JPH10100846A - Energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To provide a seat 1 configured such that when a seat back 3 falls down on a seat cushion 2, an upper surface thereof is substantially horizontal, and an airbag 24 includes the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2. When the seat back 3 is in the lying state, the seat back 3 by the air bag 24 is in the energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle including the air bag unit 21 disposed so as to be deployed in the space between the seat back 3 and the air bag unit 21. The seat 1 is prevented from standing up or jumping, and the safety of the occupant sitting on the seat behind the seat 1 is improved. A deployment prohibiting means for prohibiting the deployment of the airbag 24 when the seat back 3 is in the down state is provided, and the deployment prohibiting means cuts a deployment signal line to the air bag unit 21 in accordance with the fall of the seat back 3. Switch 6
Set to 0.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side part, and more particularly to a technical field of a vehicle having a seat in which a seat back is provided on a seat cushion so as to be able to fall down.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-64491, an airbag unit is disposed on a side portion of a seat so that an airbag unit is provided at a side of an occupant when a collision with a vehicle body occurs. It has been proposed that an airbag is deployed in a space between a seat back and a seat cushion, and the deployed airbag absorbs side impact energy to protect the occupant's chest. It is also known to dispose an airbag unit on a side door or the like on the side of a seat to protect an occupant from a side collision.

On the other hand, a seat in which a seat back is configured to be able to fall down on a seat cushion has been well known in the past. In particular, in recent years, when the seat back has fallen down on the seat cushion, the upper surface is substantially horizontal. 2. Description of the Related Art A seat is known which is configured to be in a state so that a seat back can be used as a table.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-255153
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 3-109148 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-109148, it has been proposed to prevent the deployment of the airbag when an occupant is not sitting on the seat or when the seat is in a seated state. ing.

[0005]

By the way, in the above-mentioned seat provided with a seat in which the seat back is configured to be able to fall down on a seat cushion, the former proposed example (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. No. 644491)
When an airbag unit is arranged on the seat, side door, etc., and the airbag is deployed in the space between the seatback and the seat cushion to protect the occupant from side collision, If the airbag is deployed while the seatback is in the lying state, there is a possibility that the seatback will jump up due to the deployment pressure of the airbag.
In particular, when the seat back can be used as a table, an object may be placed on the table, and there is room for improving the safety of an occupant sitting in a seat behind the seat.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to protect an occupant sitting on the above-mentioned overturnable seat from a side collision by using the latter proposed example ( Utilizing the concept of JP-A-63-255153 or JP-A-3-109148), when the seat back of the seat is in a lying state, the air bag prevents the seat back from standing up or jumping up. Then, the safety of an occupant sitting on a seat behind the seat is to be improved.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a state where the seat back is laid down, a deployment prohibiting means for inhibiting the deployment of the air bag or a seat back erecting by deployment of the air bag. Locking means for blocking is provided.

More specifically, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seat having the seat back provided on the seat cushion so as to be capable of falling down and the airbag are deployed in the space between the seat back and the seat cushion. And an airbag unit disposed in the vehicle.

Further, it is assumed that there is provided a deployment prohibiting means for prohibiting the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is lying down.

According to the present invention, the deployment of the airbag in the seatback in a laid state is prohibited. Therefore, even if a side collision occurs in the laid state, the seatback does not stand up or jump up. In this lying state, since the occupant does not sit on the seat, there is no problem even if the airbag is not deployed. Therefore, the safety of the occupant sitting on the seat behind the seat can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the deployment prohibiting means is a switch for cutting a deployment signal line to the airbag unit when the seat back falls down.

With this configuration, when the seat back is in the fall state, the switch cuts the deployment signal line to the airbag unit. Therefore, the fall state is detected with a simple configuration, and the deployment of the air bag is reliably inhibited. Can be. Therefore, a specific configuration of the simple deployment prohibition means can be easily obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a seat in which a seat back is provided on a seat cushion so as to be capable of falling down.
It is assumed that the vehicle has an energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle including an airbag unit arranged so that the airbag is deployed in the space between the seat back and the seat cushion.

Then, when the seat back is in the lying state,
It is assumed that a lock means is provided for preventing the seat back from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag.

As a result, even if the airbag is deployed, the seat back is prevented from standing up by the locking means, so that the seat back is maintained in a lying state without standing up or jumping up. Therefore, the same function and effect as the first aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the seat back is provided with a locking means for preventing the seat back from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is laid down.

With this configuration, even when the deployment prohibiting means is configured to prevent the seat back from standing up, it is possible to prevent the seat back from jumping up due to vibrations or the like during running of the vehicle. . Therefore, the safety of the occupant sitting on the seat behind the seat can be further improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the seat back is configured such that the upper surface thereof is substantially horizontal when the seat back is laid down on the seat cushion. .

As a result, it is possible to improve the usability by making the seat back into a table, but on the other hand, the safety of the occupant behind the seat is further required.
The energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle is an optimal structure when such a seat is provided. Therefore, the energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle can be effectively used, and the safety of the occupant behind the seat can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed near a side portion in the seat.

In this manner, the deployment of the airbag directly acts on the jumping of the seat back and the jumping force is increased, so that the safety of the occupant behind the seat is required. However, according to the present invention, since the seat back does not jump up, there is no problem even if the airbag is arranged on the seat. Therefore, the same function and effect as the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed on a side portion of the seat closer to the side door near the seat.

Thus, the airbag can be easily deployed between the occupant sitting on the seat and the side door close to the occupant due to the side collision, and the occupant of the seat collides with the side door. Can be prevented. Therefore, further safety of the occupant of this seat at the time of a side collision can be ensured.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is provided in the seatback such that the airbag is deployed substantially in front of the seatback.

According to the present invention, the side of the seat back is
The airbag unit can be disposed in a relatively large space inside the side support portion, which is a swelled front support portion for supporting the occupant of the seat in the left-right direction. Therefore, the airbag unit can be accommodated in the seat without impairing the comfort of the occupant of the seat.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed in the seat cushion such that the airbag is deployed substantially above the seat cushion.

Thus, since the side portion of the seat cushion is also a side support portion bulging upward for supporting the occupant of the seat in the left-right direction, the airbag unit is disposed in a relatively large space inside the side support portion. be able to. Accordingly, the same function and effect as the eighth aspect of the invention can be obtained.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a left seat 1 of a front seat of an automobile in a vehicle side energy absorbing structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Simply referred to as front, rear, left and right), the seat 1 includes a seat cushion 2, a seat back 3, and a headrest 4.
Having. Sliders 7, 7 extending in the front-rear direction are provided below the left and right ends of the seat cushion 2, respectively.
The front and rear positions of the seat 1 can be adjusted by being engaged with left and right slide rails 8 fixed to the floor via 0 and 10.

The headrest 4 is attached to the seatback 3 by inserting two frames 5 and 5 projecting from the lower end surface thereof into two holes formed in the upper end surface of the seatback 3 respectively.

A knuckle member 9 is provided at the rear of the seat cushion 2 with a reclining rotary shaft 1 extending in the left-right direction.
The seat back 3 is rotatably connected to the seat cushion 2 via the knuckle member 9 so as to be rotatable around the reclining rotation shaft 11 to perform reclining adjustment of the seat back 3. Is available.

The portion of the knuckle member 9 extending toward the seat back 3 (upper side) is located outside the seat back 3, and further outside the cover member 45 is provided so as to cover the knuckle member 9. The cover member 45 is attached and fixed to the knuckle member 9. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, a lock member 46 is attached and fixed to the upper end of the knuckle member 9 so as to be located near the left side inside the seat back 3. At a substantially central portion of the lock member 46, a fall rotation shaft 47 is provided, and a lock base plate 48 is rotatably supported on the fall rotation shaft 47. The lock base plate 48 is attached and fixed to a frame-shaped seat back frame 13 made of a steel pipe material provided on a rear outer peripheral portion in the seat back 3.
The seat back 3 is rotatable about the tilting rotation shaft 47 with respect to the knuckle member 9 and the cover member 45, and the seat back 3 is tiltable on the seat cushion 2.

The lock member 4 on the lock base plate 48
6, a lock lever 49 is supported rotatably about a rotation shaft 50, and a hole 49a formed in the rear end of the lock lever 49 and a position above the hole 49a in the lock base plate 48. A tension spring 52 is hung between the hole 48a and the lock lever 49, and the lock lever 49 is urged to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around a rotation shaft 50 formed on the lock base plate 48. I have. For this reason, the upper portion of the lock lever 49 is brought into contact with the lock member 46, and is located in the notch 46 a provided at the rear of the lock member 46 in a normal state in which the seat back 3 is not folded down. Then, the seat back 3 is turned down
When it is attempted to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 3 in the counterclockwise direction (downward direction), the upper end surface of the lock lever 49 abuts on the upper end surface of the notch 46a of the lock member 46 so that the rotation is prevented. It has become. When the seat back 3 is in the normal state, the seat back 3 is also prevented from rotating clockwise around the falling rotation shaft 47, and is integrally rotated with the knuckle member 9 and the cover member 45 around the reclining rotation shaft 11. , And the reclining adjustment of the seat back 3 can be performed as described above.

An engaging hole 49b is formed at the lower end of the lock lever 49, and one end of a falling member (not shown) is connected to the engaging hole 49b. An operation knob that can be operated by the occupant is attached, and the occupant can operate the operation knob to rotate the lock lever 49 clockwise. As a result, the upper portion of the lock lever 49 is disengaged from the inside of the notch 46a of the lock member 46, and the lock lever 49 and the lock base plate 48 can rotate counterclockwise about the falling rotation shaft 47. ,
The seat back 3 can fall down.

Pads 15 are provided on the front part and on both left and right sides of the seat back 3. The pads 15 are located between the foamed urethane layer 17 and the urethane foam layer 17 on the outer surface side of the sheet of the urethane foam layer 17. And a soft urethane layer 16. Urethane layer 1 in this pad 15
6 is covered with a skin material 19 made of a thin cloth.

A table member 55 is provided at a rear portion of the seat back frame 13, and mounting portions 55a, 55a,... Have been. A plurality of brackets 56, 56,... Are integrally fixed to the seat back frame 13 corresponding to the mounting portions 55a, and the table member 55 is attached to the brackets 56 at the mounting portions 55a by screws 57. It is attached and fixed by. The outer surface of the seat of the table member 55 is substantially flat, and as shown in FIG. 5, when the seat back 3 abuts on the seat cushion 2 and completely falls down.
The upper surface, that is, the sheet outer surface of the table member 55 is configured to be substantially horizontal. Thus, the seatback 3 can be used as a table by completely lowering the seatback 3 by operating the operation knob.

The left and right ends of the seat cushion 2 are provided with side support portions 2a, 2a swelling upward, and the left and right ends of the seat back 3 are provided with side support portions 3a, 3a swelling forward. It plays a role in supporting the user not to move left and right.

In the seat back 3, an airbag unit 21 is disposed near the side of the side door close to the seat 1, that is, in the left side support portion 3a. The airbag unit 21 has a module can 22 having a substantially U-shaped cross section.
Inside, a cylindrical can-shaped inflator 23 containing an ignition portion and an explosive is housed on the back side, and a folded airbag 24 is housed on the opening side. The above inflator 2
Although not shown, a deployment signal (not shown) is supplied from an acceleration sensor that detects a side collision to the left side of the vehicle, and the deployment signal ignites the explosive according to the deployment signal. The airbag 24 is inflated and deployed by a large amount of gas generated by combustion.

The airbag unit 21 is disposed so that its longitudinal direction substantially coincides with the vertical direction of the seat back 3, and two sets of upper and lower bolts 27, 27 and nuts 28, 28 are provided on the side surface of the module can 22. At mounting member 26
Is fastened to one end. The other end of the attachment member 26 is attached and fixed to the seat back frame 13 by welding. As a result, the airbag unit 21 is fixed to the seat back frame 13 via the attachment member 26. In addition, this airbag unit 21
Are arranged such that the opening direction of the module can 22, that is, the direction in which the airbag 24 is deployed is substantially forward.

The pad 15 receives a deployment pressure of the airbag 24 at a portion corresponding to the airbag unit 21 on the inner surface of the seat of the pad 15, that is, a portion substantially in front of the opening of the module can 22 in the airbag unit 21. Notch groove 33 serving as a starting point for starting to expand and break
Is provided, so that the cut groove 33 is more fragile than other portions. The cut groove 33 is provided between the module can 22 of the airbag unit 21 and the seat back 3.
Are provided at substantially the same height in the vertical direction and over substantially the same length.

On the other hand, a seam which is easily broken is formed at a position on the skin material 19 on a substantially extended line of the cut groove portion 33. Then, when the airbag 24 is deployed,
The pad 15 starts to break from the cut groove 33 due to the developed pressure, and the pad 15 and the skin material 19 are broken and expanded along a line connecting the cut groove 33 and the seam of the skin material 19. The airbag 24 is further deployed outside the seat back 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the airbag 24 is provided between the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2 and between the occupant of the seat 1 and the left side door from the abdomen of the occupant to the head. It has been developed over.

In the vicinity of the rotation axis 47 on the front surface of the cover member 45, as an expansion prohibiting means for prohibiting the expansion of the airbag 24 when the seat back 3 is in the down state, the air bag unit is moved along with the down movement of the seat back 3. A switch 60 is provided for cutting off a signal line for developing the ignition portion of the inflator 23 of the inflator 23. That is, as shown in detail in FIG.
5 comprises first and second switch members 61 and 62 provided in a switch case 63 integrally formed on the front side surface of each of the first and second switch members 61 and 62. Each of the switch members 61 and 62 has a harness 65 as a development signal line. One harness 65 is connected to the ignition portion of the inflator 23, and the other harness 65 is connected to the acceleration sensor. The first switch member 61 is movable in the front-rear direction, is urged forward by the two compression springs 64, 64, and in the normal state of the seat back 3,
The contact portions 61a, 62a of both switch members 61, 62 are in contact with each other, and the two harnesses 65, 65 are connected. That is, the deployment signal from the acceleration sensor can be supplied to the ignition section of the inflator 23.

The front portion of the first switch member 61 is located in a hole 63a formed on the front surface of the switch case 63,
A projection 3b is provided on the left side of the seat back 3 at a position facing the front of the first switch member 61. Then, the downturning rotary shaft 47 is moved in the direction in which the seatback 3 falls down.
, The rear end face of the projection 3b
The first switch member 61 comes into contact with the front surface, and is pushed backward against the urging force of each of the compression springs 64. As a result, both switch members 6
The contact portions 61a and 62a are separated from each other, and the two harnesses 65 and 65 are disconnected. That is, the deployment signal from the acceleration sensor cannot be supplied to the ignition section of the inflator 23.

The operation when the airbag 24 is deployed by the side collision in the vehicle side energy absorbing structure having the above configuration will be described. First, when the seat back 3 is in the normal state in which the seat back 3 is not lying down, the two harnesses 65 and 65 are in a connected state. The signal is supplied to the igniter of the inflator 23, and the igniter ignites. As a result, the explosive in the inflator 23 burns at a high speed, and a large amount of gas is supplied to the airbag 24.
The airbag 24 attempts to inflate and deploy. Then, the airbag 24 attempts to deploy forward in the opening direction of the module can 22, contacts the inner surface of the pad 15 in the seat, and pushes the pad 15 from the seat inner side to the outer side by the developing pressure. For this reason, the pad 15 starts to expand and break from the fragile portion, that is, the cut groove portion 33, and the pad 15
The pad 15 and the skin material 19 are expanded and broken along the line connecting the seam 3 and the seam of the skin material 19, and the airbag 24 is deployed outside the seat back 3 from that location. As a result, it is possible to prevent the chest and head of the occupant sitting on the seat 1 from colliding with the left side door.

Next, the case where the seat back 3 is lying down will be described. By operating the operation knob, the seat back 3 is rotated in the falling down direction about the falling rotation shaft 47 so that the projection on the left side surface of the seat back 3 is formed. Part 3b
The rear end surface contacts the front surface of the first switch member 61 and
The switch member 61 is pushed backward against the urging force of each compression spring 64. As a result, the contact portions 61a, 62a of both switch members 61, 62 are separated from each other, and the two harnesses 6
5 and 65 are disconnected, so that even if the acceleration sensor detects a side collision and outputs a deployment signal, the deployment signal is not supplied to the ignition portion of the inflator 23 and the airbag 24 is deployed. There is no. As a result, when the seat back 3 is completely laid down and used as a table, the seat back 3 does not jump up, and the safety of an occupant sitting in a seat behind the seat 1 is reduced. Can be improved.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, the seat back 3 is provided on the seat cushion 2 so that the seat back 3 can fall down.
When the airbag unit 21 is disposed to protect the occupant sitting on the seat 1 from a side collision, a deployment signal to the ignition portion of the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21 is caused by the fall of the seat back 3. Since the switch 60 for cutting the line is provided, it is possible to detect the falling state of the seat back 3 with a simple configuration, prohibit the deployment of the airbag 24, and prevent the seat back 3 from jumping up. . Therefore, the safety of the occupant behind the seat 1 can be easily improved.

The seat 1 is configured such that when the seat back 3 falls down on the seat cushion 2, the upper surface thereof is substantially horizontal, and the seat back 3 can be used as a table. As a result, the usability can be improved, but the safety of the occupant behind the seat 1 is further required. In addition, since the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the seatback 3 so that the airbag 24 is deployed in front of the seatback 3, the deployment of the airbag 24 directly acts on the seatback 3 to jump up. As a result, the lifting force is further increased, and it is necessary to further secure the occupant behind the seat 1. For this reason, the energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle is an optimal structure when such a seat 1 is provided. Therefore, the energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle can be effectively used, and the occupant behind the seat 1 can be further protected.

Further, since the airbag unit 21 is disposed in the left side support portion 3a of the seat back 3, an air collision between the occupant of the seat 1 and the left side door due to a side collision to the left side of the vehicle. The bag 24 can be easily deployed, and the collision of the occupant with the left side door can be reliably prevented. In addition, a relatively large space can be provided in the side support portion 3a of the seat back 3. Therefore, the airbag unit 21 can be accommodated in the seat 1 while maintaining good occupant comfort, and the occupant can be further made safer in a side collision.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 6 shows Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
(Note that in the following embodiments, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only different parts will be described.)
Switch 6 that cuts the signal line for deployment to the ignition section 3
0 is different from that of the first embodiment.

That is, in this embodiment, the first and second switch members 71 and 72 are provided in the cover member 45, and the first switch member 71 is provided at the tip of the boss 45a on the inner surface of the cover member 45. The second switch member 72 is rotatably supported about a rotation shaft 73.
5a is fixed to the base side. In the normal state of the seat back 3, the first switch member 71 is rotated around the rotation shaft 73 in FIG. 6 so that the front portion provided with the contact portion 71 a approaches the second switch member 72. The switch members 71 and 72 are urged in the circumferential direction, and the contact portions 71a and 72a of the switch members 71 and 72 are in contact with each other.

At a position facing the front surface of the first switch member 71 on the left side surface of the seat back 3, a projection 3b having an inclined surface on the front and rear surfaces is provided. When the seat back 3 rotates about the falling rotation shaft 47 in the direction in which the seat back 3 falls, the projection 3b enters the inside of the cover member 45, and the rear inclined surface is provided on the rear front side of the first switch member 71. The first switch member 71 comes into contact with the inclined surface 71 b and is rotated counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 73. As a result, the contact portion 71a of the first switch member 71 moves away from the contact portion 72a of the second switch member 72, and the two harnesses 6a
5, 65 are in the non-connection state.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the switch 60 for cutting the deployment signal line to the ignition portion of the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21 in accordance with the fall of the seat back 3 is provided. Since the configuration is such that the deployment of the airbag 24 is prohibited, the same operation and effect as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, the seat back 3
As a deployment prohibiting means for prohibiting the deployment of the airbag 24 in the falling state, a switch 60 for cutting a deployment signal line to the ignition portion of the inflator 23 of the airbag unit 21 in accordance with the falling motion of the seat back 3 is provided. In addition to such a switch 60, for example, a sensor for detecting the falling state of the seat back 3 is provided. When the sensor detects the falling state, it receives an expansion signal from the acceleration sensor and outputs the expansion signal to the inflator. Control means for prohibiting output to the 23 ignition units may be provided.

(Embodiment 3) FIGS. 7 and 8 show Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Instead of cutting the deployment signal line when the seat back 3 is lying down as in Embodiments 1 and 2, an airbag is used. The lock means 76 is provided so as to prevent the seat back 3 from rising even when the seat 24 is deployed.

That is, in this embodiment, the switch 60 as in the first and second embodiments is not provided, and the airbag 24 is deployed even when the seat back 3 is in the lying state. On the other hand, a claw portion 49c is formed on the upper side of the lock lever 49 on the lock member 46 side, and the claw portion 49c of the lock lever 49 is formed on the upper side of the lock member 46 when the seat back 3 is completely laid down. A recess 46b to be fitted is formed. When the claw portion 49c of the lock lever 49 is fitted into the concave portion 46b, the lock lever 49 and the lock base plate 48 cannot rotate clockwise about the falling rotation shaft 47. For this reason, even if a force that raises the seat back 3 is exerted by the deployment of the airbag 24, the seat back 3 cannot rotate in the rising direction, and the seat back 3 is maintained in the lying state. That is, the lock lever 49
The claw portion 49c and the concave portion 46b of the lock member 46 constitute a lock means 76 for preventing the seat back 3 from rising due to the deployment of the airbag 24. Then, by operating the same operation knob as when the seat back 3 is brought down from the normal state and rotating the lock lever 49 clockwise about the rotation shaft 50, the seat back 3 can be raised. Has become.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, since the locking means 76 is provided to prevent the seat back 3 from standing up, the seat back 3 stands up or jumps up even if the airbag 24 is deployed. Never. The locking means 76 is formed by forming a claw portion 49c and a concave portion 46b on the locking member 46 for preventing the seat back 3 from falling down and the locking lever 49, respectively. The standing of the bag 3 can be prevented. Therefore, the first embodiment,
The same function and effect as those of (2) can be obtained.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 9 shows Embodiment 4 of the present invention.
The airbag 24 is shown with the seat back 3 lying down.
The configuration of the lock means 76 for preventing the seat back 3 from rising due to the development of the second embodiment is different from that of the third embodiment.

That is, in this embodiment, one end of the locking band 80 is attached to one frame 5 protruding from the lower end surface of the headrest 4, and an engaging hole is formed in the other end of the locking band 80. Is formed. on the other hand,
A locking portion 2b is provided on the front surface of the seat cushion 2 to engage with the engaging hole of the locking band 80 when the seat back 3 is completely laid down. This locking part 2
When the occupant engages the engagement hole b with the engagement hole, the seat back 3 cannot stand up even if a force for raising the seat back 3 due to the deployment of the airbag 24 acts. That is, the locking band 80 and the locking portion 2b of the seat cushion 2 constitute the locking means 76 for preventing the seat back 3 from rising due to the deployment of the airbag 24.

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the locking band 80 is attached to the frame 5 of the headrest 4, and the engaging hole 80 a of the locking band 80 is merely engaged with the engaging portion 2 b of the seat cushion 2. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the seat back 3 from rising due to the deployment of the airbag 24 with a simple configuration. Therefore, the same functions and effects as those of the third embodiment can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, the seat back 3
Means for inhibiting the deployment of the airbag 24 or the seat back 3 due to the deployment of the airbag 24 in the lying down state.
Although the lock means 76 for preventing standing up is provided alone, both may be used together. In this case, when the seat back 3 is in the down state, the deployment prohibiting means prevents the seat back 3 from jumping due to the deployment of the airbag 24, and also prevents the seat back 3 from jumping due to vibration or the like during traveling of the vehicle. be able to.

In each of the above embodiments, the airbag unit 21 is connected to the left side support portion 3 of the seat back 3.
a, the present invention can be applied to a case where it is disposed in the right side support portion 3a of the seat back 3, and the collision between the left and right occupants can be prevented. Then, the airbag unit 21 is arranged in the side support portion 2a of the seat cushion 2 such that the opening of the module can 22 faces substantially upward, and the airbag 24 is deployed substantially upward of the seat cushion 2. The present invention can be applied to the case where the seat back 3 is provided in the side support portion 3a of the seat back 3 as well.

Further, the airbag unit 21 may be provided at any position as long as the airbag 24 can be disposed in the space between the seat back 3 and the seat cushion 2. It may be a side door close to the seat 1 or the left and right sides of the headrest 4.

[0062]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seat having the seat back provided on the seat cushion so as to be free to fall, and the airbag having the space between the seat back and the seat cushion are provided. With respect to the energy absorbing structure on the side of the vehicle having the airbag unit arranged to be deployed to the vehicle, the deployment prohibiting means for prohibiting the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is in the down state is provided. The safety of the occupant behind the seat can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the expansion prohibiting means is a switch for cutting the expansion signal line to the airbag unit when the seat back falls down, the specific configuration of the simple expansion prohibiting means is reduced. Can be easily obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the locking means for preventing the seat back from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is in the down state is provided.
The same operation and effect as those of the invention are obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the deployment inhibiting means for inhibiting the deployment of the airbag when the seatback is lying down, and the locking means for preventing the seatback from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag. It is possible to further improve the safety of the occupant behind the seat.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the seat back is configured so that the upper surface thereof is substantially horizontal when it falls down on the seat cushion, so that the energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle can be effectively used. The safety of the occupant behind the seat can be further improved.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed in the vicinity of the side in the seat.
The same function and effect as the fifth aspect of the invention can be obtained.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed on the side of the seat on the side door side close to the seat, so that the safety of the occupant of the seat at the time of a side collision is further improved. be able to.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed in the seat back so that the airbag is deployed substantially in front of the seat back, so that the occupant can comfortably sit on the seat. The airbag unit can be accommodated in the seat while maintaining good conditions.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the airbag unit is disposed in the seat cushion such that the airbag is deployed substantially above the seat cushion, thereby providing the same operation as the eighth aspect of the present invention. The effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a left side view showing a seat in a vehicle side energy absorbing structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view from the left side of the seat showing a lock member and a lock lever when the seat back is in a normal state.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 1 showing a configuration of the switch.

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the seat showing a state where the seat back is completely laid down.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a switch according to a second embodiment.
FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a locking means when a seat back is in a normal state in a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3, showing the locking means when the seat back in the third embodiment is completely laid down.

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing the locking means when the seat back in the fourth embodiment is completely laid down.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Seat 2 Seat cushion 3 Seat back 21 Airbag unit 24 Airbag 60 Switch (deployment inhibition means) 65 Harness (deployment signal line) 76 Locking means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideaki Tanaka 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Co., Ltd.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A seat having a seat back provided on a seat cushion so as to be able to lie down, and an air bag unit provided so that an air bag is deployed in a space between the seat back and the seat cushion. An energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side portion comprising: an energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side portion provided with a deployment inhibiting means for inhibiting the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is in a lying state. 2. The vehicle-side energy absorbing structure according to claim 1, wherein the deployment prohibiting means is a switch that cuts a deployment signal line to the airbag unit when the seat back falls down. Energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle. 3. A seat having a seat back provided on a seat cushion so as to be able to lie down, and an air bag unit arranged such that an air bag is deployed in a space between the seat back and the seat cushion. An energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side portion provided with: a lock means for preventing the seat back from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is in the down state. Absorbing structure. 4. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side according to claim 1, further comprising a lock means for preventing the seat back from standing up due to the deployment of the airbag when the seat back is in a laid state. Characteristic energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle. 5. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the seat back is substantially horizontal when the seat back falls down on a seat cushion. An energy absorbing structure for a side portion of a vehicle, characterized in that: 6. The vehicle-side energy absorbing structure according to claim 1, wherein the airbag unit is disposed near a side portion in the seat. Energy absorption structure of the part. 7. The vehicle-side energy absorbing structure according to claim 6, wherein the airbag unit is disposed on a side portion of the seat on a side door side close to the seat. Energy absorption structure. 8. The energy absorbing structure for a vehicle side portion according to claim 7, wherein the airbag unit is disposed in the seatback such that the airbag is deployed substantially in front of the seatback. Characteristic energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle. 9. The vehicle-side energy absorbing structure according to claim 7, wherein the airbag unit is disposed in the seat cushion such that the airbag is deployed substantially above the seat cushion. Characteristic energy absorption structure on the side of the vehicle.