JP2017178152A - Vehicle occupant protection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cope with a plurality of collision modes while suppressing an increase in the number of airbags. An occupant protection device for an automobile 1 passes from a seat 5 on which an occupant in the automobile 1 is seated and from the rear upper side of the occupant seated in the seat 5 near the side surface of the head to the front surface of the upper body. It has a shoulder airbag device 101 having a shoulder airbag 102 that is deployed downward and a lower airbag device that has a lower airbag that is deployed around the lower limbs of an occupant seated on the seat 5. A lower airbag deployed around the lower limbs hits the peripheral surface of the tip of the shoulder airbag 102 that hangs down to the front side of the occupant. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection device.

In a vehicle such as an automobile, a seat belt device or an airbag device is used to protect an occupant during a collision.
The airbag apparatus includes a front airbag that is deployed rearward from the front side of the occupant as disclosed in Patent Document 1. The front airbag is deployed when the vehicle collides from the front, for example, and receives and supports an occupant trying to move forward in the event of a front collision.
Moreover, there exists a curtain airbag which expand | deploys in the front-back direction along the vehicle side surface inside like patent document 2. FIG. The curtain airbag is deployed, for example, when there is a collision from the side of the vehicle, and receives and supports an occupant trying to move outward in the vehicle width direction at the time of the side collision.
In addition, there is a side airbag that is deployed between the inner side of the vehicle side surface and the occupant below the curtain airbag. The side airbag, together with the curtain airbag, receives and supports an occupant who intends to move outward in the vehicle width direction in the event of a side collision.

JP2013-014176A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2015-0667123

  Thus, the vehicle is provided with a plurality of airbags in order to cope with a plurality of collision modes. The number of airbags increases approximately proportionally according to the number of collision modes to be dealt with.

  Vehicles are required to cope with a plurality of collision modes while suppressing an increase in the number of airbags.

  A vehicle occupant protection device according to the present invention includes a seat on which an occupant seated in a vehicle sits, and passes downward from the upper rear side of the occupant seated on the seat along the front surface of the upper body. A shoulder airbag device having a shoulder airbag to be deployed, and a lower airbag device having a lower airbag deployed around a lower limb of an occupant seated on the seat, and hanging from the front side of the occupant The lower airbag that is deployed around the lower limbs hits the peripheral surface of the front end of the bag.

  Preferably, the lower airbag has an extended deployment part that extends and expands to or near the thigh of the occupant seated on the seat, and the front end of the shoulder airbag that hangs down to the front side of the occupant includes It is good to be sandwiched between the extended deployment part and the occupant's body.

  Preferably, the extended deployment part is formed on an inclined surface in which the upper part projects toward the occupant's body from the lower part of the contact part with the tip part of the shoulder airbag.

  Preferably, the shoulder airbag is deployed after the lower airbag, and enters between the deployed deployment portion and the occupant's body during deployment.

  Preferably, the shoulder airbag crosses a seat belt that passes from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat to the front side of the upper body through the vicinity of the side of the head.

In the present invention, the shoulder airbag is deployed downward along the front surface of the upper body from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat, passing near the side of the head. Therefore, the upper body of the occupant who tries to move away from the seat in the event of a collision is supported by the shoulder airbag, and is difficult to move further. This makes it difficult for the upper body of the occupant to move away from the seat in a plurality of collision modes such as a forward collision and a side collision.
Moreover, the shoulder airbag that hangs down on the front side of the occupant hits the lower airbag developed around the limb of the occupant seated on the seat. Therefore, when a load acts on the shoulder airbag due to the upper body of the occupant moving in the direction away from the seat, the lower airbag can bear a part of the load. Even if the shoulder airbag alone is subjected to load deformation, the shoulder airbag can easily maintain the original shape by cooperation with the lower airbag.
As a result, the shoulder airbag can be suitably supported so that the original curved shape or bent shape is maintained even when the passenger's load is applied, and the passenger is hardly separated from the seat.
In particular, since the lower airbag is in contact with the lower side of the shoulder airbag where the occupant's load acts directly, the magnitude and direction of the load acting on the shoulder airbag due to differences in the body shape of the seated occupant, for example. Even if they are different, a part of the load that the shoulder airbag acts on the lower airbag can be released to the lower airbag.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a passenger protection state by various airbag devices. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by the shoulder airbag device of the present embodiment. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the shoulder airbag apparatus of FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation example of the shoulder airbag device of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a modified example of the structure of the shoulder airbag. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the contact portion between the shoulder airbag and the knee airbag. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of a modified example in which the shoulder airbag comes into contact with another airbag.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an automobile 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automobile 1 is an example of a vehicle. FIG. 1 also shows another vehicle that runs in front of the vehicle 1.

  An automobile 1 in FIG. 1 has a vehicle body including a front chamber 2, a passenger compartment 3, and a rear chamber 4. In the front chamber 2, a power unit such as an engine and an electric motor is arranged. A luggage space is provided in the rear chamber 4. The passenger compartment 3 is provided with a seat 5 on which an occupant is seated. In the passenger compartment 3, operating members such as an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and a handle are provided in front of the driver's seat 5. The automobile 1 travels, stops, and turns left and right based on the driver's operation.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a passenger protection state by various airbag devices.

FIG. 2A illustrates a front airbag device 11 that deploys the front airbag 12 from the front of the occupant seated on the seat 5 toward the occupant. The front airbag device 11 includes an inflator, an undeployed front airbag 12, and a main body 13 that accommodates these. The main body 13 is disposed on a dashboard or a handle, for example. When the inflator is ignited, the front airbag 12 is deployed rearward. By deploying the front airbag 12 in front of the occupant seated on the seat 5, it is possible to receive and support the occupant who moves forward in the event of a collision from the front side, for example.
FIG. 2B shows a curtain airbag device 16 that deploys the curtain airbag 17 along the front-rear direction outside the occupant seated on the seat 5, and the front-rear direction below the curtain airbag 17. A side airbag device 21 for deploying the side airbag 22 is shown. The main body 18 of the curtain airbag device 16 is disposed on a roof rail, for example. The curtain airbag device 16 is deployed along the window glass in a range from the A pillar to the C pillar. The main body 23 of the side airbag device 21 is disposed, for example, on the outer portion of the back portion of the seat 5. The side airbag device 21 deploys the side airbag 22 from the outer portion of the back portion of the seat 5 toward the front. The curtain airbag 17 and the side airbag 22 are deployed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the occupant seated on the seat 5, for example, to catch the occupant trying to move outward in the vehicle width direction in the event of a collision from the side. , Can secure a space between the occupant and the door.
FIG. 2C shows a front airbag device 11 and a side airbag device 21. The front airbag 12 and the side airbag 22 are deployed on the front side of the occupant seated on the seat 5 and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, thereby catching the occupant who is going to move diagonally forward in the event of a collision from diagonally forward, for example. Can be supported.
Thus, the automobile 1 is provided with a plurality of airbags in order to cope with a plurality of collision modes. The number of airbags increases approximately proportionally according to the number of collision modes to be dealt with. As collision safety standards are strengthened or reviewed in the future, it will be necessary to provide more airbags.
Therefore, the automobile 1 is required to be able to cope with a plurality of collision modes while suppressing an increase in the number of airbags.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an occupant protection state by the shoulder airbag device 101 of the present embodiment. 3A is a side view, FIG. 3B is a front view, and FIG. 3C is a top view. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the shoulder airbag device 101 is deployed. FIG. 3 also shows a knee airbag device 71 that deploys a knee airbag 72 around the lower limbs of the occupant.

The shoulder airbag apparatus 101 of FIG. 3 has the shoulder airbag 102 and the main body 103 which accommodates an inflator with this.
The main body 103 of the shoulder airbag device 101 is disposed on the right side of the back portion of the seat 5, for example. The main body 103 may be disposed on the right side portion of the headrest of the seat 5. Here, the right side is the inside in the vehicle width direction.
The shoulder airbag 102 is basically a substantially L-shaped bag body. The shoulder airbag 102 starts to be deployed from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat 5, passes near the right side of the head, and is deployed downward along the front surface of the upper body. In this deployed state, the shoulder airbag 102 intersects the seat belt 110 that is stretched from the left side to the lower right side on the front side of the upper body. The left and right collarbones and shoulders of the occupant are tightened by a shoulder airbag 102 and a seat belt 110.

The knee airbag device 71 includes a knee airbag 72 and a main body 73 that accommodates the inflator.
The main body 73 of the knee airbag device 71 is disposed in the front portion of the seat 5 for the toe board.
The knee airbag 72 is basically a bag body elongated in the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the knee airbag 72 has an extended deployment part 74.
The knee airbag 72 is deployed toward the lower limb of the occupant seated on the seat 5 and presses the lower limb of the occupant from the front side. The extended deployment part 74 is deployed further rearward from the lower limb contact surface, and is deployed on the thigh to the vicinity of the upper body of the occupant seated on the seat 5.
Further, the rear end surface of the extended deployment portion 74 is formed as an inclined surface 75 that protrudes toward the occupant's body in the upper part from the lower part.

  When the shoulder airbag 102 and the knee airbag 72 are deployed, the shoulder airbag hangs down in front of the occupant between the rear end surface of the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the front surface of the occupant's upper body. The tip of 102 is sandwiched. The rear end surface of the knee airbag 72 hits the peripheral surface of the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 from the front side.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the shoulder airbag apparatus 101 of FIG.

  4 includes an imaging device 51, an acceleration sensor 52, a speed sensor 53, a brake operation sensor 54, an angular speed sensor 55, a belt tension sensor 56, a belt winding amount sensor 57, a seating sensor 58, a timer 59, and these. A control unit 60 connected thereto; FIG. 4 also shows a seat belt device and an airbag device that are controlled objects connected to the control unit 60. The airbag device here includes a shoulder airbag device 101.

  The imaging device 51 is, for example, a pair of imaging elements, and is provided forward on the roof or windshield of the passenger compartment 3 as shown in the figure, and observes the surrounding situation in front of the automobile 1 by imaging. The control unit 60 can identify an obstacle such as another automobile in front of the automobile 1 as the surrounding situation of the automobile 1 from the captured image, and can determine the possibility of the collision of the obstacle. Thereby, the driving | running | working condition of the motor vehicle 1 before a collision can be detected.

  The acceleration sensor 52 is fixed to the vehicle body and detects an acceleration that acts on the automobile 1 as the traveling state of the automobile 1. Thereby, the deceleration of the automobile 1 before the collision can be detected. Further, since a large deceleration occurs at the time of a collision, the collision of the automobile 1 can be detected.

  The speed sensor 53 is fixed to the vehicle body and detects the speed of the automobile 1 as the traveling state of the automobile 1.

  The brake operation sensor 54 is provided in the passenger compartment 3 and detects the depression operation of the brake pedal by the passenger. Thereby, the deceleration operation of the automobile 1 before the collision can be detected.

  The angular velocity sensor 55 is fixed to the vehicle body and detects the speed of the automobile 1 as the traveling state of the automobile 1.

  The belt tension sensor 56 is provided, for example, in the retractor device, and detects the tension acting on the strap. Accordingly, it is possible to detect the movement of the occupant's body that moves relatively forward during the rear-end collision, or the tension acting on the strap due to the movement of the body.

  The belt winding amount sensor 57 is provided, for example, in the retractor device, and detects the winding amount of the strap.

  The seating sensor 58 is provided, for example, on the seating surface of the seat 5 and detects the seating of the occupant on the seat 5 and the seating position.

  The timer 59 measures time.

  The controller 60 controls the occupant protection operation by the seat belt device and the airbag device based on the detection signals of these sensors. For example, the control unit 60 performs the pre-collision control based on the collision prediction, and performs the collision control based on the collision detection.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation example of the shoulder airbag device 101 of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the occupant is seated on the seat 5 before the collision.
For example, the control unit 60 periodically predicts the possibility of a collision based on the image of the imaging device 51. When there is a possibility of a collision, the control unit 60 operates the seat belt device, and pulls the upper body of the occupant to the seat 5 by the seat belt 110 wound up.
Thereafter, the control unit 60 detects a collision based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor 52, for example. And when a collision is detected, the control part 60 operates an airbag apparatus.

First, the knee airbag 72 is deployed by the knee airbag device 71. The knee airbag 72 starts to be deployed rearward from the front side of the seat 5, and presses both knees or lower limbs of the occupant seated on the seat 5 from the front side as shown in FIG.
Further, the knee airbag 72 is further deployed in the present embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the extended deployment portion 74 is deployed on both upper thighs of the occupant seated on the seat 5.

Further, the deployment and timing of the knee airbag device 71 are moved back and forth. Generally, after the knee airbag device 71 starts to be deployed, the shoulder airbag device 101 deploys the shoulder airbag 102.
The shoulder airbag 102 starts to be deployed from the rear upper side of the occupant, passes near the right side of the head, and is deployed downward along the front surface of the upper body. The shoulder airbag 102 crosses the seat belt 110 and is in a state where the upper body of the occupant can be winged together with the seat belt 110.
Thereafter, the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 enters between the rear end surface of the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the front surface of the upper body of the occupant during the deployment. Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, the shoulder airbag 102 is further deployed including its tip. Thus, the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 is sandwiched between the inclined surface 75 at the rear end of the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the front surface of the occupant's upper body. The front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 is temporarily fixed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the shoulder airbag 102 is deployed downward along the front surface of the upper body from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat 5, passing near the head side surface. Therefore, the upper body of the occupant who tries to move away from the seat 5 in the event of a collision is supported by the shoulder airbag 102 and is difficult to move further. This makes it difficult for the upper body of the occupant to move away from the seat 5 in a plurality of collision modes such as a forward collision and a side collision.
Moreover, the shoulder airbag 102 that hangs down in front of the occupant hits the knee airbag 72 that develops around the lower limb of the occupant seated on the seat 5 at the front end of the shoulder airbag 102. Therefore, when a load acts on the shoulder airbag 102 due to the occupant's upper body moving away from the seat 5, the knee airbag 72 can bear a part of the load. Even if the shoulder airbag 102 alone is deformed by load, the shoulder airbag 102 can easily maintain the original shape by cooperation with the knee airbag 72.
As a result, the shoulder airbag 102 maintains its original curved shape or bent shape even when a passenger's load is applied, and can be suitably supported so that the passenger is less likely to leave the seat 5.
In particular, since the knee airbag 72, which is a separate body, is in contact with and pressed on the lower side of the shoulder airbag 102 where the occupant's load directly acts, it acts on the shoulder airbag 102 due to differences in the body shape of the occupant seated, for example. Even if the magnitude and direction of the load to be applied are different, a part of the load acting on the shoulder airbag 102 can be released to the knee airbag 72.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the knee airbag 72 has an extended deployment portion 74 that extends to the thigh of the occupant seated in the seat 5 and deploys to the thigh, and the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 that hangs down to the front of the occupant Is sandwiched between the extended deployment part 74 and the occupant's body. Therefore, when the occupant moves away from the seat 5, the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 is sandwiched between the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the body, and it is difficult to remove from there. The shoulder airbag 102 is in a state where the upper and lower sides are fixed, and can exhibit high occupant support performance.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the extended deployment part 74 is formed on an inclined surface 75 that protrudes toward the occupant's body at the upper part from the lower part of the contact part with the front end part of the shoulder airbag 102. Therefore, even if the gas pressure is slightly low, the front end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 sandwiched between the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the body is difficult to come out from between them.

  In the present embodiment, the shoulder airbag 102 is deployed from the rear of the knee airbag 72 and enters between the deployed extended deployment portion 74 and the occupant's body during deployment. Therefore, the shoulder airbag 102 is sandwiched between the extended deployment portion 74 of the knee airbag 72 and the body by being deployed thereafter.

  In the present embodiment, the shoulder airbag 102 intersects the seat belt 110 that passes from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat 5 to the front side of the upper body through the vicinity of the head side surface. Therefore, the left and right collarbones and front surfaces of the occupant can be suppressed in cooperation with the seat belt 110. Further, since the seat belt 110 is thin, even if the shoulder airbag 102 is deployed on the front side, the shoulder airbag 102 can be deployed so as to be in close contact with the front surface of the upper body. As a result, the protection performance can be improved.

  The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications or changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the structure of the shoulder airbag 102.
In FIG. 6A, the shoulder airbag 102 is divided into a first air chamber on the proximal end side and a second air chamber on the distal end side by the partition plate 61. A valve is provided between these air chambers. In this case, the shoulder airbag 102 can be deployed first by deploying the first air chamber, and then the second air chamber can be deployed when the pressure exceeds the threshold value of the valve.
In FIG. 6B, the shoulder airbag 102 has a tether 62. The tether 62 is stretched between a portion that expands in the front-rear direction and a portion that expands in the up-down direction. In this case, the shoulder airbag 102 can be easily deployed in a substantially L shape.
Even in these cases, the shoulder airbag 102 can be suitably deployed in a substantially L shape.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example of the contact portion between the shoulder airbag 102 and the knee airbag 72.
The inclined surface 75 on the rear side that contacts the shoulder airbag 102 of the knee airbag 72 of FIG. 7 is coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction. This makes it difficult for the shoulder airbag 102 deployed later to be caught by the knee airbag 72 deployed earlier during deployment. The coating may be applied to the shoulder airbag 102.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a modified example in which the shoulder airbag 102 is in contact with another airbag.
In FIG. 8 (A), the seat cushion airbag device 81 deploys the seat cushion airbag 82 upward from between the legs of the occupant seated after being deployed from the seat 5. The lower end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 is sandwiched between the seat cushion airbag 82 and the upper body of the occupant.
In FIG. 8B, the side airbag device 21 deploys the side airbag 22 from the left side that is the outside of the occupant seated on the seat 5 toward the front inside. The lower end portion of the shoulder airbag 102 is sandwiched between the side airbag 22 and the upper body of the occupant.

1 ... Automobile (vehicle)
2 ... Front room 3 ... Passenger room 4 ... Rear room 5 ... Seat 11 ... Front airbag device 12 ... Front airbag 13 ... Body 16 ... Curtain airbag device 17 ... Curtain airbag 18 ... Body 21 ... Side airbag device 22 ... Side airbag 23 ... Body 51 ... Imaging device 52 ... Acceleration sensor 53 ... Speed sensor 54 ... Brake operation sensor 55 ... Angular speed sensor 56 ... Belt tension sensor 57 ... Belt take-up sensor 58 ... Seat sensor 59 ... Timer 60 ... Control Part 61 ... Partition plate 62 ... Tether 71 ... Knee airbag device 72 ... Knee airbag 73 ... Main body 74 ... Extension deployment part 75 ... Inclined surface 81 ... Seat cushion airbag device 82 ... Seat cushion airbag 101 ... Shoulder airbag device 102 ... Shoulder airbag 103 ... Main body 110 ... Seat belt

Claims (5)

A seat on which an occupant in the vehicle sits;
A shoulder airbag device having a shoulder airbag that is deployed downward along the front surface of the upper body from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat, passing near the head side surface;
A lower airbag device having a lower airbag deployed around the lower limb of an occupant seated on the seat;
Have
The lower airbag that is deployed around the lower limbs hits the peripheral surface of the front end portion of the shoulder airbag that hangs down to the front of the occupant.
Vehicle occupant protection device. The lower airbag has an extended deployment part that extends and extends to above or near the thigh of an occupant seated on the seat,
The front end portion of the shoulder airbag that hangs down on the front side of the occupant is sandwiched between the extended deployment portion and the occupant's body,
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1. The extended deployment part is formed on an inclined surface in which the upper part protrudes toward the occupant's body from the lower part of the contact part with the tip part of the shoulder airbag.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 2. The shoulder airbag is deployed after the lower airbag, and enters the deployed deployment part and the occupant's body during deployment.
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 2 to 3. The shoulder airbag intersects with a seat belt that passes from the rear upper side of the occupant seated on the seat to the front side of the upper body through the vicinity of the side of the head,
The vehicle occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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