base frame 5 Seat back 6 Seat cushion 30 Stud bolt 42 Front frame

Claims (6)

seat cushion and
a seat frame on which the seat cushion is mounted;
an airbag disposed between the seat cushion and the seat frame;
an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag;
Equipped with
An occupant restraint device in which the inflated and deployed airbag has an L-shape when viewed from the side. The seat frame has a pair of side frames extending in the front-back direction of the seat, and a front frame that bridges the front parts of the pair of side frames,
The occupant restraint device according to claim 1, wherein the inflator is disposed within a recess provided in the front frame. The occupant restraint device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rear end of the airbag is not fixed to the seat frame. The airbag includes a first chamber and a second chamber connected to a lower front part of the first chamber,
The occupant restraint device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inflator is disposed within the second chamber. The occupant restraint device according to claim 4, wherein the width of the first chamber in the left-right direction of the seat becomes narrower toward the rear of the seat. The airbag is configured by connecting the peripheral edges of an upper panel located on the seat cushion side and a lower panel located on the seat frame side by a seam,
The occupant restraint device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper panel has a tuck portion extending in the left-right direction of the seat.

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