JP2000177525A - Structure of air bag door and manufacturing of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag door free from the rupturing and scattering of a hinge of the air bag door in the inflation and expansion of an air bag, and capable of constantly, surely and rapidly opening the air bag door. SOLUTION: In an air bag door 20 where a canistor mounting flange 25 projected from a rear side of the air bag door 20 is fixed to a canister 51, and the air bag door 20 is opened while using a basic part of the canister mounting flange 25 as a hinge 26, the canister mounting flange 25 is fixed to the canister 51 in a state that it is bent to a hinge inner side 27 with respect to its formation state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag door and a method of manufacturing the airbag door. In addition,
Regarding the method of manufacturing an airbag door, an instrument panel core is used for both a hard type in which the surface of the instrument panel is formed and a soft type in which a skin is laminated on the core via a foam. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an airbag door.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an airbag device for protecting an occupant in the event of an automobile collision has been attached to an instrument panel in an automobile. Such an instrument panel is provided with an airbag door 20A on the passenger side of the instrument panel 10A and a canister of the airbag device 50 on the back side as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 51 is attached. The canister 51 is fixed to a structural member such as a reinforce of a vehicle body, and has an airbag 53 folded and accommodated therein. Then, when the inflator 52 of the airbag device 50 is actuated by the impact at the time of the collision of the vehicle, the airbag 53 is inflated and pushes the airbag door 20A open to deploy the airbag 53 into the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 13, an instrument panel having such an airbag door is of an integral type in which an airbag door is integrally formed when the instrument panel is formed, and an instrument panel as shown in FIG. There is a retrofit type in which a separately formed airbag door 20B is assembled by post-processing into the airbag door opening 21B of the panel.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, an instrument panel having the airbag door has a hard surface having a hard surface and a soft type having a soft surface (also referred to as a laminated type). (Including a part shown by a chain line in FIG. 14). The hard type is
The surface of the instrument panel is constituted by instrument panel cores 11A and 11B made of hard plastic or the like formed by injection molding or the like, whereas the soft type instrument panel core 11B shown in FIG. 40B is set in a foaming mold (not shown), and a foaming material is injected into the mold to form a laminate in which a foam 30B such as polyurethane is formed between the skin 40B and the instrument panel core 11B. The surface is covered with a skin 40B.

[0005] Regardless of the retrofit type, the integral type, the hard type, and the soft type, a structure in which the back edge or the vicinity of the edge of the airbag doors 20A, 20B is fixed to the canister 51 is generally used. According to the structure of the airbag door, when the inflation of the airbag 53 starts,
The edges of the airbag doors 20A and 20B are the canisters 51.
Is fixed to the vehicle body through the airbag door 20.
The pressing force of the airbag 53 can be prevented from dispersing outside the airbags A and 20B and the pressing force of the airbag 53 can be concentrated on the back side of the airbag doors 20A and 20B.
The airbag doors 20A and 20B can be quickly and reliably opened. In particular, in the case of the integral type, a fragile scheduled rupture portion is provided between the airbag door and a general portion around the airbag door. Since the door is opened, it is necessary to concentrate the airbag inflation pressing force on the back side of the airbag door in order to quickly break the portion to be cleaved.

As means for fixing the back side of the airbag door to the canister, a canister mounting flange is provided on the back side of the airbag door from the viewpoint of fixing workability and the like, and the flange is fixed to the side surface of the canister. I have. At that time, when the airbag door is double-opened (double door opening), the base of a pair of canister mounting flanges at the opposing position is hinged, and when the airbag door is single-opened, one canister is mounted. The base of the service flange is hinged so that the airbag door opens into the vehicle. The fixing of the flange to the canister includes locking and engaging, and is performed by bolts and nuts, or a bracket or locking piece provided on the canister is inserted into a locking hole formed in the flange. It is performed by stopping.

However, in the structure for fixing the canister mounting flange to the canister, as shown in FIG. 15, when the airbag door is pushed open by the inflation of the airbag and opens toward the vehicle, the canister mounting flange is fixed. Since the inside 27A of the hinge 26A of the flange 25A (the side facing the canister) is bent by 180 degrees or more and greatly expanded, there is a possibility that the flange 25A is broken and scattered. In particular, when the airbag door has a multilayer structure in which the instrument panel core is laminated on the surface of the airbag door substrate, the extension of the airbag door substrate inside the hinge is lower than that of the instrument panel core. Occasionally, the breakage and scattering easily occur. In addition, if a reinforcing rib is provided inside the hinge to prevent breakage or scattering at the hinge portion, the airbag door may be prevented from opening quickly, and the airbag door base material and the instrument may be prevented from opening. If the material of the ment panel core is made of a material having good elongation, the portion to be cleaved becomes easy to be expanded by the pressure at the time of inflation of the airbag, causing a problem that the cleaving is delayed.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the hinge of the airbag door is hardly broken or scattered when the airbag is inflated and deployed, so that the airbag door is fixed and fixed. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of an airbag door which can be opened quickly and a method of manufacturing the airbag door.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a canister mounting flange protruding from the back side of an airbag door is fixed to the canister, and the base of the canister mounting flange is hinged to the airbag door. In the structure of the airbag door which is opened, the canister mounting flange is bent to the inside of the hinge from the molded state and is fixed to the canister.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an airbag door base is integrally provided on the back side of the airbag door main body of the instrument panel core, and a canister mounting flange projecting from the backside of the airbag door base is provided. In a structure of an airbag door fixed to a canister and opening an airbag door with a base of the canister mounting flange as a hinge, the canister mounting flange is bent inwardly of the hinge from its molded state, and the instrument The resin of the instrument panel core is laminated on the outer surface of the canister mounting flange continuously from the general portion of the instrument panel core.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an airbag door is constituted by an airbag door main body of an instrument panel core and an airbag door substrate integrally provided on the back side thereof. A method for manufacturing an airbag door, wherein a canister mounting flange protruding from a rear side is fixed to the canister so that an airbag door is opened with a base of the canister mounting flange as a hinge, wherein the canister mounting flange is mounted on the canister. The airbag door base material molded in a state of being opened to the outside of the hinge as compared to the time of fixing to the mold is placed on the mold surface of the injection mold, and the canister mounting flange is bent inward of the hinge to form the injection mold. The canister is inserted and held in a slit on a mold surface, and molten plastic is injected into the injection mold. The instrument panel core is formed integrally with the airbag door base material in a state where the mounting flange is bent inwardly of the hinge. At this time, the resin of the instrument panel core is continuously applied to the canister from the general part of the instrument panel core. It is characterized in that it is laminated on the outer surface of the mounting flange.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an airbag door showing an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an open state of the airbag door in the embodiment, and FIG.
Is a sectional view showing another embodiment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the second embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows such another Example. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of an injection molding die showing an embodiment of a method for manufacturing an airbag door according to the invention of claim 3, and FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection molding die when the mold is closed, FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection molding die when the injection molding is performed, and FIG. 11 is another embodiment according to the invention of claim 3. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a foaming mold showing the following.

The instrument panel 10 shown in FIG.
Has the same shape as the instrument panel 10A of FIG. 12 described in the section of the prior art, an airbag door 20 is formed on the passenger side, and an airbag device 50 is provided on the back side of the airbag door 20. Things. The instrument panel 10 is composed of an instrument panel core 11 made of a hard plastic such as a mineral-added polypropylene (PPF). The position of the airbag door 20 is defined as an airbag door main body portion 21. An airbag door base material 22 is integrally fixed to the back surface of the main body 21. The airbag device 5
0 has the same configuration as that described in the section of the prior art.

The surface of the instrument panel core 11 constitutes the surface of the instrument panel 10 and is formed into a predetermined shape by injection molding or the like. The airbag door main body portion 21 of the instrument panel core 11 is a portion that constitutes the airbag door 20 integrally with the airbag door base material 22, and is broken by a fragile portion such as a notch formed on the back surface. The scheduled portion 23 is formed in a predetermined shape. The tearable portion 23 is broken by the pressure when the airbag 53 is inflated, and the break allows the airbag door 20 to be quickly opened to the inside of the vehicle. The tearable portion 23 in this example is formed in a substantially H-shape corresponding to the double-opening airbag door. Of course, when the airbag door is one-sided, the to-be-cleaved portion is formed in a substantially U-shape.

The airbag door base material 22 reinforces the back surface of the airbag door 20 so that when the surface of the airbag door 20 is pushed by an occupant or the like from the inside of the vehicle in a normal state, the surface of the airbag door 20 is depressed. To prevent the air bag from opening and quickly open the air bag door when the air bag is inflated. Polyolefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO)
Etc. The airbag door base material 22 is formed with a slit-shaped scheduled tearing portion 24 in alignment with the scheduled tearing portion 23 of the instrument panel core 11, and a canister mounting flange projects near the edge of the back surface. Has been established.

The canister mounting flange is fixed to the canister 51 of the airbag device 50, and at least one canister is formed corresponding to the side surface of the canister 51. In this example, four bases surrounding the side surface of the canister 51 are provided. Among them, a base of a pair of canister mounting flanges 25 which are located opposite to each other in the front-rear direction of the instrument panel 10 has a base portion inflated and deployed by the airbag 53. It is the hinge 26 at the time. Also,
The canister mounting flange 25 having a hinge (hereinafter simply referred to as a canister mounting flange or flange) is a flange 2 at the time of canister mounting indicated by a chain line.
Outside the state of 5 (in the direction opposite to the canister 51)
To the inside of the hinge 26
And is fixed to the upper side of the canister 51. In addition, the thickness of the airbag door base material 22 is such that the canister mounting flange 25 has a hinge 26 at its base.
The thickness is such that it can bend even at the position.

In this embodiment, the canister fixing through hole 2 formed in the canister mounting flange 25 is used.
8, insert the locking piece 54 on the upper side of the canister 51,
Although the pin 56 is fixed to the canister 51 by inserting the pin 56 into the tip 55 of the locking piece, the mounting to the canister 51 is not limited to the method of this example, and may be fixed or engaged by a bolt or other methods. Good. Further, the canister mounting flange 25 is not limited to the one provided apart from the edge of the airbag door substrate 22 as in this example, and may be located at the edge of the airbag door substrate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag door 20 having the canister mounting flange 25 fixed to the canister 51 as described above, when the back surface of the airbag door 20 is pushed by the inflation of the airbag 53, as shown in FIG. The airbag door 20 rotates at the hinge 26 of the airbag door base material 22 as a fulcrum to open inside the vehicle, and the airbag 53 is deployed inside the vehicle.

At this time, the canister mounting flange 25
The hinge inside 27 of the air bag door 20 appears to be greatly extended in accordance with the rotation of the airbag door 20 toward the inside of the vehicle. However, in order to fix the canister mounting flange 25 to the canister 51, the flange 25
Since the offset corresponding to the angle a bent to 7 is offset, the actual extension of the inside 27 of the hinge is reduced.

More specifically, when the airbag door 20 is rotated to the inside of the vehicle by the angle a, the inner portion of the hinge 26 is once connected to the flange 2.
5 is returned to the initial state before being fixed to the canister 51, and further rotated past the position, the inside of the hinge 2
7 will be lengthened. Therefore, the extension of the hinge inner side 27 corresponds to the angle c obtained by subtracting the bending angle a of the flange from the rotation angle b of the airbag door 20, and is larger than the extension corresponding to the conventional rotation angle of the airbag door. The breakage and scattering at the hinge 26 are less likely to occur.

Further, since the canister mounting flange 25 is bent toward the inside 27 of the hinge and fixed to the canister 51 as described above, a restoring force remains on the canister mounting flange 25, and the restoring force is reduced by the airbag. When the door 20 is opened, the canister mounting flange 25 is opened.
Is fixed to the canister 51 and restrained,
Acts on the side of the airbag door 20 that has been released from the restriction due to the breakage of the rupture scheduled portions 23 and 24, and the airbag door 20
To open the airbag door 20 more quickly.

The structure of the airbag door 201 shown in FIG. 3 is a retrofit type, and the plastic airbag door 201 is attached to the instrument panel core 111 so as to close the airbag door opening 211 formed in the instrument panel core 111. A canister mounting flange 251 that is arranged on the surface of the air bag 111 and protrudes near the edge on the back side of the airbag door is fixed to the canister 51. 1 and 2, the canister-mounting flange 251 is formed so as to open outward in a dashed line from the state where the canister is fixed to the canister, and is formed inside the hinge 261 located at the base. It is bent and attached to the canister 51. Reference numeral 231 denotes a portion of the airbag door to be split. Also in this airbag door, the extension inside the hinge 261 is reduced for the same reason as described above.

The airbag door 202 shown in FIG. 4 is formed by laminating a foam 302 and a skin 402 on the surfaces of the instrument panel core 112 and the airbag door substrate 222. In this example, the airbag door substrate 22
2 is the same as the airbag door 201 of FIG. 3, and the canister mounting flange 252 is bent to the inside of the hinge 262 and mounted on the canister 51. In addition,
The outer skin 402 is made of a vinyl chloride resin or the like, and has a scheduled tearing portion 432 corresponding to the scheduled tearing portion 232 of the airbag door base material 222.

FIG. 5 shows an airbag door 203 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The airbag door base material 223 having a canister mounting flange 253 protruding in a state of being opened outward (opposite to the canister 51) from the state at the time of fixing to the instrument panel core is formed on the instrument panel core. The canister mounting flange 253 is bent toward the inside of the hinge 263 (toward the canister) while being integrally provided on the back side of the airbag door main body 213 of the instrument panel 113. Is continuous from the back 123 of the general part of the instrument panel core 113 to the canister mounting flange 2.
53 are formed and laminated on the outer surface. Sign 2
83 is a through hole for fixing the canister.

In the air bag door 203, the bent state of the canister mounting flange 253 is as follows.
Back of general part 123 of instrument panel core 113
Since it is held by the resin 133 of the instrument panel core 113 laminated on the outer surface of the canister mounting flange 253 continuously, the operation for fixing the canister mounting flange 253 to the canister 51 is simplified. In particular, the canister mounting flange 2
53 is bent so as to have an angle at the time of fixing to the canister 51, and the resin 133 of the instrument panel core 113 is laminated, so that the canister mounting flange 253 can be fixed to the canister 51 as it is, Extremely excellent workability.

The airbag door 203 having the above-described structure is configured such that the inflation of the airbag 53 causes the airbag door base material 223 and the to-be-cleaved portion 24 of the instrument panel core 113.
3, 233 is broken, and the airbag door 203 is opened toward the vehicle interior with the hinge 263 of the airbag door base material 223 as a fulcrum. At this time, as in the above embodiments, the canister mounting flange 253 of the airbag door base material 223 is bent inwardly of the hinge 263 and fixed to the canister 51, so that when the airbag door 203 is opened inward of the vehicle. The angle corresponding to the bending angle of the flange is offset, and the extension of the hinge 263 is reduced.

The airbag door 204 shown in FIG. 6 is another embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention, and the foam 304 is formed on the surfaces of the instrument panel core 113 and the airbag door base material 223 shown in FIG. And the skin 404 is laminated, and the other points are the same as those in FIG.

Next, a method of manufacturing the airbag door 203 shown in FIG. First, a plastic airbag door base material 223 is arranged on a predetermined portion of the mold surface 61 of the injection mold 60 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The injection molding die 60 is for molding the instrument panel core 113, and a predetermined portion of the molding surface 61 is an airbag door base material arrangement surface 62. The airbag door base material arrangement surface 62 is provided with the airbag door base material 2.
In this example, it is formed of a recess having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and a fixing projection 63 is formed at a diagonal corner of the recess. Also,
In the airbag door base material disposing surface 62, a slit 64 for inserting a flange is provided at a position on the front side of the instrument panel core so as to have a gap d larger than the thickness of the canister mounting flange 253 of the airbag door base material 223. It is formed with.

The airbag door base material 223 is made of a plastic plate such as TPO, and has a fixing hole 293 formed at a diagonal line thereof so that the fixing projection 63 of the mold surface 61 fits into the airbag door base material 223. Two notches 223b are formed at a required length in the front-rear direction on one side 223a on the front side of the instrument panel core at a predetermined distance from both ends of the one side. Piece 2 between the cuts 223b, 223b
53 a is a canister mounting flange 253 that is bent to the back side of the airbag door base material 223 and inserted into the flange insertion slit 64 of the mold surface,
The airbag door base material 223 is held on the airbag door base material disposition surface 62 by fitting 3 into the fixed protrusion 63 on the mold surface.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is closed and the mold is closed. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, molten plastic 113a made of PPF or the like is injected into the mold, and the instrument panel core 113 is integrally formed on the surface side of the airbag door base material 223. At that time, the molten plastic 113a covers the surface of the airbag door base material 223,
And a flange insertion slit 6 on the mold surface along the surface thereof.
4 and is laminated on the outer surface 253b of the canister mounting flange 253 of the airbag door base material 223.

Thereafter, the molded product is released from the mold, and the above-mentioned cleavage portion having a substantially U-shape in plan view, which is formed of a notch or the like, is formed from the back side of the airbag door base material 223 by pressing or the like, and the canister mounting flange 253 is formed. When the canister fixing through-hole 283 is opened in the portion, the airbag door 203 shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

FIG. 11 shows the airbag door 2 shown in FIG.
4 shows the time of manufacture. In this case, first, in the same manner as in FIGS.
Then, the instrument panel core 113 integrated with the mold is formed. Thereafter, the instrument panel core 113 and the skin 4 integrated with the airbag door base material 223 are formed.
04 is a foam mold 70 for instrument panel molding.
The foaming material H is injected between the skin 404 and the instrument panel core 113, a foam is formed by the foaming, and the molded product is removed from the molded product. As a result, the airbag door 204 shown in FIG. 6 is obtained. Can be

[0033]

As shown and described above, according to the present invention, the flange for mounting the canister on the back side of the airbag door or the base material of the airbag door is located on the outer side (as opposed to the canister) as compared to when it is mounted on the canister. Direction), and then attached to the canister in a state where it is bent inward of the hinge at the flange base. Therefore, when the airbag door with the hinge as a fulcrum is opened into the vehicle, the canister mounting The elongation inside the hinge is reduced by the bending angle after the flange is formed, and breakage and scattering due to the elongation hardly occur. Further, the opening force of the airbag door is assisted by the restoring force of the canister mounting flange against bending after molding, and there is also an effect that the airbag door can be opened more quickly.

According to the manufacturing method of the third aspect of the present invention, not only the effect of preventing the breakage of the hinge portion and scattering and the rapid opening of the airbag door, but also the fixing of the flange portion for mounting the canister to the canister. At this time, it is not necessary to bend the canister mounting flange portion to the inside of the hinge, or it is possible to easily obtain an airbag door that can reduce the degree of bending.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an airbag door showing an embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an open state of the airbag door in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of an injection molding die showing one embodiment of a method for manufacturing an airbag door according to the invention of claim 3;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection molding die when the airbag door base material is arranged.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection mold showing a closed state.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the injection mold showing the state during injection molding.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a foaming mold according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an instrument panel having an airbag door.

13 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of another conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional problem when the airbag door is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 20 Airbag door 22 Airbag door base material 23, 24 Expected cleavage part 25 Canister mounting flange 26 Hinge 50 Airbag device 51 Canister 53 Airbag 60 Injection mold 61 Mold surface 62 Airbag door base material arrangement Surface 64 Slit for flange insertion 70 Foaming mold

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Kuma ▼ Zaki ▲ Hiroyuki 3-136 Imaikecho, Anjo-shi, Aichi F-term in INOAC Corporation Anjo Office (reference) 3D044 BA07 BA11 BB01 BC03 BC07 BC30 BD04 3D054 AA03 AA14 BB09 BB10 BB13 BB16 BB22 BB23 BB24 BB30 DD13 FF04 FF17 4F206 AD05 AD07 AH25 JA07 JB12 JF05 JQ81 JW21 JW41

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A structure of an airbag door in which a canister mounting flange protruding from a back side of the airbag door is fixed to the canister, and the airbag door is opened using a base of the canister mounting flange as a hinge. The structure of an airbag door, wherein the canister mounting flange is fixed to the canister by being bent inwardly of a hinge from its molded state. 2. An airbag door base material is integrally provided on the back side of the airbag door body of the instrument panel core, and a canister mounting flange projecting from the back side of the airbag door base material is fixed to the canister. In a structure of an airbag door in which an airbag door is opened by using a base of the canister mounting flange as a hinge, the canister mounting flange is bent inwardly of the hinge from a molded state thereof, and a resin of the instrument panel core is formed. Is laminated on the outer surface of the canister mounting flange continuously from the general part of the instrument panel core. 3. An airbag door comprising an airbag door main body of an instrument panel core and an airbag door base material integrally provided on the back side thereof, and protruding from the back side of the airbag door base material. The method for manufacturing an airbag door, wherein the canister mounting flange is fixed to the canister and the airbag door is opened with the base of the canister mounting flange as a hinge, wherein the canister mounting flange is fixed to the canister. In addition to placing the airbag door base material molded in a state opened to the outside of the hinge on the mold surface of the injection mold,
Bending the canister mounting flange to the inside of the hinge and inserting and holding it in the slit of the mold surface of the injection mold, injecting molten plastic into the injection mold, and bending the canister mounting flange to the hinge inside The instrument panel core is formed integrally with the airbag door base material, and the resin of the instrument panel core is continuously laminated from the general part of the instrument panel core on the outer surface of the canister mounting flange. A method for manufacturing an airbag door.