JP2892703B2 - Closure for airbag deployment opening - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a closing member for an airbag deployment opening, and in particular, an airbag is deployed through an opening in an automobile interior structure, for example, an instrument panel. The closure member is adapted to be operated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Inflatable safety cushions, commonly known as airbags, are used as safety devices to protect occupants from injuries resulting from the destruction of a vehicle.

The airbag is rapidly inflated with gas when a collision occurs to protect the occupant from impact.

On the driver's side, an airbag member provided on the steering handle is used, while on the occupant (passenger) side, the airbag extends through the opening formed in the instrument panel into the passenger seat compartment. It has become.

The airbag safely absorbs the momentum of the driver and front seat occupant jumping forward in the occupant compartment during a collision.

The cushion is stored unexpanded in the seat compartment and a closure is required to cover the deployment opening until actual activity.

Such closures must be securely and usually locked closed so that the airbag components cannot be tampered with and malfunction.
In particular, the closing member must not be such as to induce an object to be placed in the compartment of the airbag. These objects are a fatal obstacle to the deployment of the airbag.

It is also desirable that the state after the closure member has been deployed show somehow the fact that the airbag has been deployed.

At the same time, the closure must be operated to ensure that it is opened almost instantaneously when necessary and so as not to interfere with the correct deployment of the airbag. Therefore, the airbag must be in contact with a smooth contour without sharp protrusions during deployment.

Since the deployment of the airbag must be completed completely within only a few milliseconds, the closure must be opened within 3 milliseconds, i.e., by the pressure of the airbag as the airbag expands, and therefore the weight of the airbag increases. Light structure is inevitable.

The mechanism must operate reliably over a wide range of temperatures and other environmental conditions. For example, a temperature criterion of at least −40 ° C. and a maximum of 105 ° C. has been proposed in response to general design criteria that apply to other automotive parts, but this temperature criterion is a conventional airbag deployment opening closure. Had not been applied.

Also, for reliability and cost considerations, a simple design must be employed with a minimum number of parts.

It is further important that harmful debris from the closure must be prevented from jumping into the occupant compartment during deployment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closing member for an airbag deployment opening that is simple and lightweight and does not easily open when tampered with, and does not interfere with the correct deployment of the airbag. It is to provide a closure member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure that can be reliably operated over a wide temperature range.

The present invention further provides a closure member configured such that the pressure of the inflating airbag exerts an optimal effect to reliably and definitely open the closure member.

In addition, the present invention provides a closure member which has a minimum number of movable members, does not generate harmful debris that splatters into the occupant compartment upon opening, and can somehow indicate the fact that the airbag has been deployed. It is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other objects of the present invention, as will be apparent from a reading of the following examples and claims, are directed to an essentially rigid panel adapted to conform to a deployment aperture. This is achieved by a closure member defined at least in part by the member.

The closure panel is formed with a hinged portion integrally molded along one side, the portion operable to not interfere with adjacent structures. In addition, one or more frangible members are provided along the other side, which tightly close the closure panel material when closed and secured, but which break under the pressure exerted by the inflated airbag. Then, the closed panel material is turned and opened.

One or more inwardly protruding ridges extend from the inside of the panel member, where the deployed airbag comes into contact with it and exerts maximum opening pressure, reliably causing the rupturable member to break and closing. The member is turned open.

In the first embodiment, the panel member is made of a hard foam core material, and there is a thin flexible sheet layer underneath. From the other side of the panel member, a protruding member made of a foamed member protrudes and is housed in a recess which is a portion limited by a lip formed in the outer peripheral structure. At this time, the protruding member is reduced in thickness along the separating boundary line and defines a destructible seam that can be peeled off under precisely defined opening pressure provided by the inflating airbag. doing.

In this description, the integrally formed hinge portion is made by bending an elongated piece of a flexible sheet layer, which is secured to the proximal end of the structural support layer of the adjacent structure. The extension piece is formed in a winding shape such as an S-shaped member, and when the swiveling motion occurs, the extension piece is straightened beyond the thickness of the instrument panel surface.

The main portion of the foam core is adjacent to the underlying structural layer of the adjacent structure and provides sufficient support for the closure member to resist downward pressure. In addition, the provision of a gap between the protruding member and the underlying instrument panel ensures that any pressure applied to the closure member does not stress the destructive joint.

The flexible layer comprises an aluminum sheet having a series of recesses to provide sufficient rigidity for the entire closure panel material.

The ends of the protrusions are held by tape or an adhesive material to eliminate the possibility that separated protrusions or fragments thereof will fly and create danger.

In the second embodiment, the panel member is formed of a general plate-like member and has a series of rigid ribs protruding straight from the opening toward the hinge side of the panel. In addition, a hinge and a destructible flange protruding downward on the hinge side and the opening side are formed on the member with a space therebetween, and the hinge and the flange are each fixed to a container containing an airbag.

The rupturable flange comprises a series of elongate strips joined to the main part of the member having the ribs by a joint having a reduced thickness, and the protrusion of the rib provided adjacent to the opening side of the closure member. Rupture under the extension force applied by the airbag pressure.

A groove is formed in the hinge flange, which allows the hinge flange to bend and move the hinge side of the closure member inward and below the thickness of the adjacent structure, after which the closure member can be freely and freely opened. Has become.

In the description of both embodiments, the outer decorative layer is adapted to coincide with the finished surface of the adjacent structure, but in the second embodiment, it is adapted to the softer feel of the pads used in the instrument panel. A soft foam pad layer that covers a panel member is used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of an automobile interior showing the top of an instrument panel provided with an airbag facility made using a closure member according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the closure member shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2, including a portion of the instrument panel structure around the closure member.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of the destructive joint shown in FIG.

 FIG. 3 shows the lower surface of the closing member shown in FIGS.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a closing member installed according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Indicated by the dotted line.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a cross section indicated by reference numeral 5 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the breakable flange portion of the closure member of FIG. 4, but shown separated from the body.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a hinge flange portion of the closure member of FIG. 4, which is also shown separated from other portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following detailed description, specific terms are used for clarity and specific examples are described as required by 35 U.S.C. 112. But,
Since the present invention can take many forms and changes within the scope of the appended claims, it is not intended or intended that the embodiments be limited as such. It should be understood that. In particular, the present invention is described below as being used in an airbag device installed on top of an instrument panel on the front passenger side, but this is merely for illustrative purposes, The closure according to the invention can be used in many different installations.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows the position of a closing member 10 which is fitted in a deployment opening provided at the top of an instrument panel 12 of an automobile.

The closing member 10 is formed so as to match the upper surface shape of the instrument panel as shown.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure of an approximately rectangular closing member 10 and an adjacent portion of an instrument panel surrounding the closing member 10, and the instrument panel includes a space 20 below the closing member 10 and air from the space 20. An opening 40 is provided so that a bag (not shown) can be deployed. The closure member 10 is made of a rigid panel member, such as a “Dytherm trademark” or “Styrofoam (Styrofoam).
rofoam), a core material made of lightweight rigid foam plastic such as a trademark, but the plastic is bonded to an inner support layer 18 which is to be made of molded aluminum sheet. The sheet strengthens the panel member and makes the panel surface just above the space 20 strong. This reinforcing effect is further enhanced by a series of recesses 22 arranged and shaped to intersect in the width (lateral) direction of the closure member 10.

The outer surface layer 16 of the closure member is configured to match the finished surface of the instrument panel, such as vinyl, and is adhered to the outer surface of the core 14.

The closing member 10 is formed with an outer shape 24 that matches the outer shape adjacent to the instrument panel 12.

The instrument panel 12 has a three-layered sandwich structure including an outer vinyl layer 13, a foam core material 11, and a reinforcing structural support layer 38 thereunder, and has a rectangular opening 40 through which an airbag is deployed. The opening is covered by a closure member 10 which is shaped to fit snugly inside.

The closure member 10 is hinged at one end 42 (here, the rear) so that it can pivot upwardly along one side from the opening 40 so that the airbag can be deployed through the opening 40. To this end, the hinge means is comprised of a wrap-shaped extension 26 projecting to the rear, indicated at "S" of the aluminum support layer 18. This extension piece 26
It has a straight end 27 and is secured by a series of spaced bolts 30 and washers 32 via a stop plate 28. The bolt 30 is a hole formed in the end 27
It is screwed and fixed in a mounting member 36 that penetrates through and is integrated with a structural support plate 38 below the instrument panel 12.

The lip 41 is formed along the end of the distal end 27 so as to lean down the bolt 30 passing through the hole 34.

The S-section 26 urges the closure member 10 downwardly in its closed position, but under the pressure of the airbag contact, the S-section extends to move the hinge side of the closure member 10 upward and As shown by the imaginary line 61 in FIG. 2, it is released beyond the joint between the instrument panel 12 and the closing member 10.

The front and both ends of the closing member 10 and the front and both ends of the opening 40 are formed so that the ends 42 and 44 overlap and fit tightly. The lip 44 of the instrument panel 12 is located below the lip 42 of the closing member 10 so that the closing member 10
Are supported by the instrument panel 12 at the front and both ends.

The opening pivoting on the closure member 10 with respect to the hinge means is controlled by a destructible joint located along the front end 46 of the closure member 10. The destructible joint comprises a protruding projection 48 integrally formed with the foam core 14 and held in a recess 50 formed in the adjacent instrument panel structure 12. The recess 50 is formed by a lip member 52 on a projecting web 54 integral with the structural support layer 38 that forms part of the instrument panel 12. Shoulder 56
A protrusion 48 is formed in the adjacent core 14 and is supported on the structural panel 38 to protect the protrusion. Protrusion
48 rises to leave a gap between the structural panel 38 and the projection 48
58 is formed so that the downward pressure on the closure member 10 does not stress it.

The projection 48 has a fixed portion extending in the rear end width direction of the closing member 10 and further has a narrow portion in which a pair of V-shaped grooves 60 are formed. This groove is defined as a desired separation line. This position is at an intermediate plane between the rear end of the closure member 10 and the adjacent end of the instrument panel 12 (with said rear end).

The cross-sectional area between the two grooves 60 is calculated by calculation so as to give an appropriate breaking strength to the opening of the closing member 10 when an appropriate turgor pressure is exerted by the airbag.

In order to securely hold the projection 48 on the inner surface of the web 54, the rear end of the projection 48 is covered with a piece of double-sided adhesive tape 62 or a certain amount of adhesive, and after the projection is broken, the projection 48 comes off or breaks up. So that it doesn't Thus, when the closing member 10 is opened, the projection member 48 is opened.
And fragments thereof are prevented from scattering into the interior of the vehicle.

It is important to ensure that the closure member 10 responds to the shear pressure exerted by the deploying airbag,
For this purpose, a ridge 64 is provided on the inner surface of the closure member 10 very close to the destructive joint. This ensures that the airbag comes into contact with a specific part of the closure member 10, i.e. the part where the maximum breaking force acts on the destructible joint.

Therefore, the airbag breaks the projection 48 from the other part of the core material 14 and opens the closing member as the S-shaped portion 26 is extended and bent. The closure member 10 then pivots open to allow the airbag to deploy.

This design is lightweight and simple and yet works reliably under a wide range of conditions, especially in extreme cold conditions.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 4 to 7 show a second embodiment of the present invention.

The closure member 100 of the second embodiment is also shaped to fit the deployment opening 102 formed in the instrument panel 104, and covers the opening when in the normal closed state. .

The closure member 100 also has an internal contact surface 1 for the airbag.
06, which is here made of molded plastic material, which consists of a substantially flat panel member 108 and a series of structurally strengthening transverse inner ribs 110 and outer webs 112, which ribs and webs Is provided so as to straddle the outline along the step 114 provided on the panel member 108. Further, the panel member 108 has an integrated destructible flange 116 and a hinge flange 118 which extend inward from the inside of the closing member 100 and extend in the same direction on the opening side and the hinge side of the closing member 100. A space is provided between them.

Frangible flange 116 has one or more projections 120 integrally formed with panel member 108, which are joined at a thinner cross-section 122.
The destructible flange 116 is
At the end opposite to the thinned portion 122, it is fixed by a member 126 connecting the projection 120. Member 126
Has a series of holes 128 formed therein, each of which receives a clasp 130, with which the member is fastened
Below 137, it is fixed to the side of the airbag storage container. Although not shown in FIG. 4, the airbag storage container 124 is installed under the instrument panel 104 so as to fit into the opening 102 by a commonly used structure.

The hinge flange 118 is comprised of a hanging member having a series of holes 132 formed therein for receiving a clasp 134 by which the flange is positioned below a clasp 135 on the opposite side of the airbag container. Fixed to the side. The fastening plate is provided with a reinforcing rib 133 for preventing the fastening plate 134 from being torn off.

A series of grooves 136 extend across the hinge flange,
The hinge flange 118 forms a line of reduced strength such that it bends, so that when the opening end 140 rises and then the closing member 100 turns upward without hindrance, the end 138 is adjacent to the instrument panel 104. It allows you to fall under the structure.

In this embodiment, the soft foam padding layer 142 covers the rigid panel member 108 and is adapted to the softer feel of pads commonly used in instrument panels.

The outer surface layer is wrapped with a decorative vinyl layer 144, which covers the surrounding instrument panel 104.
Harmonious with 46.

The ribs 106 extend to form a ridge adjacent to the destructible flange 116, such that the ridge is in reliable contact with the deploying airbag, and the thinned portion At 122, an effective elongational breaking force is applied. This provides for a secure destruction of the flange 116 and opening of the closure member 100.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a destructive coupling structure that is resistant to interference for a hinged closure member that fits into a deployment opening, the coupling structure being simple but widespread. It has been found to be reliable at temperatures and other conditions. Further, according to the present invention, there is no projecting portion that comes into contact with the deployed airbag, and no dangerous debris comes out at the time of opening. The outer shape has a smooth appearance, can be easily opened, and is resistant to interference.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing the top of an instrument panel of a motor vehicle equipped with an airbag device made using the closure member according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view of the closure member shown in FIG. FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along line 2-2, and FIG.
3 is a bottom view of the closing member shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the closing member of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion indicated by reference numeral 5 in FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a plan view of a portion of a breakable flange of the closing member of FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion of a hinge flange of the closing member of FIG. . 10 ... closing member, 11 ... foam core material, 12 ... instrument panel, 14 ... core material, 16 ... outer surface layer, 18 ... inner support layer, 20
… Space, 26… roll-up shape extension piece, 40… opening,
... End, 48 ... Protrusion member, 50 ... Recess, 60 ... V-shaped groove, 64 ... Protrusion, 100 ... Closer member, 102 deployment opening, 108 Panel member, 104 ... Instrument panel, 116 ... Fracture flange , 118: hinge flange, 120: protrusion.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-58-110338 (JP, A) JP-A-1-81156 (JP, U) JP-A-1-81153 (JP, U) JP-A 2-81 147356 (JP, U) US Patent 3,966,227 (US, A) European Patent Publication 235383 (EP, A1) West German Patent Publication 3800652 (DE, A1) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60R 21 / 20 PCI (DIALOG)

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A closing device for an opening formed in an interior structure of an automobile, said opening device being suitable for being subjected to deployment of an inflatable safety cushion through said opening. A closure panel member configured to conform to; a hinge means coupled to one side of the closure panel member to allow the closure panel member to pivot outward from the opening; and the closure panel member. Destructible fixing means extending along and engaged with one side other than the one side, and having strong projections and recesses that engage with each other, wherein the projections are attached to the automobile interior structure or the closed panel member. The recess is attached to the closed panel member or the automobile interior structure so that the recess corresponds to the projection, and the projection and the recess engage to thereby close the closure panel member to the automobile interior structure. It is fixed to,
The hinge panel prevents the hinge panel from pivoting and opening due to the shearing load of the convex portion, but the air-inflatable cushion begins to expand toward the opening, and a predetermined outward pressure by the cushion causes the closing panel member to exert a predetermined outward pressure. And a destructive fixing means that, when acted on, causes the convex portion to be sheared and broken. 2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein said closure panel member includes a hard foamed plastic core material, and said destructible fixing means has a projection comprising said projection. A part formed integrally with the core, and the destructible fixing means further includes a recess formed in the interior structure of the vehicle and comprising the recess, the recess engaging with the projection, and A closure device characterized in that the entire part is subjected to a shear stress caused by the pressure of the deploying air-inflated safety cushion. 3. The closing device according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is formed with a groove from both sides along a length direction thereof so as to reduce a thickness thereof in a cross-sectional direction. A closing device, characterized in that: 4. The closing device according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined portion of the interior part structure close to the opening is formed of a metal sheet layer which is below the protrusion with a space, and the metal sheet layer is formed. A closure device positioned below a major portion of the core to support the core against inward pressure acting on the closure panel member. 5. The closing device according to claim 2, further comprising a gap between the projection and the recess, wherein the projection is prevented from jumping out of the recess after the shearing of the projection. A closure device provided with an adhesive connection. 6. The closing device according to claim 2, wherein the core of the closing panel member is “Dyth (Dyth).
erm) ™ plastic closure device. 7. The closing device according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the closing panel member is provided at a position contacted by the cushion when the air-inflatable safety cushion is deployed, and A closure device, wherein an inwardly extending protrusion is formed adjacent to the sex anchoring means. 8. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein said closure panel member has a foamed plastic core, an inner layer of an aluminum sheet, and a finished outer layer. And closing device. 9. The closure of claim 8 wherein said hinge means includes a portion of said inner layer extending beyond said core along said one side of said closure panel member. Means for securing said portion to an adjacent instrument panel structure and for causing said portion to bend to effect a hinge action. 10. The closing device according to claim 9, wherein the inner layer extension is formed in a winding shape, and the one side of the closing panel member is formed by extending the winding portion straight. A closure device allowing movement from an opening, wherein the fold of the convolution turns the closure panel member from the opening. 11. A closure device for closing an opening that allows deployment of an inflatable safety cushion from a container through an opening formed in an interior structure of an automobile, wherein the closing panel is formed to conform to the opening. A member; hinge means coupled to one side of the closure panel member so that the closure panel member can pivot outward from the opening; and extending along an opposite side of the one side of the closure panel member. Usually, the closure panel member is fixed to prevent the hinge panel from pivoting open, but the inflatable safety cushion begins to deploy toward the opening, and the cushion may exert a predetermined outward pressure. The closure panel member comprises a molded (plastic) molded plastic member. The plastic member has an integral, inwardly facing rupturable flange that extends along the opposite side of the closure panel member and is attached to the container, wherein the rupturable flange includes the air-inflatable flange. Thinning at one or more sites subjected to the force of the deployment of the safety cushion and breaking at these thin sites,
A closure device for opening said opposite side of said closure panel member. 12. The closure device of claim 11, further comprising an integral hinge flange extending inwardly along said one side of said closure panel member for attachment to said container. A closure device characterized by including. 13. A closure as claimed in claim 11, wherein said rupturable flange is connected to a molded plastic panel member at a connection formed by said thin sections. A closure device comprising a projection. 14. A closing device according to claim 11, wherein said hinge flange is formed by bending said hinge flange to drop said one side of said closing panel member under an adjacent interior structure. 1 to make it possible
A closure device characterized in that one or more grooves are provided in the width direction to form a line of reduced toughness. 15. The closing device according to claim 11, further comprising a soft foam pad above the molded plastic member. 16. The closure of claim 11, wherein said plastic member has a series of elongated reinforcing ribs extending transversely from one end to the other. 17. The closure device of claim 16, wherein said ribs protrude more downwardly at an end adjacent said breakable flange, thereby deploying said inflatable safety cushion. A closing device that first contacts the end of the rib adjacent to the breakable flange.