Patent Description:
A vehicle occupant restraint device is conventionally known in which a main bag portion of a far-side airbag is inflated and is deployed toward an inward side in a vehicle-width direction of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat, with a lower portion of the main bag portion being interposed between a console box and the abdomen of the occupant, and a sub-bag portion being inflated and deployed upward of the console box from an intermediate portion in an up-down direction of the main bag portion (e.g., see <CIT> (<CIT>)). In this vehicle occupant restraint device, when an occupant that is moving under inertia toward the inward side in the vehicle-width direction due to impact of a broadside collision is restrained by the main bag portion, the sub-bag portion is subjected to reactive force from an upper face of the console box, whereby the main bag portion is supported by the console box via the sub-bag portion.

However, in the vehicle occupant restraint device configured as described above, when the main bag portion and the sub-bag portion that are deployed do not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, in other words, when a vehicle seat assumes a front-side position in which a front end face of a side portion of a seat back thereof is positioned further toward a forward side than a front face of the console box, the occupant that moves toward the main bag portion under inertia is not subjected to sufficient reactive force from the console box via the sub-bag portion, and there is a possibility the occupant will fall toward a middle side in the vehicle-width direction.

In other words, in the case of an occupant with a small build who positions the vehicle seat at a front-side position, the main bag portion and the sub-bag portion that are deployed may turn inward in the vehicle-width direction with a rear end portion thereof as the center of turning in plan view, and restraining the occupant by the main bag portion and the sub-bag portion that are deployed may be difficult. Also, the main bag portion and the sub-bag portion that are deployed may turn toward a rearward side with a lower end portion thereof as the center of turning in side view, making it difficult to restrain the occupant with the main bag portion and the sub-bag portion that are deployed.

In this way, there is still room for improvement in a configuration in which behavior of turning of a side airbag that is inflated and is deployed from the side portion of the seat back of the vehicle seat on the inner side in the vehicle-width direction, toward an inward side of the occupant in the vehicle-width direction, is suppressed, even when the vehicle seat assumes a front-side position.

Accordingly, the invention provides a vehicle occupant restraint device in which behavior of turning of a side airbag that is inflated and is deployed inward of an occupant in the vehicle-width direction, from an inward side portion of a seat back in the vehicle-width direction, is suppressed even when the vehicle seat assumes a front-side position.

A first aspect of the invention provides a vehicle occupant restraint device. This vehicle occupant restraint device includes a vehicle seat that is provided in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, a console box that is provided inside the vehicle cabin, on an inward side in a vehicle-width direction from the vehicle seat, an inflator that is provided in the vehicle seat and that is configured to discharge gas when activated, and a side airbag that includes a main chamber that is provided to a side portion of a seat back of the vehicle seat, on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, and that is configured to inflate and deploy to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat by the gas being supplied to inside of the main chamber, and a sub-chamber that is configured to inflated and be deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from a lower portion of the main chamber. When the vehicle seat assumes a front-side position at which a front end face of the side portion of the seat back is positioned further on a vehicle forward side than a front face of the console box in side view, the sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed is contactable with the front face of the console box from the vehicle forward side.

According to the invention of the first aspect, at the time of a broadside collision of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and gas discharged from the inflator is supplied to inside of the side airbag. Thus, the main chamber of the side airbag is inflated and is deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, and the sub-chamber of the side airbag is inflated and is deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from the lower portion of the main chamber. Note that the expression "at the time of a broadside collision of the vehicle" includes not only when a broadside collision of the vehicle is detected, but also when a broadside collision of the vehicle is predicted.

Now, when the occupant seated in the vehicle seat (the driver seat in particular) is an occupant of small build, the vehicle seat assumes a front-side position in which the front end face of the side portion of the seat back is positioned further toward the vehicle forward side than the front face of the console box in side view. At this time, the sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed can come into contact with the front face of the console box from the vehicle forward side.

Accordingly, even when the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, the sub-chamber is supported from a vehicle rearward side by the console box, and accordingly behavior of turning toward the inner side in the vehicle-width direction with the rear end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning in plan view is suppressed. That is to say, even when the vehicle seat assumes the front-side position, the behavior of turning of the side airbag that is inflated and is deployed from the side portion of the seat back on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction toward the inward side of the occupant in the vehicle-width direction is suppressed.

Further, in the vehicle occupant restraint device of the aspect described above, a lid portion of the console box may be provided with an overhang portion that protrudes further toward the vehicle forward side than the front face of the console box.

According to the invention of the above aspect, the lid portion of the console box is formed with the overhang portion projecting further toward the vehicle forward side than the front face of the console box. Accordingly, even though the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, an upper side of a rear end portion of the sub-chamber is caught by the overhang portion and is pressed from a vehicle upward side, and thus the behavior of turning toward the vehicle rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning is suppressed.

Further, in the vehicle occupant restraint device of the aspect described above, an upper face of the sub-chamber may be positioned at a same position as or a lower position than a lower face of the overhang portion in side view.

According to the invention of the above aspect, the upper face of the sub-chamber is positioned at the same position as or a lower position than the lower face of the overhang portion in side view. Accordingly, even though the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, the upper side of the rear end portion of the sub-chamber is readily caught by the overhang portion and is pressed from the vehicle upward side in a more sure manner, and thus the behavior of turning toward the vehicle rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning is suppressed in a more sure manner.

Also, in the vehicle occupant restraint device according to the above aspect, a height of a rear end portion of the sub-chamber may be the same as or lower than a height of the front face of the console box in side view.

Also, in the vehicle occupant restraint device of the above aspect, a stepped portion may be provided on an upper side of the rear end portion of the sub-chamber that is inflated and deployed, in side view.

According to the invention of the above aspect, the height of the rear end portion of the sub-chamber is formed at the same height as or lower than the height of the front face of the console box in side view. Accordingly, even though the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, the upper side of the rear end portion of the sub-chamber is readily caught by the overhang portion and is pressed from the vehicle upward side in a more sure manner, and thus the behavior of turning toward the vehicle rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning is suppressed in a more sure manner.

Also, in the vehicle occupant restraint device of the above aspect, the console box may include a lid portion that is configured to move to the vehicle forward side in coordination with movement of the vehicle seat to the vehicle forward side, and the sub-chamber may be contactable with a lower face of the lid portion that is moved.

According to the invention of the above aspect, the console box has the lid portion that moves toward the vehicle forward side in coordination with the movement of the vehicle seat toward the vehicle forward side. Also, the sub-chamber can come into contact with the lower face of the lid portion that is moved. Accordingly, even though the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, the sub-chamber is pressed from the vehicle upward side by the lid portion that is moved, and thus the behavior of turning toward the vehicle rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning can be suppressed.

Further, in the vehicle occupant restraint device of the above aspect, the sub-chamber may be supplied with the gas via a communication hole formed in the lower portion of the main chamber, and may be configured to be inflated and deployed with a delay as to the main chamber.

According to the invention of the above aspect, the sub-chamber is supplied with the gas through the communication hole formed in the lower portion of the main chamber and is inflated and is deployed with a delay as to the main chamber. Now, when the occupant seated in the vehicle seat (the driver seat in particular) is an occupant of large build, the vehicle seat assumes a rear-side position in which the front end face on the side portion of the seat back is positioned further to the vehicle rearward side than the front face of the console box in side view. That is to say, the main chamber of the side airbag sufficiently overlaps the console box in side view, and a gap between the console box and the occupant is narrow. However, as described above, the sub-chamber is inflated and is deployed with a delay as to the main chamber, and accordingly the side airbag (main chamber) having the sub-chamber can be inflated and be deployed, even when the gap is narrow.

In a non-claimed example, there is provided a vehicle occupant restraint device that includes a vehicle seat that is provided in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, a console box that is provided inside the vehicle cabin, on an inward side in a vehicle-width direction from the vehicle seat, and that includes a lid portion that is configured to move to a vehicle forward side in coordination with movement of the vehicle seat to the vehicle forward side, an inflator that is provided in the vehicle seat and that is configured to discharge gas when activated, and a side airbag that includes a main chamber that is provided to a side portion of a seat back of the vehicle seat, on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, and that is configured to be inflated and be deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat by the gas being supplied to inside of the main chamber, and a sub-chamber that is configured to be inflated and be deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from a lower portion of the main chamber. The sub-chamber is contactable with a lower face of the lid portion that is moved.

According to that example, at the time of a broadside collision of the vehicle, the inflator is activated and gas discharged from the inflator is supplied to the inside of the side airbag. Thus, the main chamber of the side airbag is inflated and is deployed toward the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat, and the sub-chamber of the side airbag is inflated and is deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from the lower portion of the main chamber. Note that the expression "at the time of a broadside collision of the vehicle" includes not only when a broadside collision of the vehicle is detected, but also when a broadside collision of the vehicle is predicted.

Now, the console box has the lid portion that moves toward the vehicle forward side in coordination with the movement of the vehicle seat toward the vehicle forward side. Also, the sub-chamber can come into contact with the lower face of the lid portion that is moved. Accordingly, even though the main chamber of the side airbag does not sufficiently overlap the console box in side view, the sub-chamber is pressed from the vehicle upward side by the lid portion that is moved, and thus the behavior of turning toward the vehicle rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag as the center of turning can be suppressed. That is to say, even when the vehicle seat assumes the front-side position, the behavior of turning of the side airbag that is inflated and is deployed from the side portion of the seat back on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction toward the inward side of the occupant in the vehicle-width direction is suppressed.

Thus, according to the invention, behavior of turning of the side airbag that is inflated and is deployed toward the inward side of an occupant in the vehicle-width direction, from the side portion of the seat back on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, can be suppressed even when the vehicle seat assumes a front-side position.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of description, an arrow UP, an arrow FR, and an arrow LH shown in the figures as appropriate indicate an upward direction of a vehicle and a vehicle seat, a forward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, and a leftward direction of the vehicle and the vehicle seat, respectively. Accordingly, when terms indicating directions, i.e., up-down, front-rear, and right-left are used in the following description without any specification, these are to be understood to mean up-down, front-rear, and right-left, with respect to the vehicle and the vehicle seat. Also, "right-left direction" is synonymous with "vehicle-width direction" and "seat-width direction".

An "occupant P" illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is, for example, an occupant equivalent to AF05 (5th percentile American adult female) in Worldwide Harmonized Side Impact Dummy (World SID). The "occupant P" illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> is, for example, an occupant equivalent to AM95 (95th percentile American adult male) in World SID.

First, a first embodiment will be described. As illustrated in <FIG>, a vehicle seat <NUM> making up a vehicle occupant restraint device <NUM> according to the first embodiment includes a seat cushion <NUM> on which the occupant P sits (supporting buttocks Pb and thighs of the occupant P), a seat back <NUM> that supports the back of the occupant P, and a headrest <NUM> that supports the head Ph of the occupant P. Note that this vehicle seat <NUM> is, for example, a right-side front seat provided in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle, and is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction by a known electrical mechanism.

In side view in the vehicle-width direction (seat-width direction), the seat cushion <NUM> extends in the front-rear direction, and the seat back <NUM> is pivotably linked to a rear end portion the seat cushion <NUM> with the seat-width direction as an axial direction thereof, and extends in the up-down direction. The headrest <NUM> is provided at a middle portion of an upper end portion of the seat back <NUM> in the seat-width direction so as to be movable up and down. The occupant P is restrained in the vehicle seat <NUM> by a seatbelt device (omitted from illustration).

Further, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a console box <NUM> is provided on a floor <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the vehicle cabin, on an inward side in the vehicle-width direction (middle portion in the vehicle-width direction) from the vehicle seat <NUM>. The console box <NUM> is a rectangular hollow box of which a longitudinal direction thereof is in the front-rear direction in plan view. A front wall <NUM> and a rear wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM> have a front face 22A and a rear face 24A, respectively, which are flat faces, and right and left side walls <NUM> of the console box <NUM> respectively have side faces 26R and <NUM>, which are flat faces.

An upper portion of the console box <NUM> is open, and configured to be openable and closable by a lid portion <NUM> having a predetermined thickness. Note that a front end portion of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> is formed as an overhang portion <NUM> projecting further toward the forward side than the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> in side view by a predetermined length. Also, the height to an upper face 28A of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> is such that the occupant P can rest his/her elbow (omitted from illustration) without assuming an unreasonable posture.

Also, a side airbag device <NUM> is provided on a left-side side portion (hereinafter referred to as "left side portion") that is a side portion of the seat back <NUM> on the inner side in the vehicle-width direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, the side airbag device <NUM> includes an inflator <NUM> embedded in the left side portion of the seat back <NUM>, an inner cloth <NUM> for distributing gas discharged from the inflator <NUM> to an upward side and a downward side, and a side airbag <NUM> inside which the inner cloth <NUM> is provided.

The inflator <NUM> is a cylinder-type gas generating device formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and an axial direction thereof is a direction following a side frame (omitted from illustration) that makes up a framework on both right and left side portions of the seat back <NUM> (substantially up-down direction). The inflator <NUM> is actuated when a broadside collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted (hereinafter referred to as "time of broadside collision"), and gas can be instantaneously supplied to the inside of the side airbag <NUM> via the inner cloth <NUM>.

To describe this in detail, a lower end portion at a rearward side of the inner cloth <NUM> is connected to an upper end portion 32A of the inflator <NUM>. A forward side of the inner cloth <NUM> is formed in a tubular shape of which an axial direction is substantially the up-down direction, and that has an upper opening 34A and a lower opening 34B. Accordingly, the inner cloth <NUM> is capable of blowing out the gas discharged from the inflator <NUM> to the upward side and the downward side, inside of the side airbag <NUM>. According to this structure, the side airbag <NUM> is rapidly inflated and deployed.

The side airbag <NUM> is provided on the left side portion of the seat back <NUM>, and has a main chamber <NUM> that is inflated and is deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of the buttocks Pb, the lumbar region Pw, the chest Pc, the shoulders Ps, and the head Ph of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat <NUM>, and a sub-chamber <NUM> that is inflated and is deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from a lower portion of the main chamber <NUM>, by gas being supplied therein.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the main chamber <NUM> extends from an upper end portion of the headrest <NUM> to a lower end portion of the seat back <NUM> (reaching the seat cushion <NUM>) in side view, and an upper portion thereof is formed in a substantially elliptical shape that bulges to the forward side so as to be able to restrain the head Ph of the occupant P. The main chamber <NUM> is formed in the shape of a single bag, by sewing outer peripheral edges of two pieces of base fabric together.

The sub-chamber <NUM> is formed in a substantially elliptical shape that is long in the front-rear direction in side view, and the length thereof in the front-rear direction is of a level so as not to extend out from the main chamber <NUM>. The length (height) of the sub-chamber <NUM> in the up-down direction is a length (height) such that an upper face 40A of the sub-chamber <NUM> is positioned at substantially the same position as the upper face 28A of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> in side view.

Note that as illustrated in <FIG>, the length (height) of the sub-chamber <NUM> in the up-down direction preferably is a length (height) such that the upper face 40A of the sub-chamber <NUM> is at the same position as a lower face 29A of the overhang portion <NUM>, or positioned at a lower position therefrom, in side view. In other words, the length of the sub-chamber <NUM> in the up-down direction (at least the height of a rear end portion 40B) is preferably formed at the same height as the height of the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM>, or lower than the height thereof, in side view.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, a stepped portion <NUM> having a substantially "letter-L" shape may be formed on an upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> in side view, after completion of inflation and deployment. In this case, the length (height) of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> in the up-down direction (up to the stepped portion <NUM>) is preferably formed to be the same as the height of the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM>, or lower than the height thereof, in side view.

Further, as illustrated in <FIG>, the sub-chamber <NUM> is formed in a bag-like shape by sewing an outer peripheral edge thereof to the lower portion of the base fabric of the main chamber <NUM> on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, and is configured to be inflated and to be deployed to a predetermined thickness on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from the base fabric of the main chamber <NUM> on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction.

Also, as illustrated in <FIG>, a communication hole <NUM> is formed in the lower portion of the base fabric on the inward side of the main chamber <NUM> in the vehicle-width direction, to allow the main chamber <NUM> and the sub-chamber <NUM> to communicate with each other. The communication hole <NUM> is formed, for example, in a circular shape such as illustrated in <FIG> or a slit shape such as illustrated in <FIG>, whereby gas is supplied from the main chamber <NUM> to the sub-chamber <NUM> via the communication hole <NUM>.

Note that when the communication hole <NUM> has a circular shape, the inflation and deployment speed of the sub-chamber <NUM> is faster than when the communication hole <NUM> has a slit shape with the same length as the diameter of the circle. Further, when the communication hole <NUM> is formed in a slit shape, this is not limited to the upright long slit shape illustrated in <FIG>, and may be, for example, a laterally long slit shape, or may be a diagonally long slit shape. In any case, the communication hole <NUM> that is circular or slit-shaped in this way allows the sub-chamber <NUM> to be inflated and be deployed to a predetermined thickness, with a delay from the inflation and deployment of the main chamber <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the sub-chamber <NUM>, when the vehicle seat <NUM> assumes a front-side position, in which a front end face (an end face positioned at the foremost side) 16A on a lower side of the side portion of the seat back <NUM> in side view is positioned further toward the forward side than the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM>, such as in the case of an occupant P with a small build, the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM>, which is inflated and is deployed, is contactable with the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM> from the forward side.

Note that the term "is contactable" as used here means that when at least the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> pivots rearward toward the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, with the rear end portion thereof as the center of turning (with the inflator <NUM> side as a pivoting point), the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM>, which is inflated and is deployed, comes into contact with the front face 22A of the console box <NUM> from the forward side, as illustrated in <FIG>. Accordingly, at the point in time of the sub-chamber <NUM> being inflated and deployed, the case in which the rear end portion 40B is in contact with the front face 22A of the console box <NUM> from the forward side is also included in "capable of coming into contact".

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the vehicle seat <NUM> assumes a rear-side position, in which the front end face 16A on the lower side of the side portion of the seat back <NUM> in side view is positioned further on the rearward side from the front face 22A of the front wall <NUM> of the console box <NUM>, such as in the case of an occupant P with a large build, or the like, the lower portion of the main chamber <NUM> and the sub-chamber <NUM> are capable of being interposed between the side face 26R of the wall <NUM> on the right side of the console box <NUM>, and the buttocks Pb of the occupant P. That is to say, in this case, the sub-chamber <NUM> is inflated and is deployed only to the extent of filling a gap between the lower portion of the main chamber <NUM> and the side face 26R on the right side of the console box <NUM>.

Next, the operation of the vehicle occupant restraint device <NUM> according to the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

In the event of a broadside collision of the vehicle, the inflator <NUM> is actuated, and the gas discharged from the inflator <NUM> is instantaneously supplied to the inside of the inner cloth <NUM>, and is supplied to the inside of the side airbag <NUM> (main chamber <NUM>) from the upper opening 34A and the lower opening 34B of the inner cloth <NUM>. Then, under internal pressure (inflation pressure) of the side airbag <NUM>, which begins to inflate due to the supplied gas, a skin ruptures from the lower end portion to the upper end portion at the left side portion of the seat back <NUM>.

That is to say, the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> is inflated and is deployed toward the left side (inward in the vehicle-width direction) of the buttocks Pb, the lumbar region Pw, the chest Pc, the shoulders Ps, and the head Ph of the occupant P. Accordingly, the left side face of the occupant P is covered by the main chamber <NUM> from the left side, from the head Ph to the buttocks Pb. Thus, the left side face of the occupant P, from the head Ph to the buttocks Pb, can be restrained by the main chamber <NUM> in the event of a broadside collision of the vehicle.

Also, the sub-chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> is inflated and is deployed toward the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from the lower portion of the main chamber <NUM>, following a delay from the inflation and deployment of the main chamber <NUM>. Here, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat <NUM> (the driver seat in particular) is an occupant of small build, the vehicle seat <NUM> assumes the front-side position in which the front end face 16A on the lower side of the side portion of the seat back <NUM> is positioned further toward the forward side than the front face 22A of the console box <NUM> in side view. At this time, the sub-chamber <NUM> that is inflated and is deployed can come into contact with the front face 22A of the console box <NUM> from the forward side.

Accordingly, even when the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> does not sufficiently overlap the console box <NUM> (even when the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> is offset to the forward side) in side view, the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> is supported from the rear side by the front face 22A of the console box <NUM>, and accordingly the behavior of turning rearward toward the inner side in the vehicle-width direction with the rear end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning (with the inflator <NUM> side as the pivoting point) can be suppressed.

Also, the front end portion of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> is formed with the overhang portion <NUM> projecting further to the forward side than the front face 22A of the console box <NUM>. Accordingly, even though the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> does not sufficiently overlap the console box <NUM> in side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> is caught by the overhang portion <NUM> and is pressed from above, and thus the behavior of turning toward the rearward side with a lower end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning can be suppressed as well.

Thus, even when the vehicle seat <NUM> assumes the front-side position, the behavior of turning of the side airbag <NUM> that is inflated and is deployed from the left side portion of the seat back <NUM> toward the inward side of the occupant P in the vehicle-width direction can be suppressed. Accordingly, restraint performance can be secured with respect to an occupant P of small build who is seated in the vehicle seat <NUM> that assumes the front-side position.

Note that, as illustrated in <FIG>, the upper face 40A of the sub-chamber <NUM> is preferably positioned at the same position as or lower than the lower face 29A of the overhang portion <NUM> in side view. In other words, the height of the sub-chamber <NUM> in the up-down direction (at least the height of the rear end portion 40B) is preferably formed at the same height as the height of the front face 22A of the console box <NUM>, or lower than the height thereof, in side view.

Accordingly, even though the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> does not sufficiently overlap the console box <NUM> in side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> is readily caught by the overhang portion <NUM> over a broad range and is pressed from above in an even more sure manner, and thus the behavior of turning toward the rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning can be suppressed in an even more sure manner.

Also, as illustrated in <FIG>, the stepped portion <NUM> may be formed on the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> in side view. In this case, the height of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> (the height up to the stepped portion <NUM>) is preferably formed to be the same as the height of the front face 22A of the console box <NUM>, or lower than the height thereof, in side view.

Accordingly, even when the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> does not sufficiently overlap the console box <NUM> in side view, the upper side of the rear end portion 40B of the sub-chamber <NUM> is readily caught by the overhang portion <NUM> over a broad range and is pressed from above in an even more sure manner, in the same way as described above, and thus the behavior of turning toward the rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning can be suppressed in an even more sure manner.

Also, the sub-chamber <NUM> is supplied with gas through the communication hole <NUM> formed in the lower portion of the main chamber <NUM> and is inflated and is deployed with a delay as to the main chamber <NUM>. Now, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat <NUM> (the driver seat in particular) is an occupant of large build, the vehicle seat <NUM> assumes the rear-side position in which the front end face 16A on the lower side of the side portion of the seat back <NUM> is positioned further toward the rearward side than the front face 22A of the console box <NUM> in side view.

That is to say, the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> sufficiently overlaps the console box <NUM> in side view, and the gap between the side face 26R on the right side of the console box <NUM> and the buttocks Pb of the occupant P is narrow. However, as described above, the sub-chamber <NUM> is inflated and is deployed with a delay as to the main chamber <NUM>, and accordingly the side airbag <NUM> (main chamber <NUM>) having the sub-chamber <NUM> can be easily inflated and deployed, even when the gap is narrow.

Moreover, the communication hole <NUM> is formed in a circular shape or a slit shape. Accordingly, a deployment completion time of the sub-chamber <NUM> can be adjusted with a simpler configuration, as compared with when the communication hole <NUM> is not formed in a circular shape or a slit shape. That is to say, the deployment completion time of the sub-chamber <NUM> can be easily adjusted by adjusting the inner diameter of the circle or the length of the slit, so as to be later than an inflation and deployment completion time of the main chamber <NUM>.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same parts as those in the above first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs, and detailed description thereof (including common operations) will be omitted as appropriate.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only with respect to a point that lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> moves to the forward side in conjunction with movement of the vehicle seat <NUM> to the forward side, and the sub-chamber <NUM> can come into contact with a lower face 28B of the lid portion <NUM> that is moved to the forward side.

To describe this in detail, an electric motor <NUM> and a pinion <NUM> that is rotationally driven by the electric motor <NUM> are provided at one end side in the vehicle-width direction at an upper front side inside the console box <NUM>. A rack <NUM> that meshes with the pinion <NUM> is provided on one end side of the lower face of the lid portion <NUM> in the vehicle-width direction. The electric motor <NUM> is also electrically connected to a control device (omitted from illustration) that controls an electric mechanism that moves the vehicle seat <NUM>.

According to such a configuration, when the vehicle seat <NUM> is moved to the forward side by driving the electric mechanism under the control of the control device that receives a switch operation by the occupant P, the electric motor <NUM> is driven under the control of the control device, and the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> is moved to the forward side through the pinion <NUM> and the rack <NUM>. Then, as described above, the sub-chamber <NUM> can come into contact with the lower face 28B of the lid portion <NUM> that is moved to the forward side.

Accordingly, even though the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> does not sufficiently overlap the console box <NUM> in side view (even when offset to the forward side), the sub-chamber <NUM> is pressed from above by the lid portion <NUM> that is moved to the forward side, and thus the behavior of turning toward the rearward side with the lower end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning can be suppressed.

Also, the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM> sufficiently overlaps the lid portion <NUM> that is moved to the forward side (the overhang portion <NUM> that is the front end portion of the lid portion <NUM> protrudes further to the forward side than a front end face at the lower portion of the main chamber <NUM>), in side view. Accordingly, in plan view, the lid portion <NUM> can also suppress the behavior of turning rearward toward the inward side in the vehicle-width direction with the rear end portion of the side airbag <NUM> as the center of turning (with the inflator <NUM> side as the pivoting point).

The sub-chamber <NUM> can come into contact with the lower face 28B of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> in this configuration, and accordingly the lid portion <NUM> can contribute to stabilizing the inflated and deployed position of the sub-chamber <NUM> as well. Also, the lid portion <NUM> sufficiently overlaps the main chamber <NUM> of the side airbag <NUM>, and thus can contribute to imparting reactive force to the main chamber <NUM>.

Also, the movement of the lid portion <NUM> of the console box <NUM> to the forward side is not limited to a configuration that is coordinated with the movement of the vehicle seat <NUM> to the forward side. For example, the vehicle seat <NUM> may be provided with a measuring device capable of measuring the body weight, and the measuring device may be electrically connected to the control device, although this configuration is omitted from illustration. Accordingly, when the weight of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat <NUM> is lighter than a predetermined weight, the control device determines that the occupant P is of small build, and can drive the electric motor <NUM> so as to move the lid portion <NUM> to the forward side in advance.

Also, for example, a camera for taking images of the occupant P may be provided in the vehicle cabin, and the camera and the control device may be electrically connected, although this configuration is omitted from illustration. Accordingly, images are taken of the occupant P seated in the vehicle seat <NUM> by the camera, and when the outer form of the occupant P is smaller than a predetermined outer form, the control device determines that the occupant P is of small build, and can drive the electric motor <NUM> so as to move the lid portion <NUM> to the forward side in advance.

The vehicle occupant restraint device <NUM> according to the present embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, but the vehicle occupant restraint device <NUM> according to the present embodiment is not limited to the illustrated arrangements, and the design thereof can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the invention. For example, the shape of the communication hole <NUM> is not limited to the circular shape illustrated in <FIG>, and may be formed in a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, or the like.

Claim 1:
A vehicle occupant restraint device (<NUM>), comprising:
a vehicle seat (<NUM>) that is provided in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle so as to be movable in a front-rear direction of the vehicle;
a console box (<NUM>) that is provided inside the vehicle cabin, on an inward side in a vehicle-width direction from the vehicle seat (<NUM>);
an inflator (<NUM>) that is provided in the vehicle seat (<NUM>) and that is configured to discharge gas when activated; and
a side airbag (<NUM>) that includes
a main chamber (<NUM>) that is provided to a side portion of a seat back (<NUM>) of the vehicle seat (<NUM>), on the inward side in the vehicle-width direction, and that is configured to be inflated and deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction of an occupant (P) seated in the vehicle seat (<NUM>) by the gas being supplied to inside of the main chamber (<NUM>), and
a sub-chamber (<NUM>) that is configured to be inflated and deployed to the inward side in the vehicle-width direction from a lower portion of the main chamber (<NUM>),
characterized in that, when the vehicle seat (<NUM>) assumes a front-side position at which a front end face (16A) of the side portion of the seat back (<NUM>) is positioned further on a vehicle forward side than a front face (22A) of the console box (<NUM>) in side view, the sub-chamber (<NUM>) that is inflated and deployed is contactable with the front face (22A) of the console box (<NUM>) from the vehicle forward side.