阅读说明：本技术 后向乘员保护装置 (Rear passenger protection device ) 是由 森和也 关塚诚 于 2019-07-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种乘员保护装置。所述乘员保护装置适用于前排座椅的座椅靠背被以背面侧朝向在车室前端部侧配置的车身侧纵壁部的后向状态搭载的车辆、或者所述座椅靠背以能够成为所述后向状态的方式搭载的车辆。所述后向乘员保护装置包括：能量吸收部,配置在所述座椅靠背的座椅靠背衬垫的背面及所述车身侧纵壁部的后表面中的至少一方,并构成为通过变形来吸收所述车辆的正面碰撞时的能量。(An occupant protection device is provided. The occupant protection device is suitable for a vehicle in which a seatback of a front seat is mounted in a rearward direction with a back surface side thereof facing a vehicle body side vertical wall portion disposed at a vehicle compartment front end portion side, or a vehicle in which the seatback is mounted so as to be able to be in the rearward direction. The rearward occupant protection apparatus includes: and an energy absorbing portion disposed on at least one of a rear surface of a seat back pad of the seat back and a rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion, and configured to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle by deforming.)

1. A rearward occupant protection device applied to a vehicle in which a seatback of a front seat is mounted in a rearward state in which a back surface side of the seatback faces a vehicle body side vertical wall portion disposed on a vehicle compartment front end portion side, or a vehicle in which the seatback is mounted so as to be able to be in the rearward state, the rearward occupant protection device comprising:

and an energy absorbing portion disposed on at least one of a rear surface of a seat back pad of the seat back and a rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion, and configured to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle by deforming.

2. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1,

the energy absorbing portion is configured by an energy absorbing member configured to absorb energy at the time of the frontal collision by plastic deformation,

the energy absorbing member is disposed on the back surface of the seatback pad in a range including an upper region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity of the chest of the seated occupant and a lower region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity of the waist of the seated occupant.

3. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1,

the energy absorbing portion is configured to deform so that a displacement amount on a lower portion side of the backrest surface is larger than that on an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat backrest from the seated occupant side.

4. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 2,

the energy absorbing member is configured to deform so that a displacement amount of a lower portion side of the backrest surface is larger than that of an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on a backrest surface of the seat back from a seated occupant side, and is configured to plastically deform the lower portion side of the energy absorbing member larger than the upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat back from a seated occupant side.

5. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 4,

the lower region of the energy absorbing member has a lower stiffness than the upper region.

6. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 4 or 5,

the energy absorbing member is configured such that, in a seat side view, a surface on the side of a seated occupant is inclined toward the seat lower side, and a thickness in the seat front-rear direction becomes thicker from a distal end portion on the upper side in the seat up-down direction toward a distal end portion on the lower side in the seat up-down direction.

7. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 4 and 5,

side support portions that bulge out toward the seat back front side with respect to a middle portion of the seat back pad in the seat width direction are provided on both side portions of the seat back pad in the seat width direction,

the energy absorbing member includes a bulging portion disposed along a back surface of the seat back cushion and disposed inside the side support portion,

the surface of the energy absorbing member on the side of the seated occupant is set to a shape corresponding to the shape of the seated occupant from the back surface side to the side back portion side in the plan sectional shape thereof.

8. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to any one of claims 2, 4 to 7,

the energy absorbing member is integrally formed with the seat back cushion.

9. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of side frames extending in a seat back up-down direction at both end portions of the seat back;

an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the pair of side frames to each other; and

a holding pipe that connects the pair of side frames to each other and is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction of the seat back with respect to the upper frame,

the energy absorbing portion is constituted by an energy absorbing member that absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation,

the energy absorbing member is held in a state of being overlapped with both the upper frame and the holding pipe from a seat back side in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the seat back,

a reinforcing member for reinforcing a portion pressed by the energy absorbing member at the time of a frontal collision is fixed to the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion.

10. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of side frames extending in a seatback up-down direction on both sides of the seatback;

an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the pair of side frames to each other; and

a holding pipe that connects the pair of side frames to each other and is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction of the seat back with respect to the upper frame,

the energy absorbing portion is constituted by an energy absorbing member configured to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation,

the energy-absorbing member is held at a portion pressed by the upper frame and the holding pipe at the time of the frontal collision on a vehicle front-rear direction rear surface side of the vehicle-body-side longitudinal wall portion,

a reinforcing member that reinforces the vehicle-body-side longitudinal wall portion is fixed to the side opposite to the energy absorbing member across the vehicle-body-side longitudinal wall portion.

11. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1,

the energy absorbing portion is configured to deform so that a displacement amount on a lower portion side of the backrest surface is larger than that on an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on a backrest surface of the seat backrest from a seated occupant side,

the rearward occupant protection device further includes:

a seat back frame holding the seat back pad; and

a hinge portion that connects an upper end portion of the seat back frame and a first vehicle-body-side structural portion provided on the vehicle-body-side longitudinal wall portion side, and supports the seat back frame so as to be rotatable about an axis in a seat width direction,

the energy absorbing portion is configured by an elastic body that is interposed between a lower end portion of the seat back frame and a second vehicle-body-side structural portion provided on a vehicle lower side of the first vehicle-body-side structural portion, and that urges the lower end portion of the seat back frame toward a seated occupant.

12. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11,

the rearward occupant protection apparatus further includes a three-point seatbelt apparatus applied to a vehicle on which the seatback is mounted in a rearward direction, and including a retractor configured to retract a seatbelt, the three-point seatbelt apparatus being configured to restrain an upper body of an occupant seated in the front seat in a rearward direction by a shoulder belt portion constituting a part of the seatbelt and to restrain a waist portion of the occupant by a waist belt portion constituting another part of the seatbelt, the retractor being fixed to a vehicle body side of a front portion of the vehicle.

13. A backward occupant protection device applied to a vehicle in which a seatback of a vehicle seat is mounted in a backward state or can be mounted backward, comprising:

a pair of side frames extending in a seatback up-down direction at both ends of the seatback in a vehicle width direction;

a movable body having an upper end portion supported rotatably about an axis in a seat width direction at upper portions of the pair of side frames and including a seatback panel portion for supporting a back portion of a seated occupant;

a coupling member that is disposed on a side opposite to a seated occupant side with respect to the seatback panel portion and couples the pair of side frames in the seat width direction; and

and an elastic body interposed between the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion and the coupling member, and biasing the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion toward the seated occupant.

14. The rearward occupant protection apparatus according to claim 13,

the reclining mechanism is also provided with a reclining mechanism capable of adjusting the tilting angle of the seat back.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rearward occupant protection apparatus.

Background

There are known technologies relating to vehicle seat devices (see japanese patent laid-open nos. 2017-149331, 2017-149351, 2018-52347, and 2017-210173). For example, in the following japanese patent laid-open No. 2017-149331, a technique involving the following configuration is disclosed: a vehicle in which two seats arranged in a vehicle front-rear direction face each other includes a cross airbag that is deployed so as to extend between the front and rear seats in the face-to-face state. In this conventional technique, when an accident occurs, an occupant seated in both seats intrudes across the airbag, thereby reducing the injury value of the occupant.

Disclosure of Invention

However, there is room for improvement in sufficiently absorbing kinetic energy in the case where an occupant seated in a rear direction inertially moves toward the vehicle front side at the time of a frontal collision.

The invention provides a backward occupant protection device capable of improving absorption of kinetic energy when an occupant seated backward moves toward the front side of a vehicle by inertia in a frontal collision.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a rearward occupant protection device suitable for a vehicle in which a seatback of a front seat is mounted in a rearward direction with a back surface side thereof facing a vehicle body side vertical wall portion disposed at a vehicle compartment front end portion side, or a vehicle in which the seatback is mounted so as to be able to be in the rearward direction. The rearward occupant protection apparatus includes: and an energy absorbing portion that is disposed on at least one of a rear surface of a seat back pad of the seat back and a rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion, and that is configured to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle by deforming. In the concept of "the energy absorbing portion is disposed on at least one side" in the "the energy absorbing portion is disposed on at least one side to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision by being deformed", the concept may include a case where the energy absorbing portion is directly disposed on at least one side, and a case where the energy absorbing portion is disposed on at least one side via an intervening member.

According to the above configuration, at the time of a frontal collision, a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the vehicle front side, that is, toward the seat back side (seat rear side), and the energy absorbing portion is deformed by this inertial movement, thereby absorbing the kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of the frontal collision.

In the first aspect, the energy absorbing portion may be configured by an energy absorbing member configured to absorb energy at the time of the frontal collision by plastic deformation, the energy absorbing member being disposed on a rear surface of the seatback pad in a range including an upper region including a position corresponding to a center of gravity of a chest portion of the seated occupant and a lower region including a position corresponding to a center of gravity of a waist portion of the seated occupant.

According to the above configuration, at the time of a frontal collision, the chest rear side of the seated occupant is supported by the rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion via the seatback pad and the upper region of the energy absorbing member, and the waist portion of the seated occupant is supported by the rear surface of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion via the seatback pad and the lower region of the energy absorbing member. The range including the upper region and the lower region of the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed by inertial movement of the seated occupant, thereby absorbing kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of a frontal collision.

In the first aspect, the energy absorbing portion may be configured to deform so that a displacement amount on a lower portion side of the backrest surface is larger than that on an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat backrest from the seated occupant side.

According to the above configuration, at the time of a frontal collision, a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seat back side, and when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat back from the seated occupant side, the energy absorbing portion deforms so that the displacement amount on the lower portion side of the backrest surface becomes larger than that on the upper portion side. Accordingly, the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant in the side view of the vehicle changes so as to approach the vertical posture, and therefore, the seated occupant can be prevented from moving upward along the backrest surface of the seatback, and the restraining performance of the seated occupant can be improved.

In the above-described configuration, the energy absorbing portion may be configured to deform so that a displacement amount of a lower portion side of the backrest surface is larger than that of an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat back from the seated occupant side, and the lower portion side of the energy absorbing member may be configured to be plastically deformed larger than the upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface of the seat back from the seated occupant side.

According to the above configuration, at the time of a frontal collision, the rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seat back side, and when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the back surface of the seat back from the seated occupant side, the lower portion side of the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed more largely than the upper portion side. This improves the restraining performance of the seated occupant, and enables the energy absorbing member to satisfactorily absorb the kinetic energy of the seated occupant during a frontal collision.

In the above configuration, the lower region of the energy-absorbing member may have a lower hardness than the upper region.

According to the above configuration, although it is a simple configuration, the lower region of the energy absorbing member can be plastically deformed more greatly than the upper region of the energy absorbing member at the time of a frontal collision.

In the above-described configuration, the surface of the energy absorbing member on the side of the seated occupant may be inclined toward the seat lower side in a seat side view, and the thickness in the seat front-rear direction may be increased from the tip end portion on the upper side in the seat vertical direction toward the tip end portion on the lower side in the seat vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, although the structure is simple, the deformation amount of the energy absorbing member on the lower portion side can be made larger than the deformation amount of the energy absorbing member on the upper portion side at the time of a frontal collision.

In the first aspect, the seat back pad may be provided at both side portions in the seat width direction with side support portions bulging further toward the seat back front side than an intermediate portion in the seat width direction of the seat back pad, the energy absorbing member may be provided with bulging portions arranged along a back surface of the seat back pad and on an inner side of the side support portions, and a surface of the energy absorbing member on the side of the seated occupant may be set to a shape corresponding to a shape of the seated occupant from the back surface side to the side back portion side in a plan sectional shape thereof. The "seat back front side" may be regarded as a front side in the seat back front-rear direction (seat front-rear direction).

According to the above configuration, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant is absorbed by the energy absorbing member at the time of a frontal collision, and the retention of the seat back to the seated occupant is improved by the energy absorbing member at the time of normal operation.

In the first aspect, the energy absorbing member may be integrally formed with the seatback pad.

According to the above configuration, manufacturing is easy and cost reduction can be achieved.

In the first aspect, the rearward occupant protection device further includes: a pair of side frames extending in a seat back up-down direction at both end portions of the seat back; an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the pair of side frames to each other; and a holding tube that connects the pair of side frames to each other and is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction of the seat back with respect to the upper frame, wherein the energy absorbing portion is configured by an energy absorbing member that absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation, the energy absorbing member is held in a state of being overlapped with both the upper frame and the holding tube from a seat back side in a direction orthogonal to a surface of the seat back, and a reinforcing member that reinforces a portion pressed by the energy absorbing member at the time of a frontal collision is fixed to the vehicle body side vertical wall portion.

According to the above configuration, when a seated occupant who is rearward at the time of a frontal collision inertially moves toward the seat back side, the energy absorbing member moves toward the vehicle front side together with the upper frame and the holding pipe and presses the vehicle body side vertical wall portion. Here, the portion of the energy absorbing member that presses the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion is reinforced by the reinforcing member. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of the frontal collision is absorbed by the energy absorbing member being plastically deformed well. As a result, the impact on the chest of the seated occupant can be effectively mitigated.

In the first aspect, the rearward occupant protection device may further include: a pair of side frames extending in a seatback up-down direction on both sides of the seatback; an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the pair of side frames to each other; and a holding pipe that connects the pair of side frames to each other and is disposed on a lower side in a vertical direction of the seatback with respect to the upper frame. The energy absorbing portion may be configured by an energy absorbing member configured to absorb energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation, the energy absorbing member being held at a portion pressed by the upper frame and the holding pipe at the time of the frontal collision on a vehicle front-rear direction rear surface side of the vehicle body side vertical wall portion, and a reinforcing member that reinforces the vehicle body side vertical wall portion being fixed on a side opposite to the energy absorbing member across the vehicle body side vertical wall portion.

According to the above configuration, when a seated occupant who is rearward at the time of a frontal collision inertially moves toward the seat back side, the upper frame and the holding pipe move toward the vehicle front side and press the rear surface side of the vehicle body side vertical wall portion. Here, the energy absorbing member is held at a portion pressed by the upper frame and the holding pipe at the time of a frontal collision on the rear surface side of the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion, and a reinforcing member that reinforces the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion is fixed to the side opposite to the energy absorbing member across the vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of the frontal collision is absorbed by the energy absorbing member being plastically deformed well. As a result, the impact on the chest of the seated occupant can be effectively mitigated.

In the first aspect, the energy absorbing portion may be configured to deform so that a displacement amount of a lower portion side of the seat back surface is larger than that of an upper portion side when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on a back surface of the seat back from a seated occupant side, and the rearward occupant protection device may further include: a seat back frame holding the seat back pad; and a hinge portion that connects an upper end portion of the seat back frame and a first vehicle-body-side structural portion provided on the vehicle-body-side longitudinal wall portion side, and supports the seat back frame so as to be rotatable about an axis in a seat width direction, wherein the energy absorbing portion is composed of an elastic body that is interposed between a lower end portion of the seat back frame and a second vehicle-body-side structural portion provided on a vehicle lower side of the first vehicle-body-side structural portion, and that urges the lower end portion of the seat back frame toward a seated occupant.

According to the above configuration, when a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seat back side at the time of a frontal collision, the seat back frame rotates about the axis of the hinge portion in the seat width direction while the elastic body contracts. At this time, the elastic body deforms, thereby absorbing kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of a frontal collision. In this case, the displacement amount of the lower portion side of the seat back frame is larger than the displacement amount of the upper portion side, and the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant in a vehicle side view changes so as to approach the vertical posture.

In the first aspect, the rearward occupant protection device may further include a three-point seatbelt device that is applied to a vehicle on which the seatback is mounted in a rearward direction, and that includes a retractor configured to retract a seatbelt, the three-point seatbelt device being configured to restrain an upper body of an occupant seated in the forward seat in the rearward direction by a shoulder belt portion constituting a part of the seatbelt and to restrain a waist portion of the occupant by a waist belt portion constituting another part of the seatbelt, and the retractor being fixed to a vehicle body side of a front portion of the vehicle.

According to the above configuration, when the retractor fixed to the vehicle body side of the vehicle front portion retracts the seat belt at the time of a frontal collision, the upper body of the seated occupant in the rearward direction is restrained by the shoulder belt portion, and the waist portion of the seated occupant is restrained by the lap belt portion. Therefore, the rearward seated occupant can be effectively restrained by the three-point seatbelt device at the time of a frontal collision.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a rearward occupant protection device suitable for a vehicle in which a seatback of a vehicle seat is mounted in a rearward state or can be mounted rearward. The rearward occupant protection apparatus includes: a pair of side frames extending in a seatback up-down direction at both ends of the seatback in a vehicle width direction; a movable body having an upper end portion supported rotatably about an axis in a seat width direction at upper portions of the pair of side frames and including a seatback panel portion for supporting a back portion of a seated occupant; a coupling member that is disposed on a side opposite to a seated occupant side with respect to the seatback panel portion and couples the pair of side frames in the seat width direction; and an elastic body interposed between the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion and the coupling member, and urging the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion toward the seated occupant.

According to the above configuration, when a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seat back side at the time of a frontal collision, the movable body rotates about the axis in the seat width direction while the elastic body contracts. At this time, the elastic body deforms, thereby absorbing kinetic energy of the seated occupant at the time of a frontal collision. At this time, the displacement amount of the lower portion side of the seatback panel portion is larger than the displacement amount of the upper portion side, and the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant in a vehicle side view changes so as to approach the vertical posture. Therefore, upward movement of the seated occupant is suppressed, and the restraining performance of the seated occupant is improved.

In the second aspect, a reclining mechanism capable of adjusting a reclining angle of the seat back may be further provided.

According to the above configuration, since the reclining mechanism is provided, there is a possibility that the seatback may slightly fall in a direction of falling when a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seatback during a frontal collision. If the seat back is tilted in the tilting direction, it is disadvantageous in terms of suppressing the upward movement of the seated occupant. However, in the present invention, when a rearward seated occupant inertially moves toward the seat back side during a frontal collision, the elastic body contracts and the seat back panel portion rotates about the axis in the seat width direction, so that the upper body of the seated occupant in a vehicle side view can be suppressed from falling downward toward the vehicle front side. Therefore, even with the reclining mechanism, upward movement of the seated occupant during a frontal collision can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the rearward occupant protection apparatus of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that kinetic energy in the case where an occupant seated rearward is inertially moved toward the vehicle front side at the time of a frontal collision can be sufficiently absorbed.

Drawings

Features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, and in which:

fig. 1 is a side view showing a rearward occupant protection apparatus of a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing a rearward occupant protection apparatus of the second embodiment.

Fig. 3A is a side view showing a rear occupant protection apparatus of the third embodiment.

Fig. 3B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged state of the cross-section taken along line IIIB-IIIB in fig. 3A.

Fig. 4 is a side view showing a rearward occupant protection apparatus of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a side view showing a rear occupant protection device of the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 6A is a side view showing a main portion and the like of a rearward occupant protection apparatus of a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 6B is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an enlarged state taken along line VIB-VIB of fig. 6A.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a main portion of a rearward occupant protection apparatus of a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 8A is a side view showing a rearward occupant protection apparatus of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 8B is a side view showing a state at the time of a frontal collision of the rearward occupant protection apparatus of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a side view showing a state at the time of a frontal collision of the rear occupant protection device of the eighth embodiment.

Detailed Description

[ first embodiment ]

A rear occupant protection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 shows a side view of a rearward occupant protection device 18 of the present embodiment. In the drawings, arrow FR indicates the vehicle front side, and arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper side.

As shown in fig. 1, a front body panel 20 is disposed on a front end portion side of a vehicle compartment 12 of a vehicle (automobile) 10, and the front body panel 20 extends in a vehicle width direction. The front body panel 20 includes a ceiling wall portion 22 extending toward the vehicle rear side along the vehicle front-rear direction from the vicinity of the lower end of a front windshield (not shown) disposed between the pair of left and right front pillars 14. The front body panel 20 includes an inclined vertical wall portion 24 as a vehicle-body-side vertical wall portion extending from the rear end of the ceiling wall portion 22 toward the vehicle rear lower side.

A front seat 30 is mounted on a front portion of the vehicle interior 12 on a vehicle rear side of the front vehicle body panel 20. The front seat 30 includes a seat cushion 32 that supports the hip and thigh of the seated occupant P, a seat back 34 that is connected to an end portion on the seat front-rear direction side of the seat cushion 32 and supports the back of the seated occupant P, and a headrest 36 that is connected to an upper end portion of the seat back 34 and supports the head of the seated occupant P.

That is, the vehicle 10 in the present embodiment is an automobile (vehicle) in which the seatback 34 of the front seat 30 is mounted in a state in which the back surface side faces the inclined vertical wall portion 24 of the front body panel 20 in the rearward direction.

In fig. 1, a dummy P for a crash test is seated on the front seat 30 instead of an actual occupant. The dummy P is AM50 (50 percentile of American adult males). Hereinafter, for ease of understanding of the description, the dummy P seated in the front seat 30 in the rearward direction will be referred to as a "seated occupant P".

The seat back 34 includes a seat back cushion 34A constituting an elastically deformable cushioning portion, and a seat skin (not shown) covering the seat back cushion 34A. The seat back pad 34A is formed of a foam such as urethane foam.

An energy absorbing member 38 constituting an energy absorbing portion is disposed on a back surface 34B of a seatback pad 34A of the seatback 34. The energy absorbing member 38 is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between the back surface 34B of the seatback pad 34A and the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 (also an element grasped as a "vehicle body support surface"). The energy-absorbing member 38 absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation. The energy absorbing member 38 is fixed to the back surface 34B of the seat back cushion 34A in a continuous range including an upper region 38A (a region on the upper side of the two-dot chain line B1 in the energy absorbing member 38) and a lower region 38B (a region on the lower side of the two-dot chain line B1 in the energy absorbing member 38), the upper region 38A including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P, and the lower region 38B including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Lx of the lumbar region L of the seated occupant P. More simply, the lower region 38B may be set to a region of the energy absorbing member 38 that is located below the seat up-down direction center portion of the energy absorbing member 38.

For example, the energy absorbing member 38 is made of rigid polyurethane foam, and is fixed to the seatback pad 34A by being integrally molded with the seatback pad 34A (more specifically, integrally foam-molded). The energy absorbing member 38 may be formed of expanded polypropylene (EPP). As another modification, the energy absorbing member 38 may be formed of resin ribs (e.g., lattice-shaped ribs made of resin).

Further, a three-point seatbelt device 40 is provided corresponding to the front seat 30. The three-point seatbelt device 40 includes a seatbelt 42 for restraining an occupant. One end portion of the webbing 42 is attached to a side portion (a side portion shown in fig. 1) on one side in the vehicle width direction of the seat cushion 32 via a fixing plate 44, and the other end portion of the webbing 42 is locked to a spool 46S of a retractor 46. A buckle device 48 is provided upright on a side portion (a side surface portion on the back side of the sheet of fig. 1) of the seat cushion 32 on the other side in the vehicle width direction. The tongue plate 49 supported in a state inserted through the intermediate portion of the seat belt 42 can be engaged with the buckle device 48.

As described above, in the three-point seatbelt apparatus 40, in a state where the seatbelt 42 is worn by the seated occupant P (see fig. 1), the upper body of the seated occupant P is restrained by the shoulder belt portion 42X constituting a part of the seatbelt 42, and the waist L of the seated occupant P is restrained by the waist belt portion 42Y constituting another part of the seatbelt 42.

The retractor 46 of the three-point seatbelt apparatus 40 is fixed to the vehicle body side of the vehicle front portion. For example, the retractor 46 is disposed inside the front vehicle body panel 20 and fixed to a vehicle body skeleton portion (not shown), and the seat belt 42 extending from the retractor 46 is disposed in the vehicle interior 12 through a seat belt insertion hole (not shown) of the inclined vertical wall portion 24. The retractor 46 is configured to retract the webbing belt 42 by the spool 46S. The axial direction of the spool 46S is arranged to face the vehicle width direction. The retractor 46 is constantly biased by a biasing mechanism, not shown, in a direction in which the spool 46S winds the webbing belt 42. The three-point seatbelt apparatus 40 includes a pretensioner, not shown. When a frontal collision of the vehicle 10 is detected or predicted by a forward-collision detecting unit or a forward-collision predicting unit, not shown, the pretensioner operates to rotate the spool 46S in a direction to take up the seat belt 42.

Next, the operation and effect of the above embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, at the time of a frontal collision, the rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the vehicle front side, that is, toward the seat back 34 side (seat rear side). At this time, the rear side of the chest C of the seated occupant P is supported on the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 via the seatback pad 34A and the upper region 38A of the energy absorbing member 38. Further, the waist portion L of the seated occupant P is supported on the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 via the seatback pad 34A and the lower region 38B of the energy absorbing member 38. The entire region including the upper region 38A and the lower region 38B of the energy absorbing member 38 is plastically deformed by the inertial movement of the seated occupant P, and absorbs the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision.

As described above, according to the rear occupant protection device 18 of the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the kinetic energy in the case where the seated occupant P seated rearward at the time of a frontal collision inertially moves toward the vehicle front side.

In the present embodiment, the energy absorbing member 38 is disposed on the back surface 34B of the seatback pad 34A in a continuous range including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P and a position corresponding to the center of gravity Lx of the waist L of the seated occupant P. Therefore, at the time of a frontal collision, the load from the seatback pad 34A can be received over a wide range, and deformation of the chest C of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision, for example, can be effectively suppressed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the energy absorbing member 38 is integrally molded with the seatback pad 34A, the manufacturing is easy and the cost can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, at the time of a frontal collision, when the seatbelt 42 is retracted by the retractor 46 fixed to the vehicle body side of the vehicle front portion, the upper body of the seated occupant P in the rearward direction is restrained by the shoulder belt portion 42X, and the waist portion L of the seated occupant P is restrained by the waist belt portion 42Y. Therefore, the rearward seated occupant P can be effectively restrained by the three-point seatbelt apparatus 40 at the time of a frontal collision.

[ second embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 2. In fig. 2, a rear occupant protection device 50 of the present embodiment is shown in a side view. The present embodiment differs from the rear occupant protection apparatus 18 (see fig. 1) of the first embodiment in that an energy absorbing member 54 is provided instead of the energy absorbing member 38 (see fig. 1) as a member constituting an energy absorbing portion (hereinafter, simply referred to as "energy absorbing portion") that absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by deformation. The other structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, substantially the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the front seat 52, the energy absorbing member 54 is disposed on the back surface 34B of the seat back cushion 34A in a continuous range including an upper region 54A and a lower region 54B, the upper region 54A including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P, and the lower region 54B including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Lx of the lumbar region L of the seated occupant P. The energy absorbing member 54 is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between the back surface 34B of the seatback pad 34A and the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24. The hardness in the lower region 54B of the energy-absorbing member 54 is set lower than the hardness in the upper region 54A. Such a structure can be realized by applying materials having different material characteristics to the upper region 54A and the lower region 54B, or by setting the density in the lower region 54B lower than the density in the upper region 54A.

As a modification of the present embodiment, for example, when the energy absorbing member 54 is formed of resin ribs (for example, ribs made of resin and having a lattice shape), the hardness in the lower region 54B may be set lower than the hardness in the upper region 54A by changing the plate thickness and pitch of the resin ribs in each of the lower region 54B and the upper region 54A.

The energy absorbing member 54 is set such that, when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface 34X of the seat back 34 from the side of the seated occupant P, the lower portion side of the energy absorbing member 54 is plastically deformed more largely than the upper portion side. In other words, when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface 34X of the seatback 34 from the seated occupant P side, the energy absorbing member 54 deforms such that the amount of displacement on the lower side of the backrest surface 34X is greater than that on the upper side.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the seatback 34 during a frontal collision, a pressing load equal to or greater than a predetermined value acts on the backrest surface 34X of the seatback 34 from the seated occupant P side. In this case, the lower side of the energy-absorbing member 54 is plastically deformed more largely than the upper side. In other words, the energy absorbing member 54 deforms so that the amount of displacement on the lower side of the backrest surface 34X of the seat back 34 is greater than on the upper side. Thereby, the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant P in the vehicle side view changes so as to approach the vertical posture (so as to reduce the trunk angle). Therefore, the upward movement of the seated occupant P along the backrest surface 34X of the seat back 34 is suppressed, the restraining performance of the seated occupant P is improved, and the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is favorably absorbed by the energy absorbing member 54.

[ third embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 3A and 3B. In fig. 3A, the rearward occupant protection apparatus 60 of the present embodiment is shown in a side view, and in fig. 3B, a state taken along line IIIB-IIIB of fig. 3A is shown in an enlarged sectional view. The same reference numerals are given to the components substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 3A, a seat back cushion 64A is provided in the front seat 62 of the present embodiment in place of the seat back cushion 34A (see fig. 1) of the first embodiment. The seatback 64 including the seatback pad 64A is mounted in a rearward direction in the same manner as the seatback 34 (see fig. 1) of the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 3B, side support portions 64S bulging to the seat back front side from the seat width direction intermediate portion of the seat back pad 64A are provided on both seat width direction side portions of the seat back pad 64A.

In the present embodiment, an energy absorbing member 66 constituting an energy absorbing portion is disposed in place of the energy absorbing member 38 (see fig. 1) in the first embodiment. For example, the energy absorbing member 66 is made of the same rigid polyurethane foam as the energy absorbing member 38 (see fig. 1) in the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 3A, the energy absorbing member 66 is disposed on the back surface 64B of the seat back pad 64A in a continuous range including an upper region 66A (a region on the upper side of the two-dot chain line B3 in the energy absorbing member 66) and a lower region 66B (a region on the lower side of the two-dot chain line B3 in the energy absorbing member 66), the upper region 66A including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P, the lower region 66B including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Lx of the lumbar region L of the seated occupant P. The energy absorbing member 66 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the back surface 64B of the seatback pad 64A and the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24.

As shown in fig. 3B, the energy absorbing member 66 includes a bulging portion 66S disposed along the back surface 64B of the seat back cushion 64A and inside the side support portion 64S of the seat back cushion 64A. The surface 66P of the energy absorbing member 66 on the side of the seated occupant P (see fig. 3A) is set to a shape corresponding to the shape of the seated occupant P from the back surface side to the side back portion side (the shape indicated by the two-dot chain line in fig. 3B) in the plan sectional shape thereof.

According to the present embodiment, not only the same operation and effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, but also the retention of the seat back 64 to the seated occupant P can be improved by the energy absorbing member 66 at the normal time.

[ fourth embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 4. In fig. 4, a rear occupant protection device 70 of the present embodiment is shown in a side view. As shown in the drawing, the present embodiment is different from the rearward occupant protection apparatus 18 (see fig. 1) of the first embodiment in that an energy absorbing member 74 constituting an energy absorbing portion is provided instead of the energy absorbing member 38 (see fig. 1). The other structure is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, substantially the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the front seat 72, the energy absorbing member 74 is formed of the same rigid polyurethane foam as the energy absorbing member 38 (see fig. 1) in the first embodiment, as an example. The energy absorbing member 74 is disposed on the back surface 34B of the seat back cushion 34A in a continuous range including an upper region 74A (a region on the upper side of the two-dot chain line B4 in the energy absorbing member 74) and a lower region 74B (a region on the lower side of the two-dot chain line B4 in the energy absorbing member 74), the upper region 74A including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P, the lower region 74B including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Lx of the waist portion L of the seated occupant P. The energy absorbing member 74 is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between the back surface 34B of the seatback pad 34A and the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24. The energy absorbing member 74 is set such that, in a seat side view, a surface 74P on the side of the seated occupant P is inclined toward the seat lower side toward the seated occupant P, and the seat front-rear direction thickness becomes thicker from the seat upper-side distal end portion 74C toward the seat upper-lower direction distal end portion 74D.

The energy absorbing member 74 is set such that, when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface 34X of the seat back 34 from the seated occupant P side, the lower portion side of the energy absorbing member 74 is plastically deformed more largely than the upper portion side. In other words, when a pressing load of a predetermined value or more acts on the backrest surface 34X of the seatback 34 from the seated occupant P side, the energy absorbing member 74 deforms such that the amount of displacement on the lower side of the backrest surface 34X is greater than that on the upper side.

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, substantially the same operation and effect as those of the second embodiment can be obtained. In addition, it can contribute to improvement of ride down (ride down) effect.

[ fifth embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 5. In fig. 5, a rear occupant protection device 80 of the present embodiment is shown in a side view. The same reference numerals are given to the components substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the front seat 82 of the present embodiment, the seat back 84 is provided with a seat back frame 84F on the back surface 34B side of the seat back pad 34A. For example, the seat back frame 84F is a frame-shaped member. The seatback pad 34A is held by the seatback frame 84F.

A hinge portion 86H is provided at an upper end portion of the seat back frame 84F. The hinge portion 86H connects the upper end portion of the seat back frame 84F to the first vehicle-body-side structural portion 88A provided on the inclined longitudinal wall portion 24 side, and supports the seat back frame 84F rotatably about the axis in the seat width direction. The seat back frame 84F shown by the two-dot chain line shows a state rotated by a predetermined angle toward the vehicle front side from the position of the seat back frame 84F shown by the solid line. In addition, the first body-side structure portion 88A is constituted by a reinforcement fixed to the upper end portion side of the inclined vertical wall portion 24, as an example.

A spring 86S as an elastic body is provided at a lower end portion of the seat back frame 84F. In the present embodiment, the springs 86S are compression coil springs, and a pair of springs are provided on the left and right in the seat width direction, for example. The pair of right and left springs 86S are interposed between the lower end portion of the seat back frame 84F and a second vehicle-body-side structure portion 88B provided on the vehicle lower side of the first vehicle-body-side structure portion 88A, and urge the lower end portion of the seat back frame 84F toward the seated occupant P. In the present embodiment, the second vehicle body side structural portion 88B is, for example, a portion on the lower end side of the inclined vertical wall portion 24. The vehicle front side surface of the second body-side structural portion 88B may be reinforced by a reinforcing member.

In the present embodiment, the spring 86S constitutes an energy absorbing portion. That is, the spring 86S is disposed between the back surface 34B of the seatback pad 34A of the seatback 84 and the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24, and absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by deforming.

According to the present embodiment, at the time of a frontal collision, when the rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the seat back 84 side, the seat back frame 84F rotates about the axis of the hinge portion 86H in the seat width direction while the spring 86S contracts. At this time, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is absorbed as the spring 86S is deformed. At this time, the displacement amount of the lower portion side of the seat back frame 84F is larger than the displacement amount of the upper portion side, and the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant P in the vehicle side view changes so as to approach the vertical posture, so that the upward movement of the seated occupant P along the back surface 34X of the seat back 84 can be suppressed. In addition, in the present embodiment, it is also possible to contribute to improvement of the riding (ride down) effect.

[ sixth embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 6A and 6B and fig. 7. Fig. 6A shows a main part and the like of a rear occupant protection device 90 of the present embodiment in a side view, and fig. 6B shows an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VIB-VIB of fig. 6A. In addition, in fig. 7, main portions of a rearward occupant protection apparatus 90 of a sixth embodiment are shown in a perspective view. The same reference numerals are given to the components substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 6A, a seat back 94 of a vehicle seat 92 (hereinafter simply referred to as "seat 92") is mounted on the vehicle 10 in a rearward direction. In fig. 6A, 6B, and 7, the seat 92 is shown only in the frame portion, and the pad and the like are not shown. In the present embodiment, the seat 92 is a front seat as an example, but the seat 92 may be a second seat (seat in the second row) of three-row seats. The rearward occupant protection device 90 of the present embodiment includes a reclining mechanism 98 that can adjust the reclining angle of the seatback 94. Since a reclining mechanism having a known structure is applied to the reclining mechanism 98, detailed description thereof is omitted.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 7, the seat back 94 includes a pair of left and right side frames 94F extending in the seat back up-down direction on both sides of the seat back 94. The upper end portions of the pair of left and right side frames 94F are connected to each other by an upper frame 94U having an inverted U-shape in the front view of the seat back. Further, lower portions of the left and right side frames 94F are coupled to each other by a tilt lever 98S. Also, the seat back 94 can be tilted about the axis of the tilt lever 98S.

Upper end portions of the movable body 94M are supported on upper portions of the pair of left and right side frames 94F so as to be rotatable about an axis in the seat width direction. The movable body 94M includes a shaft 94X constituting an upper end portion thereof and extending in the seat width direction, and a plate-like seat back panel portion 94A extending from the shaft 94X toward the seat lower side. The shaft 94X is rotatably mounted on the upper portions of the pair of left and right side frames 94F, and the seatback panel portion 94A supports the back of a seated occupant P (see fig. 6A). Further, a plate-shaped coupling member 94B is disposed on the opposite side of the seatback panel portion 94A from the seated occupant P. As shown in fig. 6B, the coupling member 94B couples lower portions of the pair of left and right side frames 94F in the seat width direction.

As shown in fig. 6B and 7, a spring 94S as an elastic body is interposed between the lower end portion of the seat back panel portion 94A and the coupling member 94B. In the present embodiment, the springs 94S are compression coil springs, and a pair of springs are provided on the left and right in the seat width direction, for example. One end side of the spring 94S is fixed to the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion 94A, and the other end side thereof is fixed to the connecting member 94B, and biases the lower end portion of the seatback panel portion 94A toward the seated occupant P (see fig. 6A).

According to the configuration of the present embodiment, at the time of a frontal collision, when the rearward seated occupant P shown in fig. 6A inertially moves toward the seat back 94 side, the movable body 94M rotates about the axis in the seat width direction while the spring 94S contracts. At this time, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is absorbed as the spring 94S is deformed. At this time, the amount of displacement of the lower side of the seatback panel portion 94A is greater than the amount of displacement of the upper side, and the posture of the upper body of the seated occupant P in the vehicle side view changes so as to approach the vertical posture. Therefore, the upward movement of the seated occupant P is suppressed, the restraining performance of the seated occupant P is improved, and the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is favorably absorbed by the deformation of the spring 94S.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the rearward occupant protection device 90 includes the reclining mechanism 98, there is a possibility that the seatback 94 will slightly tilt in the tilting direction when the rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the seatback 94 side during a frontal collision. If the seat back 94 is toppled in the toppling direction, it is disadvantageous in terms of suppressing the upward movement of the seated occupant P. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, when the rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the seat back 94 side during a frontal collision, the seat back panel portion 94A rotates about the seat width direction axis while the springs 94S contract, so that the upper body of the seated occupant P in a vehicle side view can be suppressed from falling toward the vehicle front lower side. Therefore, even with the reclining mechanism 98, upward movement of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision can be suppressed.

[ seventh embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 8A and 8B. Fig. 8A shows the rearward occupant protection apparatus 100 of the present embodiment in a side view, and fig. 8B shows the rearward occupant protection apparatus 100 in a side view at the time of a frontal collision. In fig. 8A and 8B, the interior of the front seat 102 is simplified in a state where the seat width direction intermediate portion of the front seat 102 is cut along the seat up-down direction and viewed from the seat side. In addition, substantially the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The front seat 102 of the present embodiment shown in fig. 8A includes a pair of left and right side frames 104F extending in the seat back up-down direction on both sides of the seat back 104. The upper end portions of the pair of left and right side frames 104F are coupled to each other in the seat width direction by the upper frame 104A. A headrest stay 105A is attached to the upper frame 104A, and the seat back 104 and the headrest 105 are coupled to each other in the seat up-down direction by the headrest stay 105A. Further, a holding pipe 104B that connects the pair of left and right side frames 104F to each other in the seat width direction is disposed on the lower side in the seat back vertical direction with respect to the upper frame 104A. The holding tube 104B is disposed on the upper portion of the seat back 104. The upper frame 104A and the holding tube 104B are formed in a rectangular shape in cross section in a seat side view.

An energy absorbing member 106 constituting an energy absorbing portion is disposed on the back surface of the upper frame 104A and the holding pipe 104B. The upper portion of the energy-absorbing member 106 is fixed to the upper frame 104A by an adhesive, and the lower portion of the energy-absorbing member 106 is fixed to the holding tube 104B by an adhesive. Thus, the energy absorbing member 106 is held in a state of being overlapped with both the upper frame 104A and the holding tube 104B from the seat back side, and is arranged on the upper portion of the back surface 34B of the seat back pad 34A of the seat back 104 via the upper frame 104A and the holding tube 104B. The energy absorbing member 106 is set in a chest corresponding region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P. For example, the energy absorbing member 106 is made of an aluminum alloy, and is formed of a structure (for example, a honeycomb structure) including a porous material that absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation. A portion of the seatback 104 where the energy absorbing member 106 is disposed is a protruding portion 108 that protrudes rearward in the seatback longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, the interior side of the vehicle interior 12 of the front vehicle body panel 20 is covered with a lining 110. Further, a bracket 112 as a reinforcing member is joined (fixed) by welding or the like to the vehicle front side of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 of the front body panel 20, and the bracket 112 reinforces a portion pressed by the energy absorbing member 106 at the time of a frontal collision. To supplement this, the bracket 112 extends in the vehicle width direction, and is set at a position corresponding to a portion where the energy absorbing member 106 presses the inclined vertical wall portion 24 when the seatback 104 moves toward the vehicle front side while being tilted toward the vehicle front side by the reclining mechanism at the time of a front collision (see fig. 8B). The bracket 112 is formed in a substantially hat shape having an opening portion facing the vehicle rear side in a vehicle side view. Then, the upper and lower flange portions of the bracket 112 are joined to the inclined vertical wall portion 24, thereby forming a closed cross-sectional portion extending in the vehicle width direction.

In the present embodiment, when a rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the vehicle front side during a frontal collision, the seatback 104 moves toward the vehicle front side while tilting toward the seat front side as shown in fig. 8B, and the protrusion 108 abuts against the rear surface 24A of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 via the lining 110. Then, the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is absorbed by the energy absorbing member 106 being plastically deformed. As a result, the impact on the chest C of the seated occupant P can be effectively mitigated. Further, since the energy-absorbing member 106 is provided on the seat back 104, even if the width of the energy-absorbing member 106 is not increased for an oblique collision, it is possible to cope with the oblique collision.

[ eighth embodiment ]

Next, a rear occupant protection device according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 9. Fig. 9 shows a state at the time of a frontal collision in the rear occupant protection device 120 of the present embodiment in a side view. In fig. 9, the interior components of the front seat 122 are simplified and shown in a state in which the seat width direction intermediate portion of the front seat 122 is cut along the seat up-down direction and viewed from the seat side. As an example, the posture of the seatback 124 of the front seat 122 in the state before the frontal collision is the same as the posture of the seatback 104 shown in fig. 8A. In addition, substantially the same components as those of the first and seventh embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In the front seat 122 of the present embodiment shown in fig. 9, a seat back 124 is different from the seat back 104 of the seventh embodiment in that it does not include the energy absorbing member 106 of the seventh embodiment (see fig. 8A and 8B). The seat back 124 includes a protruding portion 126 protruding toward the rear side in the seat back front-rear direction at an upper portion (chest corresponding region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity Cx of the chest C of the seated occupant P) where the upper frame 104A and the holding pipe 104B are disposed.

On the other hand, the interior side of the vehicle interior 12 of the front vehicle body panel 20 is covered with a lining 130. In the inner panel 130, the portion of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 of the front body panel 20 on the vehicle rear side is formed in a substantially hat shape having an opening portion directed toward the vehicle front side in a vehicle side view, and a vehicle vertical direction intermediate portion thereof is a protruding portion 132 protruding toward the vehicle rear side. The projection 132 is set at a position pressed by the upper frame 104A and the holding pipe 104B at the time of a frontal collision (in the state shown in fig. 9).

An energy absorbing member 134 constituting an energy absorbing portion is disposed between the inclined vertical wall portion 24 of the front vehicle body panel 20 and the protruding portion 132 of the lining 130. The energy absorbing member 134 has substantially the same structure as the energy absorbing member 106 in the seventh embodiment, and absorbs energy at the time of a frontal collision by plastic deformation. The energy absorbing member 134 is fixed to the rear surface 24A side of the inclined vertical wall portion 24 of the front body panel 20 with an adhesive and is held at a portion pressed by the upper frame 104A and the holding tube 104B at the time of a frontal collision. In consideration of the moving direction of the seat back 124 at the time of an oblique collision, the protruding portion 132 and the energy absorbing member 134 extend not only over the same range as the seat back 124 in the vehicle width direction but also to predetermined positions on both sides thereof. Further, a bracket 112 that reinforces the inclined vertical wall portion 24 is fixed to the side opposite to the energy absorbing member 134 with the inclined vertical wall portion 24 therebetween. For example, the bracket 112 is disposed in the same range in the vehicle width direction as the energy absorbing member 134.

In the present embodiment, when a rearward seated occupant P inertially moves toward the vehicle front side during a frontal collision, the seat back 124 moves toward the vehicle front side while tilting toward the seat front side, and as shown in fig. 9, the protruding portion 126 of the seat back 124 abuts against the protruding portion 132 of the lining 130. Thus, a load is input from the protruding portion 126 of the seatback 124 to the energy-absorbing member 134 via the protruding portion 132 of the lining 130, and the kinetic energy of the seated occupant P at the time of a frontal collision is absorbed by the energy-absorbing member 134 being plastically deformed. As a result, the impact on the chest C of the seated occupant P can be effectively mitigated.

In the present embodiment, the energy absorbing member 134 is disposed on the front vehicle body panel 20 side, so that the mass of the front seat 122 can be reduced. Therefore, the input load from the front seat 122 to the vehicle body side can be reduced.

[ supplementary explanation of embodiment ]

In the above-described embodiment, the front seats 30, 52, 62, 72, 82, 102, and 122 and the seat 92 are mounted in the rearward direction on the vehicle 10, but a vehicle seat including a front seat may be mounted in a rearward direction on an automobile (vehicle) by being rotatable about an axis in the vehicle vertical direction, for example.

Although the descriptions are omitted in the second to fourth embodiments, the energy absorbing members 54, 66, and 74 are fixed to the seatback cushions 34A and 64A by being integrally molded with the seatback cushions 34A and 64A (more specifically, integrally foam-molded), as an example. In addition, as a modification of the first to fourth embodiments, the energy absorbing member and the seatback pad may be formed separately and then joined together with an adhesive or the like.

In the first to fourth embodiments, the energy-absorbing members 38, 54, 66, and 74 are formed so as to be "continuous" in the seat back up-down direction, but the "inclusive range" described in claim 2 is not limited to one range. For example, the energy absorbing member may be vertically "divided" into an upper region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity (Cx) of the chest (C) of the seated occupant (P) and a lower region including a position corresponding to the center of gravity (Lx) of the waist (L) of the seated occupant (P).

In the fifth and sixth embodiments, the springs 86S and 94S as the elastic bodies are compression coil springs, but as a modification of the fifth and sixth embodiments, the elastic bodies may be configured by springs other than compression coil springs, such as a structure in which a plurality of leaf springs are stacked, or may be configured to include springs and rubber.

In the sixth embodiment, the rear occupant protection device 90 has the reclining mechanism 98, but the rear occupant protection device may be a device having a structure other than the reclining mechanism 98 in the structure of the sixth embodiment.

In the sixth to eighth embodiments, the seat belt device is not shown, but the seat belt device is applied to these embodiments.

The above-described embodiment and the above-described modifications can be implemented in appropriate combinations.

While one example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.