JP7568420B2 - Side airbag device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a side airbag device. More specifically, it relates to a side airbag device that inflates and deploys to the side of an occupant when a vehicle such as an automobile crashes.

Side airbag devices are known that prevent an occupant from moving inward in the vehicle width direction during a vehicle collision and coming into contact with an occupant sitting next to them (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The airbag device described in Patent Document 1 includes a lower folded portion, which is a folded portion of a lower region that is below the vehicle when the airbag is inflated and deployed, an upper folded portion, which is a folded portion of an upper region that is above the vehicle, and an intermediate folded portion, which is a folded portion of an intermediate region that is intermediate between the lower and upper regions. The intermediate folded portion is a roll folded portion that is wrapped around the side opposite the inner side of the seat back in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is inflated and deployed, and wraps around the upper folded portion. Due to these characteristics, the airbag device described in Patent Document 1 makes it difficult for the airbag to deviate away from the occupant because the roll fold unravels along the occupant's arm when the airbag passes beside the occupant's arm during inflation and deployment.

Special Publication No. 2017-100634

In a side airbag device, the airbag is stored in a folded state, and in the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag unfolds and inflates with gas. In the event of a vehicle collision, a side airbag device inflates and deploys between a vehicle component such as a console box and the occupant, and it is desirable for the airbag to inflate and deploy without moving away from the occupant. If the airbag is pushed by the occupant's arm during inflation and deployment, the airbag will inflate and deploy in a direction away from the occupant, which can reduce the restraining force.

In the case of the airbag device described in Patent Document 1, the airbag has a lower folded portion, an upper folded portion, and an intermediate folded portion, and the intermediate folded portion is, for example, a roll folded portion that wraps around the bellows-folded upper folded portion, and is complicated in that it requires many foldings. Therefore, the folding work of the airbag is complicated in the manufacturing process of the airbag device.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned current situation, and aims to provide a side airbag device that has a simple folding structure and is unlikely to deviate away from the occupant when inflated and deployed.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, one aspect of the present invention is a side airbag device that is attached to a side of a seat back of a vehicle seat and inflates and deploys to the side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat and above a console box provided on the inside of the vehicle width direction of the vehicle seat, the side airbag device comprising: an inflator that is attached to the side of the seat back and generates gas; and a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas of the inflator, the airbag having a gas outlet hole for the inflator and a seat for the occupant. The side airbag device has a first expansion section that expands and deploys to the side of the occupant's torso, and a second expansion section that communicates with the first expansion section and expands and deploys to the side of the occupant's head by gas flowing in from the first expansion section, and at least a portion of the first expansion section expands and deploys above the console box and contacts the upper surface of the console box, and is folded over the first expansion section so that the second expansion section is positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the first expansion section when the airbag is in a folded state.

The present invention provides a side airbag device that has a simple folding structure and is less likely to deflect away from the occupant when inflated and deployed.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention when an occupant is restrained by an airbag as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention when an occupant is restrained by an airbag as viewed from the side of the vehicle. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic three-dimensional shape of the side airbag device of the first embodiment when inflated and deployed. FIG. 2 is a first diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a second diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 11 is a third diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a fifth diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sixth diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a seventh diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is an eighth diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of the folding method of the first expansion section shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 12A. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the folding method of the first expansion section shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 13A. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a third modified example of the folding method of the first expansion section shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 14A. 5B is a schematic diagram showing a fourth modified example of the folding method of the first expansion section shown in FIG. 5A. FIG. 15B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 15A. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a side airbag device according to a first embodiment is mounted on a vehicle seat, as viewed from the side of the vehicle. FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment inflates and deploys. FIG. FIG. 11 is a second diagram illustrating the process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment inflates and deploys. FIG. 11 is a third diagram illustrating the process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment inflates and deploys. FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram illustrating the process in which the side airbag device according to the first embodiment inflates and deploys. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a side airbag device according to a second embodiment of the present invention when an occupant is restrained by an airbag as viewed from the front of the vehicle. FIG. 11A to 11C are first diagrams illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a second diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the second embodiment. 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 20A. FIG. 11 is a third diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the second embodiment.

Directions in this specification are based on the vehicle unless otherwise specified, for example, "forward" refers to the forward direction of the vehicle, "rearward" refers to the rearward direction of the vehicle, "upward" refers to the upper direction of the vehicle, "downward" refers to the lower direction of the vehicle, and "sideward" refers to the inner direction in the vehicle width direction. Also, the arrow FR shown appropriately in each figure indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, the arrow RE indicates the rearward direction of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper direction of the vehicle, the arrow DOWN indicates the lower direction of the vehicle, the arrow IN indicates the inner direction in the vehicle width direction, and the arrow OUT indicates the outer direction in the vehicle width direction. Note that components arranged inside the vehicle seat are illustrated in a see-through state of the vehicle seat.

[Embodiment 1]
A side airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the side airbag device according to the first embodiment when an occupant is restrained by an airbag as viewed from the front of the vehicle. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a state of the side airbag device according to the first embodiment when an occupant is restrained by an airbag as viewed from the side of the vehicle.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the side airbag device 1 of the first embodiment inflates and deploys to the side of an occupant 40 seated in a vehicle seat (vehicle seat) 50 and above a console box 60 provided on the inside of the vehicle seat 50 in the vehicle width direction. The side airbag device 1 of the first embodiment includes an inflator 10 and an airbag 20, and is attached to the side (the inside side in the vehicle width direction) of a seat back (backrest portion) 51 of the vehicle seat 50. The vehicle seat 50 may be, for example, the driver's seat or passenger seat of the vehicle.

When the vehicle collides with an obstacle (e.g., another vehicle) and the inflator 10 is activated, gas is generated from the inflator 10. The above collisions include a side collision in which the side of the vehicle collides with an obstacle, and an oblique collision in which the vehicle collides with an obstacle from a diagonal front direction. Specifically, the above side collision occurs when an obstacle collides with a vehicle side wall that faces the vehicle side wall 70 shown in FIG. 1 in the vehicle width direction (when the vehicle seat 50 is the driver's seat, the vehicle body part located on the outer side of the passenger seat in the vehicle width direction).

Gas generated by the inflator 10 is introduced into the airbag 20, which inflates as it unfolds. When the surface of the seat back 51 is broken by the force applied by the inflated airbag 20, the airbag 20 inflates and deploys to the side of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 50 and above the console box 60, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to protect the side of the occupant 40. The airbag 20 that inflates and deploys in this manner is also called a far-side airbag.

In the drawings used to explain the embodiment of the present invention, an internationally unified side impact dummy (World-SID) 40 is seated in a vehicle seat 50. The seating posture of the internationally unified side impact dummy 40 is determined by the side impact test method (ECE R95) currently adopted in Japan and Europe, or the side impact test method (FMVSS214) currently adopted in the United States. The position and size of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed (hereinafter also simply referred to as when inflated and deployed) are set according to the positions of the torso 41, waist 42, head 43, arms 44, shoulders 45, etc. of the internationally unified side impact dummy 40 as shown in FIG. 1. The internationally unified side impact dummy 40 is referred to as an "occupant 40."

The airbag 20 is a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas of the inflator 10, and has a first inflation section 20a that inflates and deploys to the side of the torso 41 of the occupant 40, and a second inflation section 20b that inflates and deploys to the side of the head 43 of the occupant 40, as shown in FIG. 1. The second inflation section 20b is in communication with the first inflation section 20a. The airbag 20 may be a single undivided air chamber, and the first inflation section 20a and the second inflation section 20b may each be a part of the single air chamber. The first inflation section 20a and the second inflation section 20b only need to be at least partially in communication with each other. For example, the inside of a single bag-shaped airbag may be divided into multiple different air chambers, and the first inflation section 20a and the second inflation section 20b may each include a different air chamber.

The following describes an example in which the airbag 20 has a single, undivided air chamber inside, and the first inflatable section 20a and the second inflatable section 20b are each a part of the single air chamber. Figure 3 is a perspective view that shows a schematic three-dimensional shape of the side airbag device of embodiment 1 when inflated and deployed.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the gas outlet 11 of the inflator 10 is disposed in the first inflation section 20a. As long as at least the gas outlet 11 of the inflator 10 is disposed in the first inflation section 20a, the entire inflator 10 may be disposed inside the airbag 20, or the first inflation section 20a may have a gas inlet hole and the inflator 10 may be disposed outside the airbag 20 so that the gas inlet hole and the gas outlet 11 are in communication. By disposing the gas outlet 11 of the inflator 10 in the first inflation section 20a, the airbag 20 begins to inflate and deploy from the first inflation section 20a.

As shown in FIG. 1, at least a portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a (hereinafter, also referred to as the portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a) expands and deploys above the console box 60 and contacts the upper surface of the console box 60. The portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a preferably expands and deploys from the occupant 40 side toward the center in the vehicle width direction while contacting the upper surface of the console box 60 along the upper surface of the console box 60. When observed from the front of the vehicle, the portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a preferably expands and deploys beyond the console box 60 to the center in the vehicle width direction. The portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a may overlap the upper surface of the console box 60 to an extent that the upper surface of the console box 60 can support the airbag 20 when expanded and deployed, but it is preferable that the portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a covers the console box 60 in the vehicle width direction. The portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a may be a protruding portion that expands toward the center in the vehicle width direction on the opposite side of the occupant 40.

The second inflation section 20b is at least partially connected to the first inflation section 20a, and is inflated and deployed to the side of the head 43 of the occupant 40 by the gas flowing in from the first inflation section 20a. Since the first inflation section 20a and the second inflation section 20b are at least partially connected, the second inflation section 20b is inflated and deployed next to the first inflation section 20a by the gas flowing in from the first inflation section 20a. The second inflation section 20b receives the head 43 of the occupant 40. The head 43 of the occupant 40 may be received by a flat portion of the second inflation section 20b, or the upper end of the second inflation section 20b may receive the head 43 of the occupant 40.

The airbag 20 has an occupant-side panel 23 that is positioned on the occupant 40 side when inflated and deployed, a central panel 24 that is positioned opposite the occupant-side panel 23, and a connecting panel 25 that connects the outer periphery of the occupant-side panel 23 to the outer periphery of the central panel 24. The central panel 24 is positioned on the inside in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed. When inflated and deployed, an air chamber is formed that is surrounded by the occupant-side panel 23, the central panel 24, and the connecting panel 25. The connecting panel 25 may be a single strip-shaped panel, or may be multiple panels joined together.

The width of the connecting panel 25 constituting the first expansion section 20a is preferably wider than the width of the connecting panel 25 constituting the second expansion section 20b. When inflated and deployed, the width in the vehicle width direction of the part 21 of the first expansion section 20a that contacts the upper surface of the console box 60 can be made wider than the width in the vehicle width direction of the second expansion section 20b.

A part of the occupant side panel 23 and a part of the central side panel 24 may be sewn together by a stitching 26. By providing the stitching 26, the thickness of the airbag 20 when inflated and deployed in the vehicle width direction can be adjusted. The occupant side panel 23 may be provided with an inflator mounting hole 22 to which the inflator 10 is attached, or a cut 28 may be formed to insert the inflator into the airbag.

The inflator 10 is attached to the side of the seat back 51 and generates gas. The inflator 10 is activated when the vehicle crashes. Specifically, when a collision detection sensor mounted on the vehicle detects a vehicle collision, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) calculates the signal sent from the collision detection sensor and determines the level of the collision. If the determined level of the collision corresponds to a level that would cause the airbag 20 to inflate, the inflator 10 is ignited and gas is generated by a chemical reaction caused by combustion. As a result, the gas generated by the inflator 10 is introduced into the first expansion section 20a of the airbag 20 from the gas ejection hole 11.

The type of inflator 10 is not particularly limited, and examples include pyrotechnic inflators that use gas generated by burning a gas generating agent, stored inflators that use compressed gas, and hybrid inflators that use a mixture of gas generated by burning a gas generating agent and compressed gas.

The console box 60 is provided on the inside of the vehicle seat 50 in the vehicle width direction. For example, the console box 60 is provided between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in the center of the vehicle width direction inside the vehicle. The console box 60 may function as an armrest portion that supports the arm 44 of the occupant 40 on the inside of the vehicle width direction.

The vehicle side wall 70 is not particularly limited as long as it is a body part located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (opposite the console box 60) of the occupant 40 seated in the vehicle seat 50, and collectively refers to the side door, pillar, side window, etc.

Below, a method for folding the airbag 20 in the airbag device of embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 11. Figures 4 to 11 are first to eighth figures that explain the process of folding the airbag according to embodiment 1. In Figures 4 to 11, the airbag 20 is positioned so that the front of each figure is on the inside in the vehicle width direction when the side airbag device 1 is attached to the side of the seat back 51.

First, the connecting panel 25 is inserted between the occupant side panel 23 and the central side panel 24. Figure 4 is the first diagram illustrating the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment. In Figure 4, the airbag 20 is arranged so that the central side panel 24, which is arranged on the inside in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed, is the front, and the occupant side panel 23, which is arranged on the occupant 40 side when inflated and deployed, is the back. The first inflatable portion 20a is located downward DOWN, and the second inflatable portion 20b is located upward UP. The part of the connecting panel 25 that constitutes the portion 21 that contacts the upper surface of the console box 60 when inflated and deployed is not inserted between the occupant side panel 23 and the central side panel 24, but is folded in the next process.

Next, the first expansion section 20a is folded. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in FIG. 5A. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a portion 21 of the first expansion section 20a that expands and deploys above the console box 60 may be folded upward from below the vehicle. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5A, the lower portion of the first expansion section 20a may be folded upward to adjust the vertical length of the airbag device 1 when the airbag 20 is in the folded state.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the second expansion section 20b is folded from the upper UP to the lower DOWN of the vehicle on the side of the central panel 24 that is positioned on the inner side in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed. The second expansion section 20b is folded over the first expansion section 20a so that it is positioned in front of FIG. 6, i.e., on the inner side in the vehicle width direction. By folding in this manner, in the folded state of the airbag 20, the second expansion section 20b is folded over the first expansion section 20a so that it is positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the first expansion section 20a. The second expansion section 20b does not have to overlap the entire first expansion section 20a, but it is preferable that it overlaps at least a portion 21 of the first expansion section 20a.

During inflation and deployment, the first inflation section 20a, in which the gas ejection hole 11 of the inflator 10 is located, expands before the second inflation section 20b, and a part 21 of the first inflation section 20a inflates and deploys along the upper surface of the console box 60 so as to contact the upper surface of the console box 60. Therefore, by folding the second inflation section 20b over the first inflation section 20a, the first inflation section 20a inflates and deploys while pushing the overlapping second inflation section 20b upward toward the vehicle. This allows the second inflation section 20b to also inflate and deploy toward the vehicle upward. In addition, since the first inflation section 20a and the second inflation section 20b are folded on the inner side of the vehicle width direction relative to the occupant 40, in other words, on the opposite side of the occupant 40, the airbag 20 can be prevented from being pinched between the occupant 40 and the console box 60 during inflation and deployment.

The airbag 20 preferably has a first fold line 30 that folds the second expansion section 20b downward DOWN of the vehicle so that it overlaps with the first expansion section 20a. The second expansion section 20b is folded over the first expansion section 20a by the first fold line 30. Note that the boundary between the first expansion section 20a and the second expansion section 20b does not have to coincide with the first fold line 30.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the first and second expansion portions 20a and 20b are folded from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle. In the folded state of the airbag 20, the side airbag device 1 is preferably further folded from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle with the first and second expansion portions 20a and 20b overlapping each other. That is, the airbag 20 preferably has a second fold line 31a that folds the first and second expansion portions 20a and 20b from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle. This can reduce the number of times the airbag 20 is folded from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle. It is sufficient that the first and second expansion portions 20a and 20b overlap each other at least partially.

The airbag 20 may be folded at least once from the front (FR) of the vehicle toward the rear (RE) of the vehicle along the second fold line 31a, but after folding at the second fold line 31a, the first and second inflatable portions 20a and 20b may be folded from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle multiple times as shown in Figs. 8 to 11. Figs. 8 to 11 show an example in which the airbag 20 is folded from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle along the second fold line 31b, the second fold line 31c, the second fold line 31d, and the second fold line 31e. The folding method after folding at the second fold line 31a is not particularly limited, and the number of folds may vary, and the airbag 20 may be folded in a roll fold or an accordion fold from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle.

The folding method of the first expansion section 20a is not limited to that shown in Figures 5A and 5B. Figures 12A, 13A, 14A, and 15A are schematic diagrams showing variants 1 to 4 of the folding method of the first expansion section shown in Figure 5A, respectively. In Figures 12A, 13A, 14A, and 15A, the airbag 20 is arranged so that the central panel 24, which is arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction when inflated and deployed, is the front, and the occupant side panel 23, which is arranged on the occupant 40 side when inflated and deployed, is the back. Figures 12B, 13B, 14B, and 15B are cross-sectional views taken along the dashed line shown in Figures 12A, 13A, 14A, and 15A, respectively. As in variant 1 shown in Figures 12A and 12B, a part 21 of the first expansion section 20a that inflates and deploys above the console box 60 may be folded flat. As in Modification 2 shown in Figures 13A and 13B, the first expansion section 20a may be folded upward, and then a portion of the folded first expansion section 20a may be folded downward. As in Modification 3 shown in Figure 14A, the first expansion section 20a may be rolled upward so as to be rolled up. As in Modification 4 shown in Figure 15A, the first expansion section 20a may be folded flat as in Figure 5A, and then the lower side may be folded upward so as to overlap.

Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the side airbag device of the first embodiment mounted on a vehicle seat, as viewed from the side of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 16, the airbag 20 is fixed in a folded state to the side of the seatback 51 (e.g., the side frame 52) before inflation and deployment, and is stored together with the cushion pad, covered by the skin of the seatback 51.

The first fold line 30 is preferably located below the shoulder 45 of the occupant 40 (the center of the shoulder 45 of the occupant 40 (the center of rotation of the shoulder of the internationally unified side impact dummy)). By locating the first fold line 30 below the center of the shoulder 45 of the occupant 40, the first inflation section 20a inflates and deploys along the underside of the arm 44 of the occupant 40. The second inflation section 20b inflates and deploys by being pushed upward in repulsion against the first inflation section 20a, so that the second inflation section 20b inflates and deploys along the side of the arm 44 and shoulder 45 of the occupant 40 while being pressed against the occupant 40.

The first fold line 30 is preferably provided above the top surface of the console box 60. By providing the first fold line 30 above the top surface of the console box 60, it is possible to prevent the airbag 20 from being pinched between the occupant 40 and the console box 60 when the airbag 20 inflates and deploys.

The inflator 10 is, for example, a cylindrical gas generating device, and is arranged along the extension direction (height direction) of the seat back 51. A pair of bolts 12 protrude from the top and bottom of the inflator 10, and the pair of bolts 12 are fixed to the side of the seat back 51 (for example, the side frame 52) through inflator mounting holes 22 provided in the airbag 20.

The process of the side airbag device 1 being inflated and deployed will be described below with reference to Figures 17A to 17D and Figure 1. Figures 17A to 17D are first to fourth diagrams illustrating the process of the side airbag device according to the first embodiment being inflated and deployed. When the vehicle collides with an obstacle and the inflator 10 is activated, gas generated from the inflator 10 is introduced from the gas outlet 11 to the first inflatable portion 20a, and as shown in Figure 17A, the surface of the seat back 51 is broken by the force applied from the inflated airbag 20. Specifically, when gas is generated from the inflator 10, the portion of the first inflatable portion 20a where the gas outlet 11 is arranged is inflated. The gas further introduced from the gas outlet 11 unfolds the rolled folded portion, and the gas flows into the first inflatable portion 20a where the rolled folded portion is unfolded, and the first inflatable portion 20a begins to inflate. As a result, the airbag 20 begins to inflate and deploy forward of the vehicle, starting from the unfolded portion.

As shown in FIG. 17B, the first expansion section 20a expands and deploys to the side of the torso 41 of the occupant 40. The first expansion section 20a expands and deploys so as to come into contact with the upper surface of the console box 60 while pushing up the second expansion section 20b that overlaps with the first expansion section 20a in the folded state.

As shown in FIG. 17C, the second expansion section 20b expands and deploys after the first expansion section 20a due to the gas flowing in from the first expansion section 20a. When a part 21 of the first expansion section 20a comes into contact with the upper surface of the console box 60, the second expansion section 20b repels the first expansion section 20a supported by the console box 60, and expands and deploys toward the top of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 17D, the second inflation section 20b rebounds against the first inflation section 20a supported by the console box 60, and while being pressed against the occupant 40, inflates and deploys further upward along the arms 44 and shoulders 45 of the occupant 40. Because the second inflation section 20b inflates and deploys from the inside in the vehicle width direction so as to avoid the arms 44 and shoulders 45 of the occupant 40, it is possible to prevent the airbag 20 from being flipped up by the arms 44 of the occupant 40.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 20 receives the side of the torso 41 of the occupant 40 with the first inflation section 20a, and receives the head 43 of the occupant 40 with the second inflation section 20b. Since a part 21 of the first inflation section 20a contacts the upper surface of the console box 60, the airbag 20 is less likely to deviate downward or inward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, since the second inflation section 20b restrains the arms 44 of the occupant 40, the occupant 40 can be sufficiently restrained.

[Embodiment 2]
In the side airbag device of the second embodiment, the airbag includes a plurality of bag-shaped airbags. Fig. 18 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the side airbag device of the second embodiment restrains an occupant by the airbag as seen from the front of the vehicle. As shown in Fig. 18, in the airbag device of the second embodiment, the airbag 20 includes a first inflatable portion 20a and a second inflatable portion 20b, and the first inflatable portion 20a and the second inflatable portion 20b are different bag-shaped airbags. As shown in Fig. 18 and Fig. 20B described later, the first inflatable portion 20a and the second inflatable portion 20b are communicated with each other through a gas circulation hole 27. During inflation and deployment, the first inflatable portion 20a in which the gas ejection hole 11 of the inflator 10 is arranged is inflated and deployed, and gas flows into the second inflatable portion 20b through the gas circulation hole 27, causing the second inflatable portion 20b to inflate and deploy.

The first inflation section 20a may have an occupant side panel 23, a central side panel 24, and a connecting panel 25, as in the first embodiment. The second inflation section 20b may have an occupant side panel 123 that is positioned on the occupant 40 side when inflated and deployed, and a central side panel 124 that is positioned opposite the occupant side panel 23.

The method of folding the airbag 20 in the airbag device of embodiment 2 will be described below with reference to Figures 19 to 21. Figures 19 to 21 are first to third diagrams illustrating the process of folding the airbag according to embodiment 2. In Figures 19, 20A, and 21, the airbag 20 is positioned so that the front of each diagram is on the inside in the vehicle width direction when the side airbag device 1 is attached to the side of the seat back 51. Figure 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line shown in Figure 20A.

In the second embodiment, the bag-shaped airbag constituting the first inflation section 20a and the bag-shaped airbag constituting the second inflation section 20b are overlapped and sewn together. As shown in FIG. 19, when the first inflation section 20a is placed on the front side, the second inflation section 20b located on the back side is folded upward from the bottom.

Next, as shown in Figures 20A and 20B, a portion 21 of the first expansion section 20a is folded flat. The folding method shown in Figures 20A and 20B corresponds to Modification 1 of the first embodiment. In order to adjust the length of the airbag device 1 in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the folded state, the lower portion of the first expansion section 20a may be folded upward.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21, the second expansion portion 20b is folded from the upper UP to the lower DOWN of the vehicle, overlapping the first expansion portion 20a so that it is positioned in front of FIG. 21, i.e., on the inside in the vehicle width direction. It is preferable that the second expansion portion 20b overlaps at least a portion 21 of the first expansion portion 20a. It is preferable that the airbag 20 has a first fold line 30 that folds the second expansion portion 20b toward the lower DOWN of the vehicle so as to overlap the first expansion portion 20a.

Then, as shown in the fourth diagram of the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the first and second inflatable portions 20a and 20b are folded from the front FR of the vehicle toward the rear RE of the vehicle along the second fold line 31a. The folding method after folding along the second fold line 31a is not particularly limited, and the number of folds may vary, and the airbag may be folded from the front to the rear of the vehicle in a roll fold or bellows fold. However, as shown in the fifth to eighth diagrams of the folding process of the airbag according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 8 to 11, the first and second inflatable portions 20a and 20b may be folded from the front to the rear of the vehicle multiple times.

1: Side airbag device 10: Inflator 11: Gas ejection hole 12: Bolt 20: Airbag 20a: First inflating section 20b: Second inflating section 21: Part of first inflating section 22: Inflator mounting hole 23, 123: Occupant side panel 24, 124: Center side panel 25: Connecting panel 26: Stitched section 27: Gas circulation hole 28: Cut 30: First fold-back lines 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e: Second fold-back line 40: Occupant (internationally unified side impact dummy)
41: Torso 42: Waist 43: Head 44: Arms 45: Shoulders 50: Vehicle seat 51: Seat back (backrest)
52: Side frame 60: Console box 70: Vehicle side wall

Claims (4)

A side airbag device that is attached to a side of a seat back of a vehicle seat and inflates and deploys to the side of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat and above a console box that is provided on an inner side of the vehicle seat in a vehicle width direction,
an inflator attached to a side portion of the seat back and configured to generate gas;
a bag-shaped airbag that is inflated and deployed by the gas of the inflator,
the airbag has a first inflation section in which a gas ejection hole of the inflator is arranged and which inflates and deploys on a side of a torso of the occupant, and a second inflation section which is in communication with the first inflation section and inflates and deploys on a side of a head of the occupant by gas flowing in from the first inflation section,
the airbag has a single air chamber, and the first inflatable portion and the second inflatable portion are each a part of the single air chamber;
When the airbag is in a flattened state before gas is filled into the airbag, a portion of the first inflatable portion is loose and folded over another portion of the first inflatable portion,
When the airbag is inflated and deployed, the portion of the first inflation portion inflates and deploys above the console box and contacts an upper surface of the console box,
A side airbag device characterized in that, in a folded state of the airbag, the second expansion portion is folded directly over the portion of the first expansion portion so as to be positioned more inward in the vehicle width direction than the portion of the first expansion portion. 2. The side airbag device according to claim 1,
A side airbag device characterized in that, in a folded state of the airbag, the first inflation portion and the second inflation portion are further folded from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle while overlapping each other. 3. The side airbag device according to claim 2,
A side airbag device characterized in that the airbag has a first fold line that folds the second expansion portion toward a bottom of the vehicle so as to overlap with the portion of the first expansion portion, and a second fold line that folds the first expansion portion and the second expansion portion from the front of the vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle. The side airbag device according to claim 3,
The side airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the first fold line is provided below a shoulder of the occupant.

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