JP2002059801A - Structure of air bag door part of instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the structure of an air bag door part of an instrument panel having a tear line for determining the air bag door part on the instrument panel and a hinge member connected to the air bag door part allowing the air bag door part to be rapidly and smoothly opened when an air bag is inflated. SOLUTION: A strength adjusting means 30 is installed on the hinge member 10 at a plurality of positions in the direction along the tear line 4 of the door side portion 12 thereof. The strength adjusting means 30 is formed of a cut-out and a through hole in the door side portion 12, and the strength thereof is adjusted so that the strength thereof at the portion of the door side portion 12 having the strength adjusting means 30 installed thereon is weaker than that at the other portions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a tear line for defining an airbag door portion on an instrument panel, and connects a hinge member to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. The present invention relates to an airbag door structure of an instrument panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an airbag door structure of this kind,
Conventionally, there has been one disclosed in, for example, JP-A-10-44910. This is because, when the airbag is inflated, the instrument panel is torn at the tear line by this force to push open the airbag door portion, whereby the airbag is opened from the opened airbag deployment opening of the instrument panel. At this time, the opened airbag door portion is supported by the hinge member so as not to come off from the instrument panel.

[0003]

Heretofore, when the airbag is inflated to open the airbag door, the hinge member sometimes hinders the opening of the airbag door. That is, since the door side portion of the hinge member is connected to the airbag door portion, the airbag is reinforced. In order to reduce the labor for attaching the hinge member, it becomes remarkable when a continuous member such as a single hinge member is used over a wide range. As a result, even if the airbag is inflated and pressed against the back side of the airbag door, it takes time for the instrument panel to rupture, and the time between the inflation of the airbag and the timing of opening the airbag door is increased. The displacement sometimes became large.

[0004] When the airbag door is opened, the door portion of the hinge member is attached to the airbag door and comes out to the front side of the instrument panel. At this time, the hinge member is not bent because the hinge-side portion of the hinge member only bends with respect to the support-portion-side portion connected to the door support portion of the instrument panel. In some cases, it was difficult to open the airbag door part sufficiently or it was difficult to open it smoothly.

[0005] As a technique capable of avoiding this opening failure,
Conventionally, there has been one disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-509150. That is, in some cases, a folding portion is provided on a connecting hinge as a hinge member, and when the airbag door portion is opened, the folding portion is folded open, so that there is little resistance to the opening of the airbag door portion. In the case of this technique, it is necessary to provide a specially folded portion, and there is a problem that the production is troublesome and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to quickly open an airbag door while easily attaching a hinge member.
An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag door structure which can be sufficiently smoothly opened and easily obtained.

[0007]

According to a feature of the present invention, a door-side portion of a hinge member connected to an airbag door portion has a plurality of portions in a direction along the tear line of the door-side portion. When the airbag is inflated and presses against the airbag door portion, the strength of the hinge member is lower than that of the stronger portion when the airbag is inflated and pressed against the airbag door. It is easily distorted, such as twisting or bending. When the hinge member has a portion that is easily distorted in this manner, stress tends to concentrate on the tear line portion corresponding to this portion compared to other tear line portions, and the airbag is incised early after being inflated. When a part of the tear line site is cleaved in this way, this part becomes a starting point of the cleavage, and other uncleaved tear line parts are successively cleaved. In this case, the time taken from the inflation of the airbag until the tear line portion is entirely opened is shorter than the time when the tear line portion is opened almost all over at the same time.

In addition, even if a plurality of hinge members are arranged at appropriate intervals in the direction along the tear line, the air is removed while the tear line corresponding between the hinge members becomes the starting point of the cleavage. Although the bag door portion is supported by the hinge members, in this case, it is necessary to attach a large number of hinge members. On the other hand, in the case of the present invention, a small number of hinge members such as a single hinge member are employed, so that the labor required for attaching the hinge member can be reduced, and the starting point of the tear can be formed in a part of the tear line. The airbag door can be supported by the hinge member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, one of the support portion side portion and the door support portion is provided between the support portion side portion connected to the door support portion of the hinge member and the door support portion. The support portion side portion is connected to the door support portion by engagement of the connection hole provided at the other end with the connection body provided at the other side, and the hinge member is supported by the door member by the flexible engagement of the connection hole and the connection body. Since the connecting means is provided on the instrument panel surface side to allow relative movement by a set distance with respect to the part, the airbag is inflated by setting the engagement accommodation to an appropriate size accommodation. When the airbag door is pushed and opened, the hinge member moves to the outside of the instrument panel attached to the airbag door due to engagement and flexibility, and the hinge member is hard to generate tension. bag Or open lightly the air bag door portion is less likely to open resistance of the A section, can so as to increase the open. When the airbag door is opened up to a predetermined opening, thereafter, the sliding movement of the hinge member is stopped and the hinge member is supported by the door support portion, so that the hinge member does not separate the airbag door portion from the instrument panel. Can be supported.

Since the hinge member is displaced by the engagement between the connecting hole and the connecting member, the connecting means for connecting the support part side portion of the hinge member to the door support part is used as the displaceable movement permitting means. Can be shifted, and
If the hinge member is connected to the door support, an assembled state in which the hinge member moves by a set distance when the airbag door is opened can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the strength of the door side portion connected to the airbag door portion of the hinge member in a plurality of portions in the direction along the tear line of the door side portion is increased by the other portions. When the airbag is inflated and pressed against the airbag door, the strength of the hinge member corresponds to a portion where the strength of the hinge member is weaker. Cleavage occurs early in the tear line part, this part is the starting point of cleavage, and other uncleaved tear line parts are successively cleaved, and after the airbag is inflated, the entire tear line part is The time it takes to cleave is shorter than if the tear line sites cleave almost simultaneously throughout. In addition, by adopting a small number of hinge members such as a single hinge member, the labor required for attaching the hinge member is reduced, and the starting point of the tear is formed in a part of the tear line, while the airbag door portion is formed. Is supported by the hinge member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the support portion side portion and the door support portion are provided between the support portion side portion connected to the door support portion of the hinge member and the door support portion. The connecting portion provided on one side of the support member and the connecting member provided on the other side connect the support portion side portion to the door support portion, and the hinge member is connected to the door by flexible engagement between the connecting hole and the connecting member. If a connecting means is provided for allowing relative movement by a set distance on the instrument panel surface side with respect to the support portion, similar to that of the second aspect, the engagement flexibility can be reduced to an appropriate size. By setting, when the airbag is inflated and the airbag door is pushed and opened, the hinge member is attached to the airbag door and moves to the outside of the instrument panel, and the hinge member opens the airbag door. Become a resistance Ku or open lightly the air bag door portion, can so as to increase the open. After the airbag door has been opened to the predetermined opening, the displacement of the hinge member is stopped, and the hinge member can support the airbag door so as not to separate from the instrument panel. Furthermore, if the connecting means for connecting the support portion side portion of the hinge member to the door support portion can be used as the shift movement permitting device, the hinge member can be shifted, and if the hinge member is connected to the door support portion, When the airbag door is opened, the hinge member moves by a set distance and can be assembled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the strength adjusting means is a through hole provided in the door-side portion of the hinge member, the thickness of a portion of the hinge member is made smaller than the thickness of the other portions. In contrast to adopting a means of adjusting the strength by
The strength adjusting means can be obtained simply and easily by simply providing the through holes.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, if the strength adjusting means is a notch provided in the hinge-side portion of the hinge member so as to open toward the tear line, the strength of the hinge member can be reduced. When the airbag is inflated, a strength difference in a direction perpendicular to the tear line is further provided so that the strength of the part near the tear line is weaker than the strength of the part away from the tear line. Of the portions where the strength of the hinge member is weak, the portion closer to the tear line can be more easily distorted than the portion away from the tear line. Thereby, when the airbag is inflated, stress concentration is more likely to occur at the tear starting point of the tear line, and the tearing is more easily performed.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the strength adjusting means is provided in a through hole provided in the door-side portion of the hinge member, and is provided in the hinge-side portion of the hinge member so as to open toward the tear line. When the hinge member has a notch, the strength of the hinge member is reduced in a direction perpendicular to the tee line so that the strength of the portion near the tear line is lower than the strength of the portion away from the tear line. When the airbag is inflated, the portion of the hinge member where the strength is weak is more likely to be distorted in a portion closer to the tear line than in a portion farther from the tear line when the airbag is inflated. . Thereby, when the airbag is inflated, stress concentration is more likely to occur at the tear starting point of the tear line, and the tearing is more easily performed.

In addition, the strength adjusting means can be obtained simply and simply by providing a through hole or a notch.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the strength adjusting means is a dividing groove dividing the door-side portion of the hinge member in a direction along the tear line, the strength of the hinge member is reduced. The strength can be adjusted so that the difference in strength from the strong part is very clear. Thereby, even if the instrument panel and the hinge member are made of any material,
When the airbag is inflated, stress concentration is likely to occur at the tear line starting point of the tear line, so that the tear is easily broken.

If the hinge member is made of a single punched sheet metal, the hinge member can be provided with a predetermined strength adjusting means by punching the sheet metal. Further, the hinge member can be mounted only by attaching one hinge member.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an instrument panel 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as an instrument panel 1).
At one end in the lateral direction of the instrument panel 2
A plurality of rectangular airbag door portions 2, a hinge member 10 for supporting each airbag door portion 2, a receiving member 7 located on the back side of both lateral ends of each airbag door portion 2, and both airbag door portions. A reinforcing wall 3 formed in an annular shape surrounding the instrument panel 1 and protruding from the back side of the instrument panel 1, and an airbag device 20 in which the airbag 21 is located inside the reinforcing wall 3 are connected to the back side of the instrument panel 1. To form an airbag system on the passenger seat side. The details are configured as follows.

The instrument panel 1 is made of a polypropylene resin (P
P) and made of a hard-type resin instrument panel. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, etc., on the back side of the instrument panel 1, a first lateral cut 4 in a direction along the instrument panel lateral direction, and a left end of the first lateral cut 4 passes in the instrument panel front-back direction. A longitudinal cut 5 along
A front-rear cut 5 extending in the front-rear direction of the instrument panel through a right end of the first lateral cut 4;
By providing a second lateral cut 6 parallel to the first lateral cut 4 on the instrument panel front side and the instrument panel rear side of the lateral cut 4 by laser processing,
The two airbag door sections 2 are defined.

That is, the cutting depth of the first lateral cut 4 and the left and right longitudinal cuts 5 becomes deeper than the cutting depth of the two second lateral cuts 6, and the first lateral cut 4 and the two lateral cuts 5 are formed. Front and rear notch 5
The thickness of the instrument panel 1 at the portion where
The depths of the cuts 4, 5, 6 are set so as to be 0.4 mm. As a result, the first lateral cut 4 becomes a tear line that is a planned tear line in the instrument panel sideways, and the two front and rear cuts 5 become a tear line that is a planned tear line in the instrument panel front and rear direction. Therefore, hereinafter, the first lateral cut is referred to as a lateral tear line 4, and the two longitudinal cuts are referred to as a longitudinal tear line 5. The lateral tear line 4 and a portion of the two frontward tear lines 5 located on the front side of the instrument panel with respect to the lateral tear line 4 define the front side airbag door portion 2. The part of the front-rear tier line 5 located on the rear side of the instrument panel with respect to the horizontal tier line 4 defines the rear airbag door portion 2. A second lateral cut 6 located on the front side of the instrument panel of the lateral tear line 4 sets a pivot point when the airbag door portion 2 on the front side of the instrument panel opens, and a second lateral cut 6 located on the instrument panel rear side of the lateral tear line 4. The two lateral cuts 6 define a pivot point when the airbag door portion 2 on the rear side of the instrument panel opens.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hinge member 10 supporting each airbag door portion 2 has a door-side portion having a plurality of connecting holes 11 arranged in a lateral direction and a front-rear direction of the instrument panel 1. 12 is provided on one end side, and is formed of a single sheet metal member punched to provide a support portion side portion 14 having a plurality of mounting holes 13 arranged in the lateral direction of the instrument panel 1 on the other end side. 1 and 2 is connected to the back side of the airbag door portion 2 by the connecting structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the support portion side portion 14 is connected to the front portion 3a and the rear portion 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 by the mounting structure shown in FIG. By being attached to the inner surface of the instrument panel, the rear surface of the airbag door portion 2 is connected to the front portion 3a and the rear portion 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 as a door support portion of the instrument panel 1.

The connecting structure for connecting the door-side portion 12 of each hinge member 10 to the airbag door portion 2 is integrally formed with the airbag door portion 2 so as to protrude to the rear side of the airbag door portion 2. The door-side part 12 is formed by the plurality of connecting protrusions 2a and a caulking part provided on the front end side of the door-side part 12 of each connecting protrusion 2a protruding from the connection hole 11. 2 is configured to be attached to the back surface side.

The mounting structure in which the support portion side portion 14 of each hinge member 10 is mounted on the reinforcing wall portion 3 includes a plurality of laterally and outwardly protruding side walls of the airbag case 22 of the airbag device 20. A stopper 22 configured to be connected to the connecting body 22a and the bottom of the airbag case 22 so that the base end side can be detachably connected thereto by a connecting bolt 26.
3, the support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10 is attached to the reinforcing wall portion 3 using an airbag device mounting structure for mounting the airbag device 20 to the front and rear side portions 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3.
It is configured to be attached to the front / rear side portion 3a.

That is, the airbag device mounting structure is as follows:
The plurality of connecting bodies 22a are individually inserted into connecting holes 3b formed of a plurality of through holes provided in the front and rear portions 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 so as to correspond to the plurality of connecting bodies 22a, respectively. The retaining tongue piece 23a provided on the distal end side of the retaining bracket 23 serves as a reinforcing wall portion 3 of the connecting body 22a.
The end protruding outward from a is inserted into the through hole 22b of the connector 22a to prevent the connector 22a from coming off the reinforcing wall portion 3a.

The plurality of connectors 22a are connected to the hinge member 1
The plurality of connection holes 13 provided in the support portion side portion
Are inserted separately to lock the support portion side portion 14 to the reinforcing wall portion 3a, so that the hinge member 10
Is connected to the reinforcing wall portion 3a.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, by connecting the airbag device 20 to the reinforcing wall portion 3a, a connecting body 22a provided on the reinforcing wall portion 3a is provided.
And the connection hole 13 provided in the support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10, the support portion side portion 1 of the hinge member 10
A connecting means 18 is connected to connect the reinforcing member 4 to a reinforcing wall portion 3a as a door supporting portion of the instrument panel 1. Each hinge member 1
0 in the vertical direction of the connection hole 13 in the support portion side portion 14 of the connection body 22a of the airbag device 20.
The size of the connecting hole 13 and the connecting body 22a is larger than that of the connecting hole 13 in the vertical direction.

Thus, the connecting means 18 is connected to the connecting body 22
a of the hinge member 10 is connected to the reinforcing wall portion 3a as a door support portion of the instrument panel 1 by the engagement of the connection hole 13 with the support hole 14a of the hinge member 10.
Can be supported by the instrument panel 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), when the airbag 21 is inflated and pushes open the airbag door portion 2, the hinge member 10 is attached to the airbag door portion 2 for the above-mentioned engagement and accommodating.
Can be shifted outward by a set distance determined by the difference in size between the connection hole 13 and the connection body 22a. As the set distance, the airbag door portion 2 is opened to an opening required for deployment of the airbag 21 into the room, and thereafter, the sliding movement of the hinge member 10 is stopped and the hinge member 10 is supported by the reinforcing wall portion 3a, The hinge member 10 is the airbag door 2
Is set so as not to be separated from the instrument panel 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first and second notches 31, 32 are provided at a plurality of locations in the direction along the horizontal tear line 4 of the door-side portion 12 of each hinge member 10.
Is provided. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the strength adjusting means 30 is opened at the end of the door-side portion 12 on the side of the horizontal tear line toward the horizontal tear line 4, and in the front-rear direction of the door-side portion 2. The first cutout 31 provided in an elongated shape, and the end of the door-side portion 12 on the side of the second cut-away side is opened toward the second cut-out 6; The second notch 32 provided in a shape elongated in the direction, and arranged between the second notch 32 and the first notch 31 so as to line up with the second notch 32 in the front-rear direction of the door side portion 12. A through hole 33 provided in the shape of a long and narrow hole, and arranged near the lateral side of the through hole 33 in a line in the front-rear direction of the door side portion 12;
2, a pair of elongated through-holes 34, 34 provided in the shape of elongated holes in the front-rear direction. The strength of the door-side portion is adjusted as follows. That is, the strength against twisting and bending at a plurality of portions of the door side portion 12 arranged in the direction along the lateral tear line 4, that is, the portions provided with the notches 31 and 32 and the through holes 33 and 34, is notch 31. , 3
2 and the through holes 33 and 34, the strength is adjusted so as to be weaker than the strength against torsion or bending in other parts. Thereby, when the airbag 21 is inflated and pressed, the door-side portion 12 is twisted so that the opening of the first notch 31 is widened at the portion where the strength is weakened, or inflated to the outer surface side of the instrument panel 1. It is easy to bend into a state of bending. Each notch 31, 32 of each strength adjusting means 30
When the hinge member 10 is formed by punching a sheet metal material, the through holes 33 and 34 are simultaneously formed by the punching process.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the receiving members 7 has a lateral side 7b having a plurality of mounting holes 7a.
And a sheet metal member bent and formed so as to have a vertical side portion 7c bent at a right angle to the horizontal side portion 7b, and a back side of a portion of the instrument panel 1 located on the side of the airbag door portion 2. The lateral side portion 7b is attached to the back side of the lateral portion of the instrument panel 1 by an attaching projection which is provided so as to project into the attaching hole 7a. And
Each receiving body 7 receives and supports the lateral end portion of the airbag door portion 2 from the back side at the lateral side portion 7b. Thus, even when a load is applied to the front side of the instrument panel 1 such as when the head of the occupant hits the instrument panel 1 due to a brake operation, the airbag door portion 2 is received and supported from the back side by the receiving body 7 and is hardly distorted. Cracks and cracks are less likely to occur in the lateral tear line 4 and the front and rear tear line 5 of the instrument panel 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag device 20 is configured such that the front side of the side wall portion is connected to the connecting hole 3 b in the front side portion 3 a of the reinforcing wall portion 3, and the rear side portion of the reinforcing wall portion 3. The rear side of the side wall portion is connected to the connection hole 3b in 3a by the mounting structure shown in FIG. 1 and the like, and the bottom portion is connected via the mounting arm 24 to the lateral support bar 9 connected to the vehicle body. The airbag case 22 includes the airbag 21, the airbag 21 stored in a folded state in the airbag case 22, and an inflator 25 attached to the airbag case 22.

As described above, when an impact is applied to the vehicle body and the inflator 25 of the airbag device 20 operates, the airbag 21 expands due to the operation of the inflator 25 and presses the rear surface of each airbag door portion 2. Due to this pressing action, the first cutout 31 is twisted so that the opening of the first cutout 31 is opened at a portion where the strength of the door side portion 12 of each hinge member 10 is weakened, or swells to the outer surface side of the instrument panel 1. Bending distortion occurs, and stress concentration occurs in a portion of the lateral tear line 4 corresponding to this portion, thereby causing cleavage. Then, starting from this cleavage, the other uncleaved lateral tear line portions are successively cleaved, and the left and right front-rear tear lines 5 are cleaved. After this, the airbag 21 also presses the airbag door portion 2 on the front side and the airbag door portion 2 on the rear side by the inflation force, so that the airbag 21 on the front side as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The door side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 in which the door portion 2 is connected to the airbag door portion 2 on the front side of the instrument panel and the rear airbag door portion 2 is connected on the rear side of the instrument panel.
Open with. At this time, each hinge member 10 is
Due to the engagement between the 2a and the connection hole 13, the airbag door 2 is displaced to the outside of the instrument panel 1 so that the airbag door 2 can be lightly opened to a predetermined opening degree. When both airbag doors 2 are opened, the airbag deployment port of the instrument panel 1 opens, and the airbag 21 is deployed into the room from the airbag deployment port. At this time, each airbag door portion 2 is supported by the hinge member 10 so as not to be separated from the instrument panel 1.

[Another Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows the structure of an airbag door portion provided with another embodiment. In this structure, the door-side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 is directed sideways along the tear line 4. A plurality of divided portions 12a and divided grooves 3
The strength of the door-side portion 12 is adjusted by the plurality of divided grooves 36. That is, in the plurality of portions of the door side portion 12 which are arranged in the direction along the horizontal tear line 4, the dividing groove 36
The strength is adjusted so that the strength against torsion and bending is weaker than other parts having no.

Thus, when the airbag 21 is inflated and pressed, the door-side portion 12 is twisted so that the divided groove 36 expands at a portion where the strength is weakened by the divided groove 36, or the outer surface of the instrument panel 1 is expanded. It tends to be distorted in a state of bending or bulging to the side. Each of the divided grooves 36 is simultaneously formed by punching out a sheet metal material when forming the hinge member 10 by punching.

FIG. 8 shows a structure of an airbag door portion provided with still another embodiment. In this structure, a plurality of locations in the direction along the lateral tear line 4 of the door side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 are shown. A through hole 37 is provided in the through hole 37, and the strength of the door-side portion 12 is adjusted by the through hole 37. That is, each through-hole 37 is an elongated hole extending in the front-rear direction of the door-side portion 12, and a plurality of portions of the door-side portion 12 arranged in a direction along the lateral tear line 4, that is, portions provided with the through-hole 37. The strength of the through hole 37 is adjusted so that the strength against torsion or bending at the portion is weaker than the strength against torsion or bending at another portion.

Thus, when the airbag 21 is inflated and pressed, the door-side portion 12 is twisted so that the lateral width of the through-hole 37 is widened at the portion where the strength is weakened by the through-hole 37, or the instrument panel 1 is pressed. Easily bends so as to swell toward the outer surface of the device. Each of the through holes 37 is simultaneously formed by punching a sheet metal material to form the hinge member 10.

In order to adjust the strength of the door-side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 as described above, as described in the above embodiment, the notches 31, 32, the through holes 33, 34, 37, a combination thereof, In addition to using the thickness of 36, the thickness difference of the part where the strength is weakened is made smaller than the thickness of the other parts, or this thickness difference is combined with the notch or through hole. May be employed.

The support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10 is connected to the reinforcing wall portion 3a by the engagement between the connection body 22a and the connection hole 13.
And the relative movement of the hinge member 10 with respect to the reinforcing wall portion 3a by the engagement between the connecting member 22a and the connecting hole 13 allows the connecting member 22a to be connected to the reinforcing wall portion 3a as in the above embodiment. In addition to providing the connection hole 13 in the support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10, the connection body 22a is provided in the support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10, and the connection hole 13 is provided in the reinforcement wall portion 3a. May be implemented.

[0039]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the tear line portion corresponding to the portion where the strength of the hinge member is weak serves as a cleavage starting point, so that the tear line can be rapidly split over the entire tear line portion. Then, the airbag door portion is quickly opened, and the airbag is quickly deployed in the room. In addition, a small number of hinge members, such as a single hinge member, are employed, so that the labor for attaching the hinge members can be reduced and productivity can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the hinge member is displaced and is unlikely to become the opening resistance of the airbag door, so that the airbag door can be quickly and smoothly opened or enlarged. When opened, the airbag deploys quickly and smoothly into the room. In addition, by using the connecting means as the shift movement permitting means, the structure can be obtained simply and the cost can be reduced. In addition, by simply connecting the hinge member to the door support, the assembly can be easily obtained and the productivity can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, a part of the tear line serves as a cleavage starting point, and the tearing proceeds promptly to the entire tear line portion, and the hinge member is displaced and moved to move the airbag. Since the opening resistance of the door portion is not easily reduced, the airbag door portion opens quickly and smoothly or opens widely, and the airbag is quickly and smoothly deployed in the room. In addition, a small number of hinge members, such as a single member, can be employed to reduce the labor for mounting the hinge members, and the hinge members can be easily assembled simply by connecting the hinge members to the door support, thereby improving productivity. Utilizing the connecting means as the shift movement permitting means, the structure can be simply obtained and the cost can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the strength adjusting means can be obtained with a simple structure and easy processing, and also from the aspect of the strength adjusting means, can be easily and inexpensively obtained.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the portion serving as the tearing start point of the tear line is more rapidly split, and the tearing of the entire tear line proceeds more quickly, and the airbag door portion is formed. Open more quickly and the airbag deploys more quickly into the room.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the portion serving as the tearing start point of the tear line is more rapidly opened, and the tearing of the entire tear line proceeds more quickly, and the airbag door portion is opened. Open more quickly and the airbag deploys more quickly into the room. For that reason, the strength adjusting means can be obtained at a very low cost by obtaining the structure and processing easily.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the difference between the portion where the strength of the hinge member is weak and the portion where the strength is strong is extremely clear, and when the airbag is inflated, the portion where the tear line starts to be cleaved quickly. The tearing proceeds more quickly across the tear line, opening the airbag door more quickly and deploying the airbag more quickly into the room.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a hinge member having strength adjusting means easily and inexpensively by simply punching a sheet metal. Further, the hinge member can be quickly mounted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of an airbag system.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal rear view of the airbag system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the airbag system in an exploded state.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a hinge member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a strength adjusting means.

6A is a cross-sectional view of the connecting means when the airbag door is closed, and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the connecting means when the airbag door is open.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a door-side portion of a hinge member according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a door-side portion of a hinge member according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 2 Airbag 3a Door support part 4 Tear line 10 Hinge member 12 Door side part 13 Connection hole 14 Support part side part 18 Connection means 22a Connection body 30 Strength adjustment means 31,32 Notch 33,34,37 penetration Hole 36 Division groove

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3D044 BA07 BA14 BA16 BB01 BC03 BC13 3D054 AA03 AA14 BB09 BB10 BB13 BB23 BB24 DD11 FF17

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An instrument panel having a tear line defining an airbag door portion provided on an instrument panel, and a hinge member connected to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. In the airbag door structure of the above, the door-side portion connected to the airbag door portion of the hinge member, the strength of a plurality of portions in the direction along the tear line of this door-side portion in other portions An airbag door structure of an instrument panel provided with strength adjusting means for weakening the strength. 2. An instrument panel, wherein a tear line defining an airbag door portion is provided on an instrument panel, and a hinge member is connected to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. An airbag door portion structure according to claim 1, further comprising: a support portion side portion connected to a door support portion of the hinge member; and the door support portion; and one of the support portion side portion and the door support portion. The support portion side portion is connected to the door support portion by engagement of the provided connection hole with the connection member provided on the other side, and the hinge member is connected to the door support portion by flexible engagement between the connection hole and the connection member. An airbag door structure of an instrument panel provided with connecting means for allowing relative movement by a set distance on the front side of the instrument panel. 3. An instrument panel having a tear line defining an airbag door portion provided on an instrument panel, and a hinge member connected to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. In the airbag door structure of the above, the door-side portion connected to the airbag door portion of the hinge member, the strength of a plurality of portions in the direction along the tear line of this door-side portion in other portions One of the support portion side portion and the door support portion, between the support portion side portion connected to the door support portion of the hinge member and the door support portion, comprising strength adjusting means for weakening the strength member; The connecting portion provided on the other side, the supporting portion side portion is connected to the door supporting portion by engagement with the connecting member provided on the other side, and the engagement between the connecting hole and the connecting member is flexible. Air bag door portion structure of the instrument panel which is provided with connecting means for allowing the hinge member is only moved relative set distance on the instrument panel surface side of the door supporting section I. 4. The airbag door structure of an instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the strength adjusting means is a through hole provided in the door-side portion of the hinge member. 5. The airbag door part of an instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the strength adjusting means is a notch provided in the door-side portion of the hinge member so as to open toward the tear line. Construction. 6. The strength adjusting means comprises a through hole provided in the door side portion of the hinge member, and a notch provided in the door side portion of the hinge member so as to open toward the tear line. The airbag door structure of the instrument panel according to claim 1 or 3. 7. The airbag door structure of an instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the strength adjusting means is a dividing groove dividing the door-side portion of the hinge member in a direction along the tear line. . 8. The airbag door structure of an instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the hinge member is formed of one sheet metal.