Patent Description:
As an existing occupant protection device, there is an occupant protection device of a configuration shown in <CIT>. The existing occupant protection device is of a configuration wherein a folded airbag is disposed in a seat belt in a region of a lap belt that restrains a hip portion (waist portion) of an occupant when fastened, and the airbag is caused to inflate in such a way as to cover the occupant from the front by an inflating gas from an inflator being caused to flow into an interior. The existing occupant protection device is of a configuration wherein a lower side region, which protects a chest portion and an abdominal portion of an occupant, and an upper side region, which protects a head portion, are caused to inflate with a time difference provided in the airbag, with firstly the lower side region being caused to inflate, then the upper side region being caused to inflate.

However, the existing occupant protection device is of a configuration such that when the inflator operates, firstly, the chest portion of the occupant is received by the inflated lower side region, meaning that the chest portion immediately comes into contact with the airbag. Because of this, there is room for improvement in the existing occupant protection device in terms of restricting a pressing force with respect to the chest portion, thereby protecting an upper body of the occupant gently.

<CIT> discloses an occupant protection device. <CIT> discloses an occupant protection device according to the preamble of independent claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The present disclosure relates to an occupant protection device of the following configuration.

An occupant protection device for protecting an occupant seated in a seat is of a configuration including an airbag as a bag form configured of a sheet body having flexibility, a holding body in which the folded airbag is caused to be housed and held, and which is disposed in front of a hip portion of an occupant seated in the seat, and an inflator that can supply an inflating gas to the airbag, wherein the airbag is of a configuration such as to protrude from the holding body owing to the inflating gas being caused to flow into an interior, and inflates in such a way as to cover a region in front of the occupant, and is configured to include an occupant side wall portion that is disposed on the occupant side when inflation is completed, and can restrain an upper body of the occupant, and the occupant side wall portion is configured in such a way that a lower side restraining face, which can restrain a range from an abdominal portion to a chest portion of the occupant, and an upper side restraining face, which can restrain a head portion or a shoulder portion of the occupant, are disposed on a rear face side when inflation is completed, and a curved (bended) portion is disposed in a boundary region between the upper side restraining face and the lower side restraining face in such a way as to cause the upper side restraining face to protrude to the occupant side with respect to the lower side restraining face.

In the occupant protection device of the present disclosure, the airbag is of a configuration wherein a lower side restraining face, which can restrain a range from an abdominal portion to a chest portion of an occupant, and an upper side restraining face, which can restrain a head portion or a shoulder portion of the occupant, are disposed on a rear face side of an occupant side wall portion disposed on the occupant side when inflation is completed. In the completely inflated airbag, the upper side restraining face is disposed in such a way as to protrude to the occupant side with respect to the lower side restraining face owing to a bended (curved) portion disposed in the occupant side wall portion. That is, in the occupant protection device of the present disclosure, when the occupant is received by the completely inflated airbag, the airbag is such that the upper side restraining face disposed in proximity to the occupant side is brought into contact with the head portion or the shoulder portion of the occupant prior to the airbag coming into contact with the chest portion or the abdominal portion. That is, the inflated airbag can be restricted from immediately coming into contact with the chest portion. Because of this, the occupant protection device of the present disclosure is such that the chest portion being pressed by the inflated airbag can be restricted, and the head portion can be restrained swiftly by the upper side restraining face disposed in proximity.

Consequently, the occupant protection device of the present disclosure is such that an upper body of an occupant can be restrained gently.

The occupant protection device of the present disclosure is such that a tuck portion is formed in an occupant side wall portion itself or an inner side tether portion disposed in such a way as to cause a front wall portion and an occupant side wall portion to be coupled inside an airbag, or an outer side tether portion disposed on a rear face side of an occupant side wall portion.

Hereafter, one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings. An occupant protection device S of the embodiment is mounted on a seat <NUM> of a vehicle, as shown in <FIG>, and includes a seat belt <NUM> configuring a holding body that holds an airbag <NUM>, the airbag <NUM>, and an inflator <NUM> that supplies an inflating gas to the airbag <NUM>. The seat <NUM> includes a backrest portion <NUM> and a sitting portion <NUM>. In the embodiment, front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions correspond to front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the seat <NUM>, unless otherwise stated.

In the case of the embodiment, the seat belt <NUM> is mounted on the seat <NUM>, and includes a belt main body <NUM> for restraining an occupant MP seated in the seat <NUM>, a tongue plate <NUM> attached to the belt main body <NUM>, and a buckle <NUM> for causing the tongue plate <NUM> to be coupled. One end of the belt main body <NUM> is engaged with a winding shaft of an unshown retractor disposed inside the backrest portion <NUM>, and another end side is engaged with an anchoring member <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>) disposed to the left of a rear end 3b of the sitting portion <NUM> of the seat <NUM>. Specifically, the belt main body <NUM> is disposed in such a way as to be exposed to an exterior from an upper end left edge side of the backrest portion <NUM>, and in the case of the embodiment, is configured in such a way as to cause a lap belt <NUM> acting as a holding body caused to hold the airbag <NUM> to be exposed on a front face of the backrest portion <NUM> in a state wherein the occupant MP is not seated, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Specifically, the lap belt <NUM> is exposed on the front face of the backrest portion <NUM> in such a way as to approximately follow the up-down direction on a left edge 2a side of the backrest portion <NUM> in a state wherein the occupant MP is not seated, as shown in <FIG>. The belt main body <NUM> includes the lap belt <NUM> and a shoulder belt <NUM> housed inside the backrest portion <NUM>. The belt main body <NUM> is of a configuration wherein, in a state wherein the tongue plate <NUM> is coupled to the buckle <NUM> when an occupant is seated, a lower body MD (a hip (waist) portion MW) of the occupant MP is restrained by the lap belt <NUM>, which is disposed in such a way as to approximately follow the left-right direction between the anchoring member <NUM> and the buckle <NUM>, and an upper body MU (from a shoulder portion MS to a chest portion MB) of the occupant MP is restrained by the shoulder belt <NUM>, which is disposed diagonally as far as the buckle <NUM> while extending from the upper end left edge side of the backrest portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Further, in the case of the embodiment, the lap belt <NUM>, which is disposed in front of the hip portion MW of the occupant MP seated in the seat <NUM>, and a cover <NUM> to be described hereafter configure a holding body in which the folded airbag <NUM> is housed and held. The unshown retractor disposed inside the backrest portion <NUM> in the seat belt <NUM> has a pretensioner mechanism.

The inflator <NUM> is mounted on the seat <NUM>, and specifically, in the case of the embodiment, is disposed in a position below a seat face 3a in the seat <NUM>. Specifically, the inflator <NUM> has an approximately cylindrical external form, and is disposed with an axial direction approximately following the left-right direction in a position below the sitting portion <NUM> on a rear face side of the seat <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In the case of the embodiment, the inflator <NUM> is coupled to a connection port portion <NUM>, to be described hereafter, of the airbag <NUM> by a coupling tube <NUM>. The coupling tube <NUM> has flexibility and is bendable together with the lap belt <NUM>. In the case of the embodiment, a start of an operation of the inflator <NUM> is set to be later than that of the pretensioner mechanism of the seat belt <NUM>, in order to restrict a withdrawal of the belt main body <NUM> of the seat belt <NUM> accompanying an inflation of the airbag <NUM>. Specifically, the inflator <NUM> is set to operate <NUM> milliseconds after an operation of the pretensioner mechanism of the seat belt <NUM>.

The airbag <NUM> is folded in an elongated form while being held in the lap belt <NUM> (as the holding body), and a periphery thereof is covered by the cover <NUM>. Specifically, with the folded airbag <NUM> in a stacked form on an upper face side of the lap belt <NUM> when the seat belt <NUM> is fastened, the periphery of the airbag <NUM> is covered by the cover <NUM>, and the airbag <NUM> is disposed in a region of the lap belt <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). In other words, in the embodiment, the airbag <NUM> is folded and housed in a gap between the lap belt <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. Also, in the kind of non-fastened state shown in <FIG>, the airbag <NUM> is disposed on a rear face side (the backrest portion <NUM> side) of the lap belt <NUM> exposed on the front face of the backrest portion <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is configured of a sheet body having flexibility, and is configured in such a way that a specific place is broken when the airbag <NUM> starts inflating, and a bag main body <NUM>, to be described hereafter, in the airbag <NUM> can protrude. Also, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the coupling tube <NUM> that connects the connection port portion <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> and the inflator <NUM> is covered by the cover <NUM>. The coupling tube <NUM> is also disposed on the upper face side of the lap belt <NUM> (specifically, a region in the lap belt <NUM> between the anchoring member <NUM> and a disposition region of the airbag <NUM>) when the seat belt <NUM> is fastened (refer to <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, the airbag <NUM> includes the bag main body <NUM>, the connection port portion <NUM> connected to the coupling tube <NUM> extending from the inflator <NUM>, and an attachment portion <NUM> for attaching the bag main body <NUM> to the lap belt <NUM>.

In the case of the embodiment, the bag main body <NUM> is such that an external form when inflation is completed is an approximately triangular prismatic form whose axial direction approximately follows the left-right direction and which is wide front-to-rear as far as a bottom end side, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. And, the inflated bag main body <NUM> is bended in up-down intermediate region, and a region on an upper end 26a side when inflation is completed is to face the rear, which is the occupant MP side. Specifically, the bag main body <NUM> includes an occupant side wall portion <NUM> disposed on the occupant MP side (rear side) when inflation is completed, a front wall portion <NUM> disposed on a front-rear direction side opposing the occupant side wall portion <NUM>, a lower wall portion <NUM> disposed on a lower end side when inflation is completed, and a left wall portion <NUM> and a right wall portion <NUM> disposed opposing on left-right direction sides when inflation is completed. Also, in the bag main body <NUM>, a bended (curved) portion <NUM> is disposed in an up-down intermediate region of the occupant side wall portion <NUM>. And the bag main body <NUM> is bended in an up-down intermediate region as seen from left and right sides in such a way as to cause the upper end 26a side when inflation is completed to protrude to the occupant MP side (rearward). Two vent holes <NUM> that can discharge excess inflating gas that has flowed into an interior are formed in the left wall portion <NUM> and the right wall portion <NUM>. Specifically, each of the vent holes <NUM> is formed in a position in the left wall portion <NUM> and the right wall portion <NUM> that is slightly below an up-down center, and on a front edge side.

In the bag main body <NUM> of the embodiment, a lower face 28a of the lower wall portion <NUM> configures a supported face <NUM> that comes into contact with a thigh portion MT of the occupant MP, and is supported by the thigh portion MT, when the upper body MU of the occupant MP is received by the inflated bag main body <NUM>. The lower wall portion <NUM> is disposed in such a way as to approximately follow the thigh portion MT when inflation of the bag main body <NUM> is completed (refer to <FIG>).

In the bag main body <NUM>, a rear face <NUM> of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> disposed on the occupant MP side when inflation is completed configures an upper body restraining face <NUM> that can restrain the upper body MU of the occupant MP (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). The upper body restraining face <NUM> includes a lower side restraining face 41b, which can restrain a range from an abdominal portion MA to the chest portion MB of the occupant MP, and an upper side restraining face 41a, which can restrain the head portion MH or the shoulder portion MS (in the case of the embodiment, the head portion MH) of the occupant MP. Also, in the occupant side wall portion <NUM>, the bended (curved) portion <NUM> is disposed in a boundary region between the upper side restraining face 41a and the lower side restraining face 41b in such a way as to cause the upper side restraining face 41a to protrude to the occupant MP side (rear side) with respect to the lower side restraining face 41b when inflation of the bag main body <NUM> is completed. In the case of the embodiment, with a tuck portion <NUM> formed by the occupant side wall portion <NUM> being pinched in regions separated on up-down direction sides and the regions being joined to each other as bended portion forming means BM, the bended portion <NUM> is configured of a region of the tuck portion <NUM>. That is, the occupant side wall portion <NUM> is of a configuration such that, with the tuck portion <NUM> formed in an up-down intermediate region when inflation of the bag main body <NUM> is completed as a starting point, an upper side region 32a configured of a region on an upper side of the tuck portion <NUM> is caused to bent (curve) with respect to a lower side region 32b configured of a region on a lower side of the tuck portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

Specifically, in a state wherein an upper side region <NUM> of an occupant side panel <NUM>, to be described hereafter, configuring the occupant side wall portion <NUM> is flattened, the tuck portion <NUM> is formed in a region of an approximately oval tuck formation portion 52d that approximately follows the left-right direction (refer to <FIG>). Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the tuck portion <NUM> is formed by the upper side region <NUM> being partially pinched and folded in two, and the upper side regions <NUM> (occupant side wall portions <NUM>) being joined to each other by sewing (joining) the tuck formation portions 52d. In the case of the embodiment, the tuck portion <NUM> is configured in such a way as to protrude to the front of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> (to an inner side of the bag main body <NUM>) (refer to <FIG>). The tuck portion <NUM> is formed in a position slightly below an up-down center of the upper side region <NUM> in the occupant side panel <NUM>. Specifically, the tuck portion <NUM> is disposed in a position in front of the chest portion MB of the occupant MP in the inflated bag main body <NUM> (refer to <FIG>). Also, in the case of the embodiment, the tuck portion <NUM> (the tuck formation portion 52d) is such that a left-right direction side width dimension L1 is set to be in the region of one-half of a left-right direction side width dimension L2 in a state wherein the occupant side wall portion <NUM> (the upper side region <NUM> in the occupant side panel <NUM>) is flattened (refer to <FIG>), and the tuck portion <NUM> is formed continuously, wide in the left-right direction, approximately following the left-right direction when inflation is completed (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>).

In the bag main body <NUM> of the embodiment, in a vertical cross-section approximately following the front-rear direction in a state individually inflated, an intersection angle α between tangents of the upper side restraining face 41a (the upper side region 32a in the occupant side wall portion <NUM>) and the lower side restraining face 41b (the lower side region 32b in the occupant side wall portion <NUM>) is set to be in the region of <NUM>° (refer to <FIG>). Also, an intersection angle β between tangents of the lower wall portion <NUM> (the supported face <NUM>) and the lower side region 32b (the lower side restraining face 41b) in a state wherein the bag main body <NUM> is inflated individually is set to be in the region of <NUM>° (refer to <FIG>). The bag main body <NUM> is held in the seat belt <NUM>, and is disposed in such a way as to cause the occupant side wall portion <NUM> to approach the lower wall portion <NUM> (in such a way that the intersection angles are reduced) when inflation is completed in a state wherein the occupant MP seated in the seat <NUM> is restrained by the seat belt <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

In the embodiment, the bag main body <NUM> is such that a front-rear direction side width dimension of the lower end side when inflation is completed is set to be a dimension such that a front end of the lower wall portion <NUM> (a front lower end 26b of the bag main body <NUM>) is positioned slightly to the rear of a knee K of the occupant MP. Also, the bag main body <NUM> is such that an up-down direction side width dimension of the rear end side when inflation is completed is set to be a dimension such that the upper end 26a (an upper end of the occupant side wall portion <NUM>) is positioned in front of the head portion MH of the occupant MP (refer to <FIG>). Further, in the bag main body <NUM> of the airbag <NUM>, the upper end 26a side region disposed protruding to the rear, which is the occupant MP side, when inflation is completed configures a head portion protection portion <NUM> that can protect the head portion MH of the occupant MP. Also, the bag main body <NUM> is configured in such a way that a left-right direction side width dimension when inflation is completed is smaller than that of the backrest portion <NUM> of the seat <NUM>, and approximately equivalent to that of the upper body MU in order that the upper body MU of the occupant MP can be protected stably (refer to <FIG>).

Also, in the bag main body <NUM> of the embodiment, the connection port portion <NUM> is disposed in a region on a rear lower end 26c side (a region on a rear end side of the lower wall portion <NUM>) when inflation is completed. Two apertures <NUM> that communicate with the connection port portion <NUM> are disposed in a region covered by the connection port portion <NUM> in the bag main body <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). In the case of the embodiment, two aperture portions <NUM> opened in an approximately circular form are juxtaposed on left-right direction sides. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the connection port portion <NUM> is disposed in such a way as to cover the apertures <NUM> below the rear lower end 26c side of the bag main body <NUM>, and is of an approximately tubular form wherein only a left end side (a leading end side) to which the coupling tube <NUM> extending from the inflator <NUM> is connected is opened. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the connection port portion <NUM> is such that a leading end side region 45b connected to the coupling tube <NUM> is narrower than a base portion side region 45a that covers the apertures <NUM>. The leading end side region 45b is coupled to the coupling tube <NUM> using a clamp <NUM> (refer to <FIG>).

The attachment portion <NUM> that attaches the bag main body <NUM> to the lap belt <NUM> is disposed on a lower face side of the base portion side region 45a in the connection port portion <NUM>. The attachment portion <NUM> is sewn to the lower face side of the base portion side region 45a in the connection port portion <NUM> as a tubular form disposed approximately following the left-right direction in such a way as to approximately follow the lap belt <NUM>, and is configured in such a way that the lap belt <NUM> can be inserted therethrough (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). By the lap belt <NUM> being inserted through the attachment portion <NUM>, the airbag <NUM> is coupled to the lap belt <NUM>, and is held by the lap belt <NUM>. The attachment portion <NUM> is omitted from <FIG>.

The airbag <NUM> of the embodiment is formed by peripheral edges of a base fabric of a predetermined form being joined to each other, and in the case of the embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, the airbag <NUM> is configured of a main body panel <NUM> configuring the bag main body <NUM>, a connection port portion panel <NUM> configuring the connection port portion <NUM>, and an attachment portion panel <NUM> configuring the attachment portion <NUM>. Each of the main body panel <NUM>, the connection port portion panel <NUM>, and the attachment portion panel <NUM> is formed of a woven fabric having flexibility formed from polyester, a polyamide, or the like.

The main body panel <NUM> includes the occupant side panel <NUM> and a front side panel <NUM>. The occupant side panel <NUM> is disposed on the occupant MP side when inflation is completed, and mainly configures a region from the occupant side wall portion <NUM> to the lower wall portion <NUM>. Specifically, the occupant side panel <NUM> includes the upper side region <NUM>, which mainly configures the occupant side wall portion <NUM>, and a lower side region <NUM>, which mainly configures the lower wall portion <NUM>, and has an external form such that the upper side region <NUM> and the lower side region <NUM> are coupled in a region configuring the rear lower end 26c side of the bag main body <NUM>. The upper side region <NUM> configures the occupant side wall portion <NUM> and regions on rear sides of the left wall portion <NUM> and the right wall portion <NUM>. The lower side region <NUM> configures the lower wall portion <NUM> and regions on lower sides of the left wall portion <NUM> and the right wall portion <NUM>. The front side panel <NUM> mainly configures a region of the front wall portion <NUM> (specifically, the front wall portion <NUM> and regions on front sides of the left wall portion <NUM> and the right wall portion <NUM>) in the bag main body <NUM> when inflation is completed. An external form of the front side panel <NUM> in a flattened state is configured in such a way as to approximately coincide with the lower side region <NUM> and the upper side region <NUM> in a state opened in such a way that edge portions (an upper edge 52c and a front edge 53c) remaining when a lower left edge 52a and a rear left edge 53a, and a lower right edge 52b and a rear right edge 53b, disposed to the left and right of a coupled region 51a wherein the upper side region <NUM> and the lower side region <NUM> are coupled in the occupant side panel <NUM>, are joined to each other, are separated from each other. The front side panel <NUM> and the occupant side panel <NUM> are bilaterally symmetrical each. Further, the bag main body <NUM> of the embodiment is formed in a bag form by an outer peripheral edge 55a of the front side panel <NUM> and the upper edge 52c and the front edge 53c of the occupant side panel <NUM> in a state wherein the lower left edge 52a and the rear left edge 53a, and the lower right edge 52b and the rear right edge 53b, are joined to each other as heretofore described, being joined.

As shown in <FIG>, the connection port portion panel <NUM> configuring the connection port portion <NUM> includes an upper side panel <NUM>, which is disposed on an upper side (the lower wall portion <NUM> side), and a lower side panel <NUM>, which is disposed on a lower side opposing the upper side panel <NUM> in the up-down direction. As shown in <FIG>, the upper side panel <NUM> is disposed to the left of the apertures <NUM>, and configures a region on an upper side of a region in a vicinity of the leading end side region 45b of the connection port portion <NUM>. The lower side panel <NUM> covers a region below the apertures <NUM>, and includes a base portion side region configuring a portion <NUM>, which configures the base portion side region 45a of the connection port portion <NUM>, and a leading end side region configuring a portion <NUM>, which configures the leading end side region 45b. Further, the connection port portion <NUM> is configured in a tubular form wherein the leading end side is opened by a remaining front edge 61b and rear edge 61c of the upper side panel <NUM>, in a state wherein a right edge 61a is joined to the lower wall portion <NUM> side, being joined to a front edge 64a and a rear edge 64b of the leading end side region configuring portion <NUM> of the lower side panel <NUM> in a state wherein an outer peripheral edge 63a of the base portion side region configuring portion <NUM> is joined to the lower wall portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, an external form of the attachment portion panel <NUM> configuring the attachment portion <NUM> is an approximately rectangular form, and the attachment portion panel <NUM> configures the attachment portion <NUM> by being folded in two, and lateral direction side edge portions being joined to each other.

In the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, when the inflator <NUM> operates in a state wherein the occupant MP is seated in the seat <NUM> mounted in the vehicle while fastening the seat belt <NUM>, an inflating gas discharged from the inflator <NUM> flows from the connection port portion <NUM> into the bag main body <NUM> through the coupling tube <NUM>. Further, inflation of the bag main body <NUM> is completed, as shown by a double-dotted chain line of <FIG> and in <FIG> and <FIG>, while the bag main body <NUM> in the airbag <NUM> protrudes frontward and upward from the lap belt <NUM> in such a way as to cause the cover <NUM> to break.

Further, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the airbag <NUM> is of a configuration wherein the lower side restraining face 41b, which can restrain a region from the abdominal portion MA to the chest portion MB of the occupant MP, and the upper side restraining face 41a, which can restrain a region from the head portion MH or the shoulder portion MS (in the case of the embodiment, the head portion MH) of the occupant MP, are disposed on the rear face <NUM> side of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> disposed on the occupant MP side when inflation is completed. In the completely inflated airbag <NUM>, the upper side restraining face 41a is disposed in such a way as to protrude to the occupant MP side (rearward) with respect to the lower side restraining face 41b owing to the bended (curved) portion <NUM> disposed in the occupant side wall portion <NUM>. That is, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, when the occupant MP is received by the completely inflated airbag <NUM>, the airbag <NUM> is such that the upper side restraining face 41a disposed in proximity to the occupant MP side is brought into contact with the head portion MH or the shoulder portion MS (in the case of the embodiment, the head portion MH) of the occupant MP prior to the airbag <NUM> coming into contact with the chest portion MB or the abdominal portion MA. That is, the inflated airbag <NUM> can be restricted from immediately coming into contact with the chest portion MB. Because of this, the occupant MP, who moves forward while a state of being restrained by the seat belt <NUM> is maintained, is such that the chest portion MB or the abdominal portion MA is restrained by the lower side restraining face 41b in a state wherein kinetic energy is reduced by the head portion MH or the shoulder portion MS being brought into contact with the upper side restraining face 41a of the completely inflated airbag <NUM>. Then, the occupant MP can be appropriately protected by the inflated airbag <NUM>. As a result of this, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the chest portion MB being pressed by the inflated airbag <NUM> can be restricted, and the head portion MH can be restrained swiftly by the upper side restraining face 41a disposed in proximity.

Consequently, in the occupation protection device S of the embodiment, the upper body MU of the occupant MP can be restrained gently.

Also, in the occupation protection device S of the embodiment, the supported face <NUM>, which comes into contact with the thigh portion MT of the occupant MP and is supported by the thigh portion MT, is disposed on the lower end side of the bag main body <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> when inflation is completed. This means that when the upper body MU is restrained by the upper body restraining face <NUM> including the upper side restraining face 41a and the lower side restraining face 41b, the lower face side of the bag main body <NUM> is supported by left and right thigh portions MT over a wide area via the supported face <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). This means that even when the occupant MP moves in such a way as to bring the upper body MU still nearer to the lower body MD while the upper body MU is restrained by the upper side restraining face 41a (refer to <FIG>), the upper body MU of the occupant MP can be still more appropriately restrained by the bag main body <NUM>, whose collapse, compression, and the like is restricted.

In particular, in the occupation protection device S of the embodiment, the bag main body <NUM> of the airbag <NUM> is of a configuration such that, in a state inflated individually as shown in <FIG>, the lower side restraining face 41b (the lower side region 32b of the occupant side wall portion <NUM>) is caused to intersect the lower wall portion <NUM> (the supported face <NUM>) at a large intersection angle (an obtuse angle). In the occupation protection device S of the embodiment, to describe behavior of the bag main body <NUM> at an initial stage of inflation, inflating gas is caused to flow into the interior, and when inflating while protruding frontward and upward from the lap belt <NUM> while eliminating folds, the bag main body <NUM> becomes wide in the up-down direction. At this time, because the occupant side wall portion <NUM> intersects the lower wall portion <NUM> at a large intersection angle, the occupant side wall portion <NUM> can be caused to deploy in such a way as to head swiftly toward the upper body MU of the occupant MP. Specifically, the lower wall portion <NUM> temporarily inclines frontward and downward in accompaniment to a protrusion frontward and upward of the bag main body <NUM>, but as the occupant side wall portion <NUM> intersects the lower wall portion <NUM> at a large intersection angle, the upper end side of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> (the upper end 26a side of the bag main body <NUM>, that is, the head portion protection portion <NUM>) can be disposed swiftly in proximity to a region in front of the head portion MH of the occupant MP (refer to <FIG>). Further, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, at this time, the bended (curved) portion <NUM> is provided in the occupant side wall portion <NUM>, and the lower side restraining face 41b (the lower side region 32b) positioned on the lower side of the bended portion <NUM> is not caused to protrude farther rearward than the upper side restraining face 41a (the upper side region 32a) positioned on the upper side of the bended portion <NUM>. Because of this, the occupant side wall portion <NUM> (the lower side restraining face 41b) of the bag main body <NUM> that inflates in this way coming into contact with the chest portion MB of the occupant MP can be appropriately restricted. Also, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the head portion MH of the occupant MP can be swiftly restrained by a region on the upper end side of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> (the upper side restraining face 41a, the head portion protection portion <NUM>), which moves (deploys) swiftly.

Also, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the bended portion <NUM> disposed in the occupant side wall portion <NUM> is configured of the tuck portion <NUM> formed by the occupant side wall portion <NUM> being pinched in regions separated on up-down direction sides in an up-down direction intermediate region of the occupant side wall portion <NUM>, and the regions being joined to each other. That is, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, with the tuck portion <NUM> itself as the bended portion <NUM>, the occupant side wall portion <NUM> is bended with the tuck portion <NUM> as a starting point. Because of this, a bending position and a bending state of the occupant side wall portion <NUM> when inflation of the airbag <NUM> is completed can be stabilized. Also, in the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the bended portion <NUM> is disposed in front of the chest portion MB of the occupant MP when inflation of the airbag <NUM> is completed, because of which the inflated airbag <NUM> coming into contact with the chest portion MB of the occupant MP can be delayed as far as possible.

An airbag of a configuration shown in <FIG> may be used as an airbag 25A. The airbag 25A is such that a bended (curved) portion 34A provided in an occupant side wall portion 32A is formed not by a tuck portion but by an inner side tether portion <NUM> acting as the bended portion forming means BM disposed inside the bag main body 26A, other than which a configuration is identical to that of the airbag <NUM>. Because of this, an identical member is such that "A" is added to the end of an identical reference sign, and a detailed description is omitted. Also, a main body panel 50A (a front side panel 55A and an occupant side panel 51A) configuring the bag main body 26A is of an external form identical to that of the main body panel <NUM> (the front side panel <NUM> and the occupant side panel <NUM>) configuring the bag main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The inner side tether portion <NUM> acting as the bended portion forming means BM is disposed inside the bag main body 26A in such a way as to couple a front wall portion 27A and the occupant side wall portion 32A. The inner side tether portion <NUM> is a strip form body formed of a sheet body having flexibility (specifically, a woven fabric formed of the same polyamide, polyester, or the like as a base material configuring the bag main body 26A). The inner side tether portion <NUM> is such that one end portion 70a side is joined to the front wall portion 27A, and another end portion 70b side is coupled to the occupant side wall portion 32A. An occupant side joining region <NUM> (a joint formation portion 52e in an upper side region 52A of the occupant side panel 51A) in which the end portion 70b of the inner side tether portion <NUM> is caused to join the occupant side wall portion 32A is formed in a position that is approximately identical to the formation position of the tuck portion <NUM> (the tuck formation portion 52d) in the bag main body <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). Also, a width dimension of the inner side tether portion <NUM> is set to be approximately equivalent to a length dimension of the tuck portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). A front side joining region <NUM> (a joint formation portion 55b in the front side panel 55A) in which the end portion 70a of the inner side tether portion <NUM> is caused to join the front wall portion 27A is disposed in a position that is approximately directly above the occupant side joining region <NUM> in a state wherein the bag main body 26A is inflated (refer to <FIG>), and is formed in a position farther to the upper side than the joint formation portion 52e formed in the upper side region 52A in a flattened state in a state wherein the front side panel 55A is flattened. Also, in the embodiment, a length dimension of the inner side tether portion <NUM> (a distance of separation D1 between the front side joining region <NUM> and the occupant side joining region <NUM> formed in the end portions 70a and 70b respectively) is set to be approximately identical to a distance of separation D2 between the joint formation portion 52e formed in the upper side region 52A and the joint formation portion 55b formed in the front side panel 55A in a state wherein the occupant side panel 51A and the front side panel 55A are flattened, and a state wherein upper edge positions are caused to coincide (refer to <FIG>).

In the bag main body 26A, when inflation is completed, the occupant side wall portion 32A is bended with a region of the occupant side joining region <NUM> in which the inner side tether portion <NUM> is caused to join the occupant side wall portion 32A as a starting point, and a region of the occupant side joining region <NUM> configures the bended portion 34A. Further, the bag main body 26A (the airbag 25A) having this kind of configuration is also such that when inflation is completed, the upper side restraining face 41a disposed on a rear face 33A side is disposed in such a way as to protrude to the occupant side (the rearward side) with respect to the lower side restraining face 41b owing to the bended portion 34A disposed in the occupant side wall portion 32A.

Also, an airbag of a configuration shown in <FIG> may be used as an airbag 25B. The airbag 25B is such that a bended portion 34B provided in an occupant side wall portion 32B is formed not by a tuck portion but by an outer side tether portion <NUM> acting as the bended portion forming means BM disposed on a rear face 33B side of the occupant side wall portion 32B, other than which a configuration is identical to that of the airbag <NUM>. Because of this, an identical member is such that "B" is added to the end of an identical reference sign, and a detailed description is omitted. Also, a main body panel 50B (a front side panel 55B and an occupant side panel 51B) configuring a bag main body 26B is also of an external form identical to that of the main body panel <NUM> (the front side panel <NUM> and the occupant side panel <NUM>) configuring the bag main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The outer side tether portion <NUM> acting as the bended portion forming means BM is disposed on the rear face 33B side of the occupant side wall portion 32B (outside the bag main body 26B) in such a way as to couple each of an upper end 75a side and a lower end 75b side to the occupant side wall portion 32B. The outer side tether portion <NUM> is also a strip form body formed of a sheet body having flexibility (a woven fabric formed of the same polyamide, polyester, or the like as a base material configuring the bag main body 26B), in the same way as the inner side tether portion <NUM>. Also, a width dimension of the outer side tether portion <NUM> is set to be approximately equivalent to the width dimension of the inner side tether portion <NUM> (refer to <FIG> and <FIG>). A lower side joining region <NUM> (a lower side joint formation portion 51b in the occupant side panel 51B) in which the lower end 75b side of the outer side tether portion <NUM> is caused to join the occupant side wall portion 32B is formed on a lower end side of the occupant side wall portion 32B, in a vicinity of a boundary region between the occupant side wall portion 32B and a lower wall portion 28B (a vicinity of the coupled region 51a (the boundary region) in which an upper side region 52B and a lower side region 53B are coupled in the occupant side panel 51B in a flattened state). An upper side joining region <NUM> (an upper side joint formation portion 52f in the upper side region 52B of the occupant side panel 51B) in which the upper end 75a side of the outer side tether portion <NUM> is caused to join the occupant side wall portion 32B is disposed in a position farther to the rear and above the lower side joining region <NUM> in a state wherein the bag main body 26B is inflated (refer to <FIG>). The upper side joint formation portion 52f (the upper side joining region <NUM>) is formed in a position slightly above an up-down direction center of the upper side region 52B in a state wherein the occupant side panel 51B is flattened, as shown in <FIG>. A length dimension of the outer side tether portion <NUM> (a distance of separation D3 between the upper side joining region <NUM> and the lower side joining region <NUM>) is set to be smaller than a distance of separation D4 between the upper side joint formation portion 52f and the lower side joint formation portion 51b in the occupant side panel 51B in a flattened state, and more specifically, is set to be in the region of three-quarters of D4 (refer to <FIG>).

In the bag main body 26B, when inflation is completed, the occupant side wall portion 32B is bended in a position in an approximate center between the upper side joining region <NUM> and the lower side joining region <NUM>, and in the case of the embodiment, the occupant side wall portion 32B is bended in such a way that the bended portion 34B is disposed in a position approximately equivalent to those of the bended portions <NUM> and 34A in the airbags <NUM> and 25A respectively. Further, in the bag main body 26B (the airbag 25B) having this kind of configuration, when inflation is completed, the upper side restraining face 41a disposed on the rear face 33B side is disposed in such a way as to protrude to the occupant side (the rearward side) with respect to the lower side restraining face 41b owing to the bended portion 34B disposed in the occupant side wall portion 32B.

In the occupant protection device S of the embodiment, the lap belt <NUM> of the seat belt <NUM> is utilized as a holding body in which the airbag <NUM> is caused to be held, but a holding body in which an airbag is caused to be held is not limited to a lap belt. For example, a configuration such that a holding body that is a body separate from a seat belt is provided, and an airbag is caused to be held in the holding body, may be adopted. Although the occupant protection device S of the embodiment is of a configuration such that the airbag <NUM> is caused to be held in the lap belt <NUM> of the seat belt <NUM>, the inflator <NUM> operates later (in the region of <NUM> milliseconds) than an operation of the pretensioner mechanism of the seat belt <NUM>. Because of this, the airbag <NUM> can be caused to inflate in a state wherein the occupant MP is seated in the seat <NUM> is stably maintained by the seat belt <NUM>, and the occupant MP can be stably protected by the airbag <NUM> and the seat belt <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An occupant protection device (S) for protecting an occupant (MP) seated in a seat (<NUM>), the occupant protection device comprising:
an airbag (<NUM>, 25A, 25B) as a bag form configured of a sheet body having flexibility;
a holding body (<NUM>) in which the folded airbag is caused to be housed and held, and which is adapted to be disposed in front of a hip portion (MW) of an occupant seated in the seat; and
an inflator (<NUM>) that can supply an inflating gas to the airbag, wherein
the airbag is of a configuration such as to protrude from the holding body owing to the inflating gas being caused to flow into an interior, and to inflate in such a way as to cover a region in front of the occupant, and is configured to include an occupant side wall portion (<NUM>, 32A, 32B) that is adapted to be disposed on the occupant side when inflation is completed, and can restrain an upper body (MU)of the occupant, and
the occupant side wall portion is configured in such a way that a lower side restraining face (41b), which can restrain a range from an abdominal portion (MA) to a chest portion (MB) of the occupant, and an upper side restraining face (41a), which can restrain a head portion (MH) or a shoulder portion (MS) of the occupant, are disposed on a rear face side when inflation is completed, and a bended portion (<NUM>, 34A, 34B) is disposed in a boundary region between the upper side restraining face and the lower side restraining face in such a way as to cause the upper side restraining face to protrude to the occupant side with respect to the lower side restraining face,
characterized in that
bended portion forming means that forms the bended portion (<NUM>) is configured of a tuck portion (<NUM>) formed by the occupant side wall portion (<NUM>) being pinched in regions separated on up-down direction sides, and the regions being joined to each other, in an up-down direction intermediate region of the occupant side wall portion.