GB2265119A

GB2265119A - Lid for vehicle air bag arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2265119A
Application number: GB9304714A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takayasu Zushi
Original assignee: Takata Corp
Current assignee: Takata Corp
Priority date: 1992-03-17
Filing date: 1993-03-08
Publication date: 1993-09-22
Also published as: JPH05262198A; KR930019470A; GB9304714D0; DE4307417A1

Description

2265119 S P E C I F I C A T 1 0 N

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Lid of An Air Bag Device for A Passenger FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an air bag device for a passenger, which is mounted in the instrument panel of an automobile for protecting a passenger at the time of a collision of the automobile and, more particularly, to an improvement in the lid of the pas senger's air bag device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A schematic construction of a passenger's air bag device is-shown in Fig. 6. A schematic shape of the back of a lid of the air bag device is shown in Fig. 7, And an enlarged shape of a mounting Member -i-- shown in Fig. 8.

An instrument panel 10 is formed with an opening 14 for mounting a passenger's air bag device 12, and lid 16 of the air bag device 12 is arranged in the opening 14. The air bag device 12 is constructed to include: a container 18 having its front opening 1 covered with the lid 16; an air bag 20 fitted in a folded shape in the container 18; and an inflater 22 acting as a gas generator for extending the air bag 20. The lid 16 is equipped on its rear (or back) face with a first mounting member 24 and second mounting members 26, which are fixed on the container 18. Reference numeral 28 designates a windshield of the automobile. The mounting members -94 and 26 are molded of a synthetic resin together with the lid 16.

If the automobile collides, the inflater 2-9 is energized to discharge gases. As a result, the air bag 20 begins to extend. Then, the lid 16 is opened, as indicated by a double-dotted line in Fig. 6, by the push of the air bag 20 being inflated, so that the air bag is largely extended into the cabin of the automobile.

When the lid 16 is opened, the second mounting members 26 are torn along their tear lines 30. Then, the lid 16 iss opened like a door such that it is benL at the side of the first mounting member 24. The mounting members 24 and 26 are formed respectively with bolt holes 31 and 32, into which are inserted bolts to fix the lid 16 on the container 18. The bolts may be replaced by rivets.

The example of the prior art shown in Figs. 6 to

2 0 8 is equipped with only the mounting members 24 and 26. However, a lid 16A may also be equipped with mounting members 34, too, as shown in Fig. 9A, and a lid 16B may be equipped with a framed mounting member 36, as shown in Fig. 9B. Reference numerals 38 and 40 designate individual tear lines.

The lid of the passenger's air bag device of the prior art described above has a problem to be solved: a force required for tearing the mounting members along the tear lines is high.

Another problem is that tear traces are roughened if the mounting members 26 are torn along the tear lines 30. The mounting members are left projecting after they are torn from the lid 16 of the passenger's air bag device of the prior art. As a result, the air bag being extended isrubbed by the torn rough faces. Thus, the cloth for the air bag has to be prevented from being damaged even i-IE it is rubbed by the torn rough faces. To pprevent damage, the air bag cloth has its strength enhanced which raises its cost.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to smooth the torn faces of the mounting members and accordingly to reduce the strength required for the air bag.

3 According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid of an air bag device for a passenger to cover the opening of a container confining an air bag folded therein, comprising a plurality of mounting members projecting from the back of the lid for mounting the lid on the container, and tear lines formed in the mounting members at one side of the lid for tearing dividing the mounting members into their root and leading end portions when the air bag is extended. The tear lines are formed of grooves recessed from the surfaces of the mounting members and a plurality of holes arranged in the grooves and extending in the direction of thickness through the mounting members.

In a lid of a passenger's air bag device of a first aspect, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the tear lines are formed in the root portions of the mounting members leading from the lid,.

In the lid of the Passenger's air bag device according to the present invention, the tear lines are formed in their grooves with the holes so that they are easily torn as with perforations. Moreover, the holes have smooth inner faces so that the torn faces of the mounting members have the accordingly high 4 smoothness.

In the lid of the passenger's air bag device ac- cording to a second aspect, the mounting members are torn at their roots so that there is hardly -.any material left on the lid. Thus, the air bag being extended can be kept away from being rubbed by the torn faces of the mounting members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an essential portion of a lid according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section taken along line II - II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken along line III - III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section showing a tear line shape according to another embodiment; Fig. 5 is a section showing a tear lipe shape according to still another embodiment; Fig. 6 is a section showing a mounting structure of an air bag device for a passenger; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the lid of the prior art;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the con- p struction of the mounting member of the prior art;

Figs. 9A and 9B are perspective views showing other examples of the shape of the lid of the prior art;

Figs. 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 10E and 1OF are top plan views showing examples of the shape of the holes; Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of a lid according to another embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are sections showing examples of the structures of the mounting members of Fig. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in the following with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

A tear line 30' is formed in the root portion of IS' such that it runs directly along a mounting- mei--iiber the back of a lid 16'. The tear line 30' is formed with not only a groove but also a plurality of holes 42 extending in the direction of the thickness of the mounting member 26'. Incidentally, the lid of the present invention is similar to that of the prior art excepting that the tear line 30' is improved in its

6 position and construction, and the remaining dashed reference numerals appearing in Fig. 1 designate the identical portions of the foregoing example of the prior art.

In the lid of Fig. 1 thus constructed, the mount- ing member 26' is torn to open the lid 16' like a door if the air bag is inflated so that the mounting member 26' is pushed from the back by the air bag. At this time, the tear line 30' is remarkably easily torn be cause it is formed with not only the groove but also the holes 42. Moreover, since these holes 42 have smooth inner faces, the tear line 30' can be smoother after tearing thanthat of the prior art. As a result, the air bag being inflated can be prevented from being rubbed and damaged by the torn face of the tear line 30'. In the present embodiment, moreover, the tear line 30' is formed to run directly along the back of the lid 16' so that little rough surface of the tear line 30' protrudes, after tearing, from the back of tible lid 16'. As a result, the rubbing contact between the air bag being extended and the rough face can be a voided to prevent damage to the air bag more reliably.

In the above-described embodiment, the tear line 30' has its groove formed only in one face of the 7 mounting member 26'. According to the present invention, however, a mounting member 26" may be formed with grooves in both its faces, as shown in Figs. 4 and S. Moreover, the groove or grooves of the tear line 30' should not be limited to have a V-shaped section but may have a trapezoidal section, as shown in Fig. S.

Moreover, the present invention should not be limited to the improvement in the lid having the mounting members only as shown in Fig. 7, but can be applied to improvements in a lid having mounting members of various positions and shapes, as shown in Figs. 9A and 9B.

In the present invention, on the other hand, the shape of the holes 42 should not be limited to an elongated ellipse, as shown in Fig. 1, but can be modified into holes 42 of various shapes in a top plan view such as a lens, as shown in Fig. 10A, a parallelogram, as shown in Fig. 10B, a hexagon, as shown in Fig. 10C, a triangle, as shown in Fig. 10D, a trapezoid, as shown in Fig. 10E, or a rectangle, as shown in Fig. 10F.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a mounting member 26A according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 12A is a section showing 8 the same. In the present embodiment, a tear line 30"' is formed apart from a lid 16"'. The mounting member 26A of Fig. 11 is formed with the holes 42 and has an effect that the tear line 30"' is smooth after tearing, Numeral 32"' designates a bolt hole.

In this mode of Figs. 11 and 12A, too, the hole 42 can be modified into the various shapes, as shown in Fig. 10. The groove can also be formed into a Vor U-letter shape. As shown in Figs. 12B, 12C and 12D, the positions of the holes 42 may be slightly offset from the center line of the groove. The mounting members 26' and 26"' are molded of a synthetic resin.

In Fig. 6, the air bag device 12 is mounted in the top face of the instrument panel 10, but the passenger's air bag, device having the lid of the present invention may be disposed in positions other than that of Fig. 6.

According to the lid of the passenger's air bag device of the present invention, as has been described hereinbefore, the mounting members have their tear lines formed with holes. Thus, the mounting mem bers have smooth faces, after tearing, so that the air bag can be prevented from being damaged even if it is rubbed by the torn faces.

According to the present invention, the tear lines are preferably formed to run directly along the back of the 9 lid so that the air bag can be prevented more reliably from being rubbed by the torn tear lines.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

A lid of an air bag device for a passenger to cover the opening of a container confining an air bag folded therein, comprising: a plurality of mounting members projecting from the back of said lid for mounting said lid on said container; and tear lines formed in the mounting members at one side of said lid for tearing, the tear lines dividing said mounting members into their root and leading end portions when said air bag is extended. said tear lines being formed of grooves recessed from the surfaces of said mounting members and a plurality of holes arranged in said grooves and extending in the direction of thickness through said mounting members.
2. A lid of a passenger's air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said tear lines are formed in the root portions of said mounting members leading from said lid.

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3. A lid of a passenger's air bag device according to claim 1, wherein the mounting members running along 11 said one side are torn whereas the others are bent, when said air bag is extended, so that said lid is opened like a door into the cabin of the automobile.
4. A lid of a passenger's air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said lid and said mounting members are integrally molded of a synthetic resin.
5. A lid of a passenger's air bag device according to claim 1, wherein said holes are formed in the bottoms of said grooves.
6. A lid of a passenger's air bag device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying description and Figures 1 to 3; or Figure 4; or Figure 5; or Figure lOA; or Figure lOB; or Figure 1OC; or Figure lOD; or Figure 1OE; or Figure 1OF; or Figures 11 and 12A; or Figure 12B; or Figure 12C; or Figure 12D of the drawings.

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