Occupant protection apparatus

1. An occupant protection apparatus comprising:

a side airbag device including an airbag that deploys in a space between a side surface on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of a seat and a passenger compartment inner wall facing the side surface at a vehicle side impact; and

a seat belt device including a seat belt that restrains an occupant seated on the seat, wherein

the side airbag device is provided at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat and on an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat belt, and

the airbag is ejected outward in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle side impact, deploys in the space to secure a space between the passenger compartment inner wall and the occupant, and presses the seat belt outward in the vehicle width direction to apply a tension to the seat belt, and

wherein said airbag device is configured to avoid airbag contact with the seated occupant upon full deployment.

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

when deployed, the airbag comes into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall and brings the pressed seat belt into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall to hold the seat belt between the airbag and the passenger compartment inner wall.

3. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the passenger compartment inner wall includes a receiving part that receives a load applied by the airbag in contact with the passanger compartment inner wall.

4. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the receiving part is made of a shock absorbing material for absorbing an impact load at a vehicle side impact.

5. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the seat includes a seat cushion having a seat bearing face part and a side support part of the seat bearing face part, and

the side airbag device is disposed at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat bearing face part or the side support part, and a deployment center of the airbag included in the side airbag device is disposed lower than the seat bearing face part or the side support part in the passenger compartment.

6. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a means for energy absorption supported adjacent the passenger compartment inner wall and wherein the energy absorption means is positioned at a height substantially equal to a height of a deployment center of the airbag.

7. An occupant protection apparatus comprising:

a side airbag device including an airbag that deploys in a space between a side surface on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of a seat and a passenger compartment inner wall facing the side surface at a vehicle side impact; and

a seat belt device including a seat belt, that restrains an occupant seated on the seat, wherein

the side airbag device is provided at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat and on an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat belt, and

the airbag is ejected outward in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle side impact, deploys in the space to secure a space between the passenger compartment inner wall and the occupant, and presses the seat belt outward in the vehicle width direction to apply a tension to the seat belt, wherein

when deployed, the airbag comes into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall and brings the pressed seat belt into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall to hold the seat belt between the airbag and the passenger compartment inner wall.

8. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the passenger compartment inner wall includes a receiving part that receives a load applied by the airbag in contact thereto.

9. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the receiving part is made of a shock absorbing material for absorbing an impact load at a vehicle side impact.

10. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein

the seat includes a seat cushion having a seat bearing face part and a side support part of the seat bearing face part, and

the side airbag device is disposed at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat bearing face part or the side support part, and a deployment center of the airbag included in the side airbag device is disposed lower than the seat bearing face part or the side support part in the passenger compartment.

11. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein

the seat includes a seat cushion having a seat bearing face part and a side support part of the seat bearing thee part, and

the side airbag device is disposed at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat bearing face part or the side support part, and a deployment center of the airbag included in the side airbag device is disposed lower than the seat bearing face part or the side support part in the passenger compartment.

12. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein

the seat includes a seat cushion having a seat bearing face part and a side support part of the seat bearing face part, and

the side airbag device is disposed at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat bearing face part or the side support part, and a deployment center of the airbag included in the side airbag device is disposed lower than the seat bearing face part or the side support part in the passenger compartment.

13. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said airbag has a deployment center substantially at a common height with said receiving part.

14. An occupant protection apparatus comprising:

a side airbag device including an airbag that deploys in a space between a side surface on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of a seat and a passenger compartment inner wall facing the side surface at a vehicle side impact; and

a seat belt device including a seat belt that restrains an occupant seated on the seat, wherein

the side airbag device is provided at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat and on an inner side in the vehicle width direction of the seat belt, and

the airbag is ejected outward in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle side impact, deploys in the space to secure a space between the passenger compartment inner wall and the occupant, and presses the seat belt outward in the vehicle width direction to apply a tension to the seat belt, wherein

the seat includes a seat cushion having a seat bearing face part and a side support part of the seat bearing face part, and

the side airbag device is disposed at a side portion on an outer side in the vehicle width direction of the seat bearing face part or the side support part, and a deployment center of the airbag included in the side airbag device is disposed lower than the seat bearing face part or the side support part in the passenger compartment.

15. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein

when deployed, the airbag comes into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall and brings the pressed seat belt into contact with the passenger compartment inner wall to hold the seat belt between the airbag and the passenger compartment inner wall.

16. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the passenger compartment inner wall includes a receiving part that receives a load applied by the airbag in contact thereto.

17. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the receiving part is an energy absorption member for absorbing an impact load at a vehicle side impact.

18. The occupant protection apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a shock absorption member supported adjacent the passenger compartment inner wall and wherein the shock absorbing member is at a height substantially equal to a height of the deployment center of the airbag.