JP2000142297A - Strap fitting structure in air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily fit a strap at a low cost and to prevent breaking of the strap in structure of connecting an instrument panel door to an air bag case and fitting the case with the strap for regulating the opening angle of the door when an air bag is expanded. SOLUTION: A locking fitting 10 for locking a lower end 8b of a strap is provided with a base part 12 fixed to the side face of a case 4; a flange 14 erected from the edge part of the base part 12 to form a U-shape receiving part 20 at the outer periphery so as to receive the lower end 8b of the strap; and a guide part 16 integrally extended from the flange part 14 to guide the strap 8 to the receiving part 20. A clearance m1 between the guide part 16 and the side face of the case 4 is set smaller than the diameter m2 of the strap 8, and the strap 8 is inserted in the receiving part 20 by the elastic deformation of the guide part 16 and strap 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a strap mounting structure for an airbag device, and more particularly, to a structure for connecting an airbag to a door for closing an opening of an instrument panel and a case for housing the airbag. The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a strap for restricting an opening angle of a door at the time of deployment to the case.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional mounting structure will be described with reference to an airbag device for a passenger seat shown in FIG.

In this passenger airbag device, an opening 2 is provided in an instrument panel 1 of a vehicle, the opening 2 is closed by a door 3, and a case 4 is opened below and close to the opening 2. The air bag 5 and the inflator 6 for deploying the air bag 5 are housed in the case 4. The door 3 that closes the opening 2 of the instrument panel 1 is pushed and opened by the deployment pressure of the airbag 5 so that the rear end of the door 3 rotates forward with the front end as a fulcrum.
The airbag 5 expands and deploys into the vehicle compartment from the opening 2.

As described above, in the airbag apparatus having the door 3 in which the parting at the rear end of the instrument panel is split and the front parting is used as a fulcrum, the door 3 is connected to the windshield 7 when the airbag 5 is deployed. The door 3 and the case 4 are connected by a strap 8 so as not to interfere, and the opening angle of the door 3 is regulated by the strap 8.

Conventionally, in such an airbag device, the strap 8 is suspended by hanging the lower end of the strap 8 attached to the back surface of the door 3 to a bracket 100 fixed to the side surface of the case 4 by welding or the like. The strap 8 is attached to the case 4 by fixing it with bolts and nuts so as not to come off.

For example, in the structure shown in FIG. 7, a bracket 100 attached to the side surface of the case 4 has a locking portion 101 of a strap 8 having an inverted U-shaped cross section, and a projecting piece 102 extends vertically from its lower end. , 102 are extended, and after the lower end of the strap 8 is inserted into the locking portion 101 through the gap between the protruding pieces 102, 102, as shown in FIG.
By tightening a bolt 104 from below against a nut 103 welded to the upper protrusion 102, the upper and lower protrusions 1
02 and 102 are connected to each other, whereby the strap 8 is attached to the side surface of the case 4.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the side surface of the case 4 is formed so as to protrude outward, a bolt 112 is protruded from the protruding portion 111 toward the outside of the case, and a bracket 100 is mounted on the protruding portion 111. It is fixed. The bracket 100 has a locking portion 113 of the strap 8 having an inverted U-shaped cross section. A protruding piece 114 having a bolt hole extends from a lower end outside the locking portion 113. And
After the lower end of the strap 8 is inserted into the locking portion 113 through the gap between the protrusion 114 and the side surface of the case 4, the nut 115 is
4 is connected to the side of the case 4 so that the strap 8
Is attached to the side of the case 4.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional mounting structure, the strap 8 has to be fixed to the bracket 100 with bolts and nuts after being hooked on the bracket 100, and the mounting work of the strap 8 is large. is there. In particular, since the space on both sides of the case 4 is usually relatively small, fixing with such bolts and nuts in such a narrow space lowers the mounting efficiency. Further, since bolts and nuts are used, there is a problem that the number of parts is large.

The locking portions 101 and 113 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 each having an inverted U-shaped cross section prevent the concentration of stress applied to the strap 8 when the airbag 5 is deployed. There is a problem that the hemming process needs to be performed on the 113 and the cost of the bracket 100 itself is high.

Further, a bracket 100 shown in FIGS.
In this case, since the projecting length from the side surface of the case 4 is large, there is a problem that a space is consumed in a width direction of the case 4 and a degree of freedom of arrangement of the case 4 in the instrument panel 1 is small.

Therefore, the present invention provides a structure for attaching such a strap to a case, which can be easily and inexpensively attached, has high reliability, and has a high degree of freedom in arranging the case in an instrument panel. The purpose is to provide.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a strap mounting structure for an airbag device, comprising: a case for accommodating an airbag and disposed in an instrument panel; A structure in which a ring-shaped strap that restricts the opening angle of the door when the airbag is deployed is attached to the case by connecting the door to close the exit opening, and the case of the strap is attached to a wall surface of the case. A locking member that locks the side end is attached, and the locking member is erected from a base having a curved edge and fixed to the case wall surface and a curved edge of the base. A flange formed on the outer periphery thereof for receiving the case-side end of the strap between the case wall and a case wall, and the strap extending integrally from the flange and receiving the strap. A gap between the guide part and the case wall is set smaller than the diameter of the strap, and the elastic part of one or both of the guide part and the strap is used to form the strap. Are inserted into the receiving portion.

In this mounting structure, one or both of the guide portion and the strap are elastically stretched by hooking the case-side end of the loop-shaped strap around the locking member so as to surround the outer periphery of the receiving portion. The case is deformed, and the case-side end is inserted into the receiving portion. Since the gap between the guide portion and the case wall surface is smaller than the diameter of the strap, the inserted strap is held in the receiving portion by the guide portion and does not easily come off. Therefore, the strap can be easily attached to the case without using bolts and nuts, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. Also, when deploying the airbag,
Since the case-side end of the strap is locked by the curved receiving portion, stress applied to the strap can be dispersed. In addition, the protrusion length of the locking member from the case wall is
Since it is smaller than the above-described conventional structure in which it is fixed by bolts and nuts, the degree of freedom in arranging the case in the instrument panel is high.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device, comprising: a case for accommodating an airbag and disposed in an instrument panel; and a door for closing the airbag inflating opening in the instrument panel. A ring-shaped strap that is connected to the case to regulate an opening angle of the door when the airbag is deployed, wherein the strap is fixed to a wall surface of the case and a case-side end of the strap is locked to a wall surface of the case. A member is attached, the locking member is a base having a U-shaped edge and fixed to the wall of the case, and a first bent from the curved edge of the U and outwardly bent. And a second flange portion which is erected from the opposed linear edges of the U-shape at a predetermined gap from the first flange portion and bent inward, and Case end of the-up is what is locked by the locking member by being hung on the inside of the second flange portion with applied to the outer periphery of the first flange portion.

In this mounting structure, the case-side end of the strap is engaged with the engaging member by being alternately hooked inside and outside by the first flange portion and the second flange portion of the engaging member. , So that it does not come off easily. Therefore, the strap can be easily attached to the case without using bolts and nuts, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. Also, when the airbag is deployed, the case-side end of the strap is locked by the curved first flange portion.
The stress applied to the strap can be dispersed. In addition, the projecting length of the locking member from the case wall surface is smaller than that of the above-described conventional structure in which the locking member is fixed with bolts and nuts, so that the degree of freedom of disposing the case in the instrument panel is high.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing the overall configuration of an airbag device to which this mounting structure is applied.

As shown in FIG. 4, this airbag device is a passenger-seat airbag device disposed on an instrument panel 1 of an automobile, and is provided below an opening 2 provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 1. A case 4 which is close to and opens upward is fixed to a reinforcing member 9 via a bracket 4a, and an airbag 5 folded in the case 4 and an inflator 6 for supplying gas to the airbag 5 for deployment. Are stored, and the opening of the case 4 is covered by the door 3 that closes the opening 2 of the instrument panel 1.

The front end of the door 3 on the vehicle front side is rotatably locked to the instrument panel 1.
When the airbag 5 is deployed, the deployment pressure causes the rear end portion of the vehicle to break and rotate and deploy around the vehicle front as a fulcrum, whereby the airbag 5 expands and deploys from the opening 2 into the vehicle interior. It is configured to be.

The door 3 and the case 4 are connected to a ring-shaped strap 8.
The strap 8 allows the airbag 5
When the vehicle is deployed, the opening angle of the door 3 is regulated so that the door 3 does not interfere with the windshield 7. The straps 8 are provided on both left and right sides of the case 4.

An upper end 8 of the strap 8 at the door side.
a is attached to the insert 3a inside the door 3.

A lower end portion 8b, which is a case-side end portion of the strap 8, is connected to the locking fitting 1 fixed to both left and right side surfaces of the case 4.
Locked by 0.

As shown in FIG.
A base 12 fixed to the side surface of the case 4;
And a guide portion 16 extending outward from the flange portion 14, and these are integrally formed by press working.

The base 12 is formed in a flat plate shape having a U-shaped edge that is convex downward, that is, curved in an arc on the case bottom side. It is fixed to.

The flange portion 14 is raised from the U-shaped edge of the base portion 12, and has a U-shaped receiving portion 20, which extends around the outer periphery thereof and receives the lower end portion 8 b of the strap 8 between the side surface of the case 4. Is formed. Specifically, the flange 14
As shown in FIG. 3, is formed to stand outward in a curved shape, and is formed so as to cover the upper surface of the strap 8 inserted into the receiving portion 20. In addition,
No flange is provided on the upper edge of the base 12.

The guide portion 16 is formed by extending the flange portion 14 outward at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the receiving portion 20. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. , Two at the upper end of the receiving portion 20 and one at the lower end, for a total of three locations. It is preferable that two or more guide portions 16 are provided in the circumferential direction of the receiving portion 20.

As shown in FIG. 3, the guide portion 16 guides the lower end portion 8b of the strap 8 into the receiving portion 20 and holds the introduced strap 8 so as not to be detached from the receiving portion 20. It is once bent outward from the flange portion 14 toward the case 4 and further folded back toward the opposite case. In order to smoothly guide the strap 8 to the receiving portion 20, the folded portion is formed in a curved surface shape.

Gap m between guide portion 16 and side surface of case 4
1 is set to be smaller than the diameter m2 of the strap 8, and in detail, in this embodiment, the diameter m2 of the strap 8
2 is set to 0.5 to 0.6 times.

In the above configuration, when attaching the strap 8 to the case 4, the lower end 8 b of the strap 8 extending from the lower surface of the door 3 is attached to the case 4 after the case 4 is disposed in the instrument panel 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the hook P
Pull upward as indicated by. As a result, the guide portion 16 located on the outer periphery of the receiving portion 20 attaches the strap 8 to the case 4.
When the strap 8 tries to pass through the gap m1, the guide portion 16 is elastically deformed to the opposite side of the case as shown in FIG. By being crushed, the lower end portion 8b of the strap 8 is inserted into the receiving portion 20. When the strap 8 passes through the gap m1, the guide portion 16 returns to the original state, and the strap 8 also returns to the original shape.

The strap 8 inserted into the receiving portion 20 in this manner does not easily come off because the gap m1 between the guide portion 16 and the side wall of the case 4 is smaller than the diameter of the strap 8. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the strap 8 can be attached only by hooking the lower end portion 8b of the strap 8 on the latch 10 and pulling it. That is, since the strap 8 can be easily attached to the case 4 without using bolts and nuts, cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. In addition, this locking metal fitting 10
Is formed by press working with a small number of man-hours.
Since there is no need to weld the nut or perform hemming, the cost of the metal fitting itself is reduced.

When the airbag 5 is deployed, the strap 8
Since the lower end portion 8b is locked by the circular receiving portion 20, the stress applied to the strap 8 can be dispersed in a ring shape.

When the airbag 5 is deployed, the locking fitting 1
Since the stress acting on zero acts on the base 12 fixed by the spot welding 18 in the shearing direction, it is advantageous to fix the base 12 by spot welding at one point at the center of the base 12 as described above. Work on.

Further, the length of the locking metal 10 protruding from the side surface of the case 4 is slightly larger than the thickness of the strap 8 and is smaller than that of the conventional structure. There is no need to secure a space, and thus the degree of freedom in arranging the case 4 in the instrument panel 1 is high.

In the above embodiment, when the strap 8 is inserted, both the guide portion 16 and the strap 8 are configured to be elastically deformed.
By appropriately setting the relationship between the rigidity of the strap 6 and the strap 8 and the relationship between the gap m1 and the diameter m2, only one of the guide portion 16 and the strap 8 may be elastically deformed.

FIG. 5 shows a mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), in this embodiment, the lower end 8 of the strap 8 is the case-side end.
The locking metal member 30 for locking the b is provided with a base portion 32 having a U-shaped edge and fixed to the side surface of the case 4, and is erected from the curved edge of the U-shape and bent outward. A first flange 34, and a predetermined gap 36 between the first flange 34 and the first flange 34.
And a pair of second flange portions 38, 38 erected from the straight edges facing each other and bent inward.
And Note that the other configuration except for the locking fitting 30 is the same as that of the above-described first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

More specifically, the base 32 has a flat plate shape having a U-shaped edge convexly curved in a downwardly convex shape.
It is fixed to the side surface of the case 4 by spot welding 40, 40 at the location.

The first flange portion 34 is raised from a curved edge on the lower side of the base portion 32, and is bent outwardly as shown in FIG. Thereby, the lower end 8b of the strap 8 is formed so as to receive the lower end 8b between the outer periphery and the side surface of the case 4.

The second flange portion 38 is raised from a linear edge on the upper side of the base portion 34, and is bent inward as shown in FIG. The strap 8 between itself and the base 34
Is formed so as to receive the lower end 8b.

As shown in FIG. 5 (a), the gap 36 between the first flange portion 34 and the second flange portion 38 is formed by the straps 8 alternately hung on the upper and lower flange portions 38, 34. Is maintained in the bent shape in the gap 36, that is, the lower first flange portion 34
Is set so that the upper end of the strap 8 hung on the upper side is held in a state of being squeezed inward by the upper second flange portion 38.

In the present embodiment, when attaching the strap 8 to the case 4, the lower end 8 b of the strap 8 extending from the lower surface of the door 3 is hung on the outer periphery of the first flange portion 34 of the locking fitting 30. Further, the second flange portion 38
Hang it inside. Thus, the upper and lower flanges 38,
By alternately hanging the straps 34, the lower end 8 b of the strap 8 is locked by the locking metal fitting 30, so that the strap 8 does not easily come off. Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, the strap 8 can be easily attached to the case 4 without using bolts and nuts, and the cost and cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. Since the lower end portion 8b of the strap 8 is locked by the curved first flange portion 34, the stress applied to the strap 8 can be annularly dispersed. In addition, since the length of the protrusion of the latch 30 from the side surface of the case 4 is slightly larger than the diameter of the strap 8, it is not necessary to secure a large space on both sides of the case 4.

Further, according to the present embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, since there is no guide portion projecting outward from the flange portion, the mounting area on the side surface of the case is small.

In each of the above embodiments, the latches 10 and 30 are attached to the side surface of the case 4, but the latches 10 and 30 may be attached to the bottom surface of the case 4.

The strap 8 does not necessarily have to be ring-shaped as a whole, but may be ring-shaped only at the lower end portion 8b to be locked by the locking fittings 10,30.

[0045]

According to the strap mounting structure in the airbag device of the first aspect, the strap is simply pulled by hooking the case-side end of the strap around the locking member so as to surround the outer periphery of the receiving portion. And can be easily removed. Therefore, the strap can be easily attached to the case without using bolts and nuts, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. Further, when the airbag is deployed, the end of the strap on the case side is locked by the curved receiving portion, so that the stress applied to the strap can be dispersed.
Further, since the protrusion length of the locking member from the case wall surface is small, the degree of freedom in arranging the case in the instrument panel is high.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the strap is attached to the case by alternately hooking the case-side end of the strap to the first and second flanges of the locking member. Since the strap can be attached and does not come off easily, the strap can be easily attached to the case without using bolts and nuts, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of attachment steps and the number of parts. Further, when the airbag is deployed, the case-side end of the strap is locked by the curved first flange portion, so that stress applied to the strap can be dispersed. Further, since the protrusion length of the locking member from the case wall surface is small, the degree of freedom in arranging the case in the instrument panel is high.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mounting structure.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the airbag device in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a strap mounting structure according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an airbag device showing a conventional strap mounting structure.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional strap mounting structure.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a conventional strap mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Instrument panel 2 ... Opening 3 ... Door 4 ... Case 8 ... Strap 8a ... Lower end part of a strap (case side end part) 10 ... Locking fitting 12 ... Base part 14 ... Flange part 16 ... Guide portion 20... Receiving portion 30... Locking fitting 32... Base portion 34... First flange portion 36... Gap 38... Second flange portion m1. m2 …… Strap diameter

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshinori Mihara 1-17-18 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoki Kakihara 10 Toyo, Wakaicho, Toyota-shi, Aichi Prefecture Within Ki Industries Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Katsutoshi Suzuki 10th street, Wakai-cho, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyosei Brake Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3D054 AA03 AA14 BB09 BB16 BB22 FF15 FF17

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case, in which an airbag is housed and arranged in an instrument panel, and a door for closing an opening for inflating the airbag in the instrument panel is connected.
A ring-shaped strap for restricting an opening angle of the door when the airbag is deployed is attached to the case, and a locking member for locking a case-side end of the strap is attached to a wall surface of the case. The locking member has a curved edge portion and is fixed to the case wall surface, and is erected from the curved edge portion of the base portion. A flange portion forming a receiving portion for receiving the end portion; and a guide portion integrally extending from the flange portion and guiding the strap to the receiving portion, wherein a gap between the guide portion and the case wall is larger than a diameter of the strap. Is also set small, by using the elastic deformation of one or both of the guide and strap,
The strap mounting structure in an airbag device, wherein the strap is inserted into the receiving portion. 2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting a case that houses the airbag and is disposed in the instrument panel to a door that closes an opening for inflating the airbag in the instrument panel.
A ring-shaped strap for restricting an opening angle of the door when the airbag is deployed is attached to the case, and a locking member for locking a case-side end of the strap is attached to a wall surface of the case. A base portion having a U-shaped edge portion and fixed to the case wall surface, a first flange portion erected from the curved edge portion of the U-shape and bent outward; A first flange portion and a second flange portion erected from the opposite linear edge of the U-shape with a predetermined gap and bent inward, and a case-side end of the strap. The strap is hooked on the outer periphery of the first flange and the inside of the second flange to be locked by the locking member. .