JP2001213258A - Air-bag system, and its module cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a module cover which prevents cracks from being developed from a through portion along a low-strength portion in a non-emergency, and the air-bag system provided with the module cover. SOLUTION: A tear line is provided in the module cover 22 so that the tear line is torn at a designed line when the air bag system is operated. The tear line comprises a second tear line 36 provided in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body along right and left side edges of the module cover 22, and a first tear line 34 provided in the width direction of the vehicle body at the center of the module cover 22. A slit 40 is provided as the through portion in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction of the tear line 34. A rib 42 is provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slit 40 as a high-strength portion to prevent cracks from developing from the slit 40 to the tear line 34 in a non-emergency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device installed on a high-speed moving body such as an automobile and a module cover thereof, and more particularly, to a module cover having a low-strength portion and a penetration portion for cleaving, and this module. The present invention relates to an airbag device having a cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an airbag device of an automobile is installed on a steering wheel, an instrument panel, or the like. In an emergency such as a collision of an automobile, an inflator (gas generator) is activated, and the airbag is rapidly operated. Swell. In this airbag device, a module cover is provided so as to cover the airbag, and the module cover is provided with a linear low-strength portion (for example, a groove) commonly called a tear line. When the inflator blows out gas and the airbag starts to inflate, the module cover is rapidly torn along the tear line, and the airbag inflates rapidly into the vehicle compartment. Japanese Patent No. 2526171 discloses an airbag device in which a tear portion is provided in a part of the tear line so that the tear can be spread from the through portion in order to further expedite the tearing of the tear line.

[0003]

The above-mentioned patent No. 25261
When a penetration is provided as in No. 71, even in a non-emergency situation where the car has not encountered an accident, cracks may spread along the tear line from this penetration due to the occupant pushing the module cover etc. There is.

An object of the present invention is to provide a module cover that prevents a crack from spreading from a penetrating portion along a low-strength portion in a non-emergency situation, and an airbag device provided with the module cover.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A module cover of an airbag device according to the present invention is a module cover for covering an airbag of an airbag device, and is a linear cover which is torn when the airbag inflates. In a module cover of an airbag device having a strength portion and a penetrating portion provided in a part of the low-strength portion and penetrating the module cover in a thickness direction, the module cover extends along the low-strength portion from the penetrating portion in an emergency. A high-strength portion is provided to prevent the tear from spreading.

The high strength portion is preferably a rib provided near the through portion. This penetrating portion is a slit extending in the extending direction of the low-strength portion, and the rib is preferably disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slit.

In such a module cover, the high-strength portion prevents the crack from spreading from the penetration portion along the low-strength portion in a non-emergency situation.

In the present invention, a member such as an emblem that covers the through portion may be provided to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the airbag device from the through portion, or to protect the vicinity of the through portion.

The airbag device of the present invention includes the module cover of the present invention.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device for a driver's seat according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front surface side of a module cover of the airbag device, and FIG. 3 is a back side of a module cover of the airbag device. Perspective view of the fourth
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an airbag mounting plate called a retainer. An inflator 14 is fitted in an inflator insertion opening 12 at the center of the retainer 10.

The airbag 16 has a receiving port 18 for receiving the distal end side of the inflator 14, and the receiving port 18 is arranged on the periphery of the insertion port 12. The periphery of the air bag receiving port 18 is sandwiched between the holding ring 20 and the periphery of the mounting opening 12. Retainer 1
The flange portion 14f of the inflator 14 is in contact with the back side of 0. A rivet 24 is struck so as to penetrate the holding ring 20, the airbag 16, the retainer 10, and the flange portion 14f, whereby the airbag 16 is fixed to the retainer 10. The airbag 16 is also fixed by bolts (not shown) provided upright on the holding ring 24, and the inflator 14 is fixed to the retainer 10.

The airbag 16 is folded and covered with a module cover 22. The module cover 22 includes a leg 28 that is overlapped with the upright piece 26 of the retainer 10. The leg piece 28 is provided with a pad 30
And it is fixed to the standing piece 26 by the rivet 32.

The module cover 22 is made of a synthetic resin. Note that a reinforcing material such as a mesh may be embedded. The module cover 22 is provided with first and second tear lines 34, 36 so that the module cover 22 is cleaved at a predetermined line when the airbag is activated.

The second tear line 36 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle along the left and right side edges of the module cover 22. The first tear line 34 is the module cover 2
2 extends in the vehicle width direction at the center. Note that when indicating the vehicle longitudinal direction and the width direction, it is assumed that the steering is in a posture in which the vehicle travels straight.

The first tear line 34 extends so as to connect the central portions of the second tear lines 36 and 36 in the longitudinal direction, and the tear lines 34 and 36 have an H shape as shown in FIG. I have. However, the tear lines 34, 36 may be formed in a U-shape or the like by providing the tear lines 34 so as to connect one ends of the tear lines 36, 36 to each other.

In this embodiment, the tear line 3
4 and 36 are all formed of shallow grooves.

A slit 40 is provided near the longitudinal center of the first tear line 34 as a penetrating portion. The slit 40 is provided along the tear line 34 so as to penetrate from the front to the back of the module cover 22 (that is, located on an extension of the tear line 34).

At both ends of the slit 40 in the longitudinal direction,
In the case of a non-emergency, the tear line 34
Ribs 42 as high strength portions to prevent
Is provided. The rib 42 is provided so as to cross the tear line 34 in the width direction. In this embodiment, the rib 42 is provided around the module cover 2 around the rib 42.
Although it is provided so as to be flush with the back surface of No. 2, the height may be lower than that. Further, a notch may be provided in the rib 42. The ribs 42 are integrally formed with the module cover 22 using a synthetic resin.

The module cover 22 has an engaging portion 4 so as to be aligned with a spoke (not shown) of the steering wheel.
6 are formed. Although four engaging portions 46 are provided, two or three engaging portions 46 may be provided.

When a vehicle equipped with the airbag device collides, the inflator 14 operates and the airbag 16
Expands. Then, the module cover 22 is cleaved along the first tear line 34 from the slit 40 as a starting point, and further, the cleavage propagates to the second tear line 36, so that the module cover 22 is greatly opened, and the airbag is placed in the vehicle interior. Swell.

In this case, since the slit 40 is provided, the module cover 22 starts to cleave very quickly.

In this embodiment, the slit 40
The ribs 42 are provided on both sides of the slit 40 so that a crack does not spread from the slit 40 to the tear line 34 in an emergency.

In the above embodiment, the slit 40 is exposed on the upper surface of the module cover 22. However, in order to prevent foreign matter such as dust from entering the inside of the airbag apparatus, the module cover shown in FIGS. A member that covers the slit 40 may be provided like 22A. 7 to 9, the emblem 50 is used as this member.

This emblem 50 is made of a synthetic resin.
A projection 54 inserted into a hole 52 provided near the slit 40 and an enlarged portion 56 at the tip of the projection 54 are integrally provided. The provision of the projection 54 and the enlarged portion 56 prevents the emblem 50 from being displaced or peeled off. The emblem 50 may be adhered to the module cover 22A with an adhesive or an adhesive having a relatively low adhesive strength. Note that the enlarged portion 56 prevents the emblem 50 from scattering when the module cover 22A is split.

Although not shown, a sheet material such as a rubber sheet, a cloth, a rubberized cloth, a synthetic resin sheet, or leather may be attached so as to cover the slit 40 from the back side. By making this sheet-like material black or dark, the slit 40
Becomes inconspicuous.

Although the above embodiment relates to an airbag device for a driver's seat, the present invention can also be applied to an airbag device for a passenger seat, a rear seat, a side seat, and the like.

[0028]

As described above, the airbag apparatus of the present invention and its module cover are very quickly torn when the airbag is inflated. This makes it possible to employ an inflator having a low gas generation pressure. In addition, the airbag device and its module cover are prevented from spreading a crack from a through portion such as a slit in a non-emergency situation, and are excellent in durability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a driver seat airbag device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a module cover of the airbag device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back side of a module cover of the airbag device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line VV of FIG. 4;

6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a module cover according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG.

[Explanation of Signs] 10 Retainer 14 Inflator 16 Airbag 22, 22A Module cover 34, 36 Tea line 40 Slit 42 Rib 50 Emblem

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A module cover that covers an airbag of an airbag device, wherein the module cover is provided on a linear low-strength portion that is cleaved when the airbag inflates, and a part of the low-strength portion. A high-strength portion for preventing a tear from spreading along the low-strength portion from the through portion in a non-emergency case in the module cover of the airbag device having a through portion penetrating the module cover in the thickness direction. Module cover of airbag device characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The module cover according to claim 1, wherein the high-strength portion is a rib provided near the through portion. 3. The slit according to claim 2, wherein the penetrating portion is a slit extending in a direction in which the low-strength portion extends, and the rib is disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slit. Module cover for airbag device. 4. The module cover for an airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a member that covers the through portion. 5. An airbag device comprising the module cover according to any one of claims 1 to 4.