JP2002347558A - Door reinforcing member - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a door reinforcing member constructed to absorb impact by allowing a vehicular interior member to be inwardly and concavely deformed. SOLUTION: A striplike expanded part 45 protruding outside and extending in the peripheral direction at a specified length is provided on the wall face of the can body part 23 being the body part of a fixing bracket 21. Thus, when an externally excessive pressing force is exerted to the air bag 12 or its peripheral part, the striplike expanded part 45 is buckingly deformed to push and shrink the can body part 23, allowing the panel base material 11 in the instrument panel 10 to be concavely deformed to properly absorb the impact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a door reinforcing member, and more particularly, to a door reinforcing member provided on a vehicle interior member and a peripheral portion of a back surface of an airbag door and an airbag device installed inside the vehicle interior member. A cylindrical fixed bracket connected and supported therebetween, and a movable bracket connected and supported between the back surface of the airbag door and the fixed bracket, wherein the airbag is actuated by an impact when the airbag device is operated. The present invention relates to a door reinforcing member for preventing damage to a door and surrounding parts.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, most passenger cars are equipped with an airbag device for a driver's seat and an airbag device for a passenger's seat as standard in order to protect an occupant from an impact due to a collision or the like. . Among them, the airbag device for the passenger seat, when the instrument panel 10 as a vehicle interior member is assembled in front of the passenger compartment 17 as shown in FIG. It is equipped with being stored in. For this reason, in the panel base material 11 which is a constituent member of the instrument panel 10, the occupant compartment 1 is located at a position corresponding to the airbag device 30.
An airbag door 12 that opens and displaces toward the side 7 is integrally formed, and when the door 12 is opened from the panel base material 11, an airbag insertion port that allows the passage of an airbag (not shown) is defined. Has become. Airbag door 1
2 is designed such that when subjected to the pressing force of the airbag, the predetermined rupture portions 15 and 16 provided on the panel base material 11 are broken, so that they are separated from the base material 11 and allowed to open. Has become.

Further, since the panel base material 11 which integrally forms the airbag door 12 is a molded material made of a synthetic resin made of polypropylene or the like, the instantaneous operation of the airbag especially at a low temperature is performed. If the airbag door 12 is subjected to a strong pressing force, the airbag door 12 and its surroundings may be greatly damaged by the strong impact. For this reason, the panel substrate 11
In order to prevent breakage and scattering of the panel base material 11 and the airbag door 12 on the back side of the airbag door 12, for example, a metal door reinforcing member 20 is crimped to increase the strength. Measures have been taken. This door reinforcing member 20 is fixed so as to surround the outer edge of the airbag door 12, as shown in FIG. 10, assuming that the airbag door 12 has double door panels 13, 14. The fixed bracket 21 includes a rectangular cylindrical fixed bracket 21, and movable brackets 22, 22 provided inside the opening of the fixed bracket 21 and fixed to the back surfaces of the door panel portions 13, 14.

The fixing bracket 21 of the door reinforcing member 20 is connected to the inflator 3 of the airbag device 30.
1 and a frame-shaped engaging plate portion 24 integrally formed with the cylindrical body portion 23 and caulked to the back side of the panel base material 11. ing.
On the other hand, the movable brackets 22 and 22 have a fixed support plate 25 that is welded or screwed to the cylindrical body 23 of the fixed bracket 21 and a movable reinforcing plate 26 that is caulked to the back surfaces of the corresponding door panel portions 13 and 14. And a hinge-shaped variable connecting portion 27 having a semicircular shape capable of extending and deforming linearly and connecting the fixed support plate 25 and the movable reinforcing plate 26. In the panel base material 11 on which the door reinforcing member 20 is mounted, each of the door panel portions 13 and 14 of the airbag door 12 is connected to the movable brackets 22 and 2.
2, the peripheral portion of the airbag door 12 is reinforced by the fixing bracket 21, so that the airbag door 12 has sufficient strength to withstand a strong pressing force when the airbag is inflated.

[0005]

By the way, the conventional door reinforcing member 20 exemplified above is configured such that when the airbag which expands when the airbag device 30 is actuated presses the airbag door 12 from the inside, the airbag device 12 is provided with the airbag. The main focus has been on preventing the bag door 12 and the surrounding area of the door 12 from being deformed outwardly in a convex manner, and preventing damage due to this. That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cylindrical body portion 23 of the fixing bracket 21 is attached to the airbag device 30.
Is formed into a simple rectangular tube shape that is substantially straight toward the panel base material 11, and when a strong pressing force of an inflating airbag is applied to the panel base material 11, the cylindrical body portion 23 moves in the axial direction. The fact that the panel base material 11 is not deformed in the convex shape due to the fact that the panel base material 11 does not extend to X is suitably controlled.

However, in the fixing bracket 21 having the above-described shape, since the cylindrical portion 23 is unlikely to be compressed and deformed in the axial direction X, an excessive pressing force is applied to the panel base material 11 from the outside. In that case, the panel substrate 11 is also restricted from being concavely deformed inward (toward the airbag device). For this reason, for example, when the occupant thrown forward collides with the airbag door 12 or the surrounding area, the panel base material 11 is not concavely deformed inward and cannot absorb shock. However, there is a problem that the degree of injury of the occupant is increased. That is, the conventional door reinforcing member 20 is mainly used for the airbag door 12 and the panel base material 11 when the airbag device 30 is operated.
In order to prevent the panel base 11 from being inwardly concavely deformed, an impact when an occupant collides with the instrument panel 10 is considered. There was no technical idea to make it possible to absorb.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problem suitably. For example, when an occupant collides with a vehicle interior member, an excessive pressing force is applied to the vehicle interior member from outside. A door reinforcing member configured to allow shock absorption to be appropriately performed by adopting a structure that allows the fixing bracket to be compressed and deformed when the vehicle interior member is concavely deformed inward. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the intended object, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a vehicle, comprising: The airbag device comprises a tubular fixed bracket connected and supported between the airbag device and a movable bracket connected and supported between the back surface of the airbag door and the fixed bracket. In the door reinforcing member configured to prevent damage to the airbag door and peripheral parts due to a shock at the time, the airbag door protrudes outward on a wall surface of a cylindrical body part forming a main body part of the fixed bracket and has a required length in a circumferential direction. An elongated band-shaped bulging portion is provided, and when an excessive pressing force is applied to the airbag door or a peripheral portion from the outside, the band-shaped bulging portion is buckled and deformed outward to form the cylindrical body portion. Shrink Allowed, characterized by being configured to perform a shock absorption by recessed deformation of the vehicle interior member.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a door reinforcing member according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an instrument panel as a vehicle interior member is illustrated, and a double-opening airbag door 12 including two door panel portions 13 and 14 provided on a panel base 11 of the instrument panel 10 is provided. A corresponding door reinforcing member will be exemplified. Therefore, the same members as those already described in the section of the prior art described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an instrument panel as a vehicle interior member in which a door reinforcing member of the present embodiment is implemented, which is cut away at a portion where an airbag door is formed. The instrument panel 10 mainly includes a panel substrate 11 made of injection-molded synthetic resin and, when assembled in front of a passenger compartment 17 of a vehicle, covers an airbag device 30 previously installed and fixed to a vehicle body. It is designed to be stored inside. In the panel base material 11, an airbag door 12 that is opened and displaced toward the passenger compartment 17 is formed integrally with a portion corresponding to the airbag device 30, and the portion 1 to be cleaved along the outer edge of the airbag door 12.
5, 16 are formed. The airbag device 30
Is firmly attached and fixed to a support member 34 fixed to a vehicle body component member such as a reinforcement bar (not shown) using a bolt or the like.

Then, the instrument panel 10
The door reinforcing member 40 of the embodiment disposed on the back side of the panel base material 11 has the same basic configuration as the conventional door reinforcing member 20 shown in FIG. 7, and as shown in FIG. A tubular fixing bracket 21 connected and supported between a peripheral portion of a back surface of the airbag door 12 provided on the panel base material 11 and the airbag device 30 installed inside the panel base material 11, A movable bracket 22 that is connected and supported between the back surface of the airbag door 12 and the fixed bracket 21
It is composed of

The fixing bracket 21 has a rectangular cylindrical shape fixed so as to surround the outer edge of the airbag door 12, and has a rectangular cylindrical shape locked and held by an inflator 31 of the airbag device 30. The body 23 and the cylindrical body 23
And a frame-shaped engaging plate portion 24 which is integrally formed with the panel base material 11 and is caulked in close contact with the back side of the panel base material 11. A locking hole 41 capable of locking with a locking member 33 fixed to the inflator 31 of the airbag device 30 is provided on the opposed wall portion of the cylindrical body portion 23 in total of four.
Each is provided. In addition, a plurality of slit-shaped engaging holes 42 are formed in the engaging plate 24 so as to allow the insertion of the ribs 18 formed on the panel base material 11 side.

In the door reinforcing member 40 of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixing bracket 21 protrudes outward on a wall surface at a substantially intermediate portion of the cylindrical body portion 23 and has a required length in the circumferential direction. A band-shaped bulging portion 45 extending in the direction is formed. The band-shaped bulging portion 45 is provided on the assumption that the collision area of the occupant against the panel base material 11 of the instrument panel 10 is the door panel portion 13 mainly directed to the occupant's seat side and the peripheral portion thereof. Part 2
3 is formed on the front wall surface 23a facing the occupant's seat side, and has a circular arc shape when the cylindrical body portion 23 is broken along the axial direction X. Thereby, the cylindrical body 23
When the pressing force in the axial direction X is applied to the front wall surface 23a, stress concentrates on the band-shaped bulging portion 45.
The band-shaped bulging portion 45 is easily buckled and deformed into a substantially "L" shape on the side while being displaced outward. Therefore, the fixing bracket 2
1 is such that, when an excessive pressing force is applied to the airbag door 12 or its peripheral portion from the outside, the belt-shaped bulging portion 45 is buckled outward in the axial direction X of the cylindrical body portion 23. , The panel substrate 11 (instrument panel 10) is allowed to be concavely deformed inward (toward the airbag device). Note that the above-mentioned “excessive pressing force” is such a pressing force that the occupant's head or the like thrown forward due to a collision or the like collides with the panel base material 11 of the instrument panel 10. You.

That is, the extension of the cylindrical body 23 of the fixing bracket 21 in the door reinforcing member 40 of the embodiment in the axial direction X when receiving the pressing force of the airbag is suitably restricted, while the panel substrate The compression in the axial direction X when receiving an excessive pressing force due to the collision of the occupant with the vehicle 11 or the like is suitably allowed. Note that the tubular body portion 23 is designed to be buckled while the belt-shaped bulging portion 45 is displaced outward as a bending point, so that the airbag device 30 facing the inside of the tubular body portion 23 is formed. Does not interfere with the inflator 31 or the airbag.

The movable brackets 22 are provided inside the opening of the fixed bracket 21 so as to face each other, and correspond to the door panel portions 13 and 14 constituting the airbag door 12, respectively. A fixed support plate 25 fixed to the inside of the cylindrical body portion 21 of FIG. 21, a movable reinforcing plate 26 caulked to the back surfaces of the corresponding door panel portions 13 and 14, and a curved shape capable of linearly extending and deforming. And a plurality of variable connecting portions 27 for connecting the fixed support plate 25 and the movable reinforcing plate 26. The fixed support plate 25 is welded or screwed to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 23 of the fixed bracket 21, and each variable connection portion 27 is formed in a semicircular shape apart from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 23. . The movable reinforcing plate 26 is provided with a plurality of slit-shaped engaging holes 43 that allow the insertion of ribs 19 protruding from the rear surfaces of the corresponding door panel portions 13 and 14.

The fixed support plate 25 of the movable bracket 22 fixed to the door panel portion 13 is fixed to the tubular portion 23 to such an extent that it hardly touches the band-shaped bulging portion 45. Consideration is made so as not to hinder the buckling deformation of the cylindrical body portion 23 at the bending point 45. That is, since the band-shaped bulging portion 45 has the thickness of the cylindrical body portion 23, the band-shaped bulging portion 45 easily bends when a pressing force in the axial direction X is applied and stress is concentrated.

[0017]

Next, the operation of the door reinforcing member according to the embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the operation of the airbag device 30 is started, the inflating airbag (not shown) is moved by the movable reinforcing plate 26,
26, each door panel portion 1 of the airbag door 12
When the airbag devices 30, 14 are pressed from inside, the airbag device 30
Fixed bracket 21 locked to inflator 31
However, it restricts the panel base material 11 from deforming outward (toward the passenger compartment) in a convex manner. That is, even if the fixing bracket 21 has a structure in which the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is provided on the front wall surface 23a of the cylindrical body portion 23, the fixing bracket 21 hardly expands and deforms in the axial direction X of the cylindrical body portion 23. Appropriately restricting outward deformation of the panel base material 11 is appropriately controlled.

In the airbag door 12 which receives the pressing force of the airbag, the to-be-cleaved portion 15 is first broken and the variable connecting portion 27 is deformed linearly, so that the door panel portions 13 and 14 are integrated. From the panel substrate 11 and then, with an appropriate time difference,
Is broken, and the respective door panel portions 13 and 14 are displaced in a double-opening manner. At this time, since the peripheral portion of the airbag door 12 is supported by the fastening plate portion 24 of the fixing bracket 21, the panel base material 11 is provided when the scheduled cleavage portion 15 is broken and when the door panel portions 13 and 14 are displaced.
Is suitably prevented from being damaged.

On the other hand, in the event of a collision or the like in a speed range where the airbag device 30 does not operate, the head of the occupant thrown forward collides with the instrument panel 10 and the like.
When an excessive pressing force is applied to the airbag door 12 and the surrounding area of the panel substrate 11, as shown in FIGS. Since the protrusion 45 is buckled and deformed so as to be displaced outward, the fixed bracket 21 locked and held by the inflator 31 of the airbag device 30 is compressed in the axial direction X on the front wall surface 23a side. Thereby, the panel substrate 11
The airbag door 12 and its surroundings are allowed to be concavely deformed inward (toward the airbag device),
With this deformation, the impact due to the collision of the occupant is appropriately absorbed, and the degree of injury to the occupant can be reduced.

In the movable bracket 22, each of the variable connecting portions 27 is appropriately deformed when the fixed bracket 21 is compressed.
And does not hinder the deformation of the panel substrate 11
(FIG. 5). Moreover, the fixed support plate 25 of the movable bracket 22
Is hardly hung on the band-shaped bulging portion 45, so that the buckling deformation of the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is not hindered. Also, since the tubular body portion 23 is configured to buckle and deform while the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is displaced outward, the inflator 3 of the airbag device 30 facing the inside of the tubular body portion 23 is formed.
Interference with the airbag 1 or the airbag is also avoided. In addition, since the cylindrical body portion 23 is buckled and deformed into a "<" shape using the band-shaped bulging portion 45 formed at a substantially intermediate portion of the front wall surface 23a as a bending point, the amount of compression in the axial direction X is increased. As a result, the efficiency of absorbing impact energy at the time of collision can be increased. Note that the cylindrical body portion 23 can be compressed and contracted from the “U” shape shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 to a completely folded state.

As described above, in the door reinforcing member 40 of the embodiment, when the airbag device 30 is operated, the panel base material 11 of the instrument panel 10 is moved outward (toward the passenger compartment).
While appropriately suppressing the convex deformation, when an excessive pressing force is applied to the panel base material 11 from outside, the band-shaped bulging portion 45 buckles and deforms outward. Cylindrical part 2
3 is compressed in the axial direction X, whereby the fixing bracket 2
Since 1 is compressed in the axial direction X, the panel substrate 11 is preferably allowed to be concavely deformed inward (toward the airbag device). Therefore, for example, when an occupant thrown forward collides with the instrument panel 10 (panel substrate 11), the panel substrate 11 is concavely deformed inward, so that shock absorption is suitably performed. In addition, the degree of injury to the occupant can be significantly reduced to prevent the occurrence of a secondary disaster.

In the above embodiment, the collision area of the occupant against the panel base 11 of the instrument panel 10 is
The front wall surface 23a of the cylindrical body portion 23 adjacent to the door panel portion 13 on the assumption that the door panel portion 13 is mainly directed to the occupant seat side and the peripheral portion thereof.
The case where the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is provided only in (a portion facing the occupant seat side) is illustrated. However, the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is provided on the entire wall surface of the cylindrical body portion 23 on the assumption that sufficient rigidity of the fixing bracket 21 is secured when the airbag device 30 is operated. It may be.
As described above, when the band-shaped bulging portion 45 is provided over the entire circumference of the wall surface of the cylindrical body portion 23, the cylindrical body portion 23 is buckled and compressed as a whole. Depressed deformation in a wide area of the door 12 and the surrounding area is allowed, and thereby the impact absorbing area of the panel substrate 11 can be enlarged.

Further, the formation position, the longitudinal sectional shape, and the like of the band-shaped bulging portion 45 are not limited to those described in the above-described embodiment. For example, the vertical cross-sectional shape of the band-shaped bulging portion 45 may be a “V” shape or the like protruding outward.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the door reinforcing member 40 provided with the band-shaped bulging portion 45, which is connected and supported between the peripheral portion of the back surface of the airbag door 12 and the locking member 33 of the airbag device 30. It is a fragmentary sectional view shown in a state. In the door reinforcing member 40 of this other embodiment, the cylindrical body 23 of the fixed bracket 21 is formed by the first cylindrical body 2 in which the fastening plate 24 is integrally formed.
3A and a second cylindrical member 23B integrally formed with the movable bracket 22. The second
Since the cylindrical body 23B is integrally connected to the fixed support plate 25 of the movable bracket 22, it appears to form a part of the movable bracket 22 in the drawing, but functionally, the second The cylindrical body 23 is composed of the cylindrical body 23B and the first cylindrical body 23A, and the second cylindrical body 23B is
This is a configuration in which the second fixed support plate 25 is also used.
In such a door reinforcing member 40, the fixing bracket 21
A belt-shaped bulging portion 45 that protrudes outward and extends to a required length in the circumferential direction is formed on a wall surface of a substantially intermediate portion of the cylindrical body portion 23, that is, the second cylindrical body 23B. Therefore, when an excessive pressing force is applied to the airbag door 12 or the surrounding area from the outside, the buckling deformation of the band-shaped bulging portion 45 to the outside causes the cylindrical body portion 23 to move in the axial direction X. By compression, the panel base material 11 (instrument panel 10)
Can be concavely deformed inward (toward the airbag device).

In the above embodiment, the door panel 1
Although the door reinforcing member corresponding to the double-sided airbag door 12 consisting of 3, 14 is illustrated, the door reinforcing member targeted by the present application is not limited to the double-sided airbag door, and for example, one sheet A door reinforcing member corresponding to a one-sided airbag door including a door panel is also targeted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the instrument panel 10 is exemplified as the vehicle interior member. However, the airbag door targeted by the door reinforcing member of the present invention is not limited to the one provided on the instrument panel 10. For example, a door reinforcing member implemented in an airbag door for a side airbag provided in a door trim or an airbag door for a curtain airbag provided in a pillar garnish is also an object.

[0028]

As described above, according to the door reinforcing member of the present invention, when an excessive pressing force is applied to the vehicle interior member from the outside, the band-shaped bulging portion buckles outward. As a result, the cylindrical body portion is compressed in the axial direction, whereby the fixing bracket is compressed in the axial direction, so that the vehicle interior member is preferably allowed to be concavely deformed inward. Therefore, for example, when an occupant thrown forward collides with a vehicle interior member, the vehicle interior member is concavely deformed inward to absorb shocks favorably, thereby significantly reducing the degree of injury to the occupant. Reduce 2
It has a very beneficial effect that can prevent the occurrence of the next disaster. The band-shaped bulging portion may be provided partially in the circumferential direction of the wall surface of the cylindrical body portion of the fixing bracket, or may be provided over the entire circumference of the wall surface of the cylindrical body portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an instrument panel as a vehicle interior member in which a door reinforcing member of the present embodiment is implemented, which is cut away at a portion where an airbag door is formed.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken perspective view showing the door reinforcing member of the embodiment in a state where a movable bracket is separated from a fixed bracket.

FIG. 4 shows that when an excessive pressing force is applied to the panel base material from the outside from the state of FIG. 1, the band-shaped bulging portion buckles and deforms, and the cylindrical body portion is compressed in the axial direction. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the panel base material is allowed to inwardly deform in a concave manner.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a door reinforcing member provided with a belt-shaped bulging portion.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the airbag device is connected and supported between a peripheral portion of the back surface of the airbag door and the airbag device.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing an instrument panel as a vehicle interior member in which a conventional door reinforcing member is implemented, which is cut away at a portion where an airbag door is formed.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional door reinforcing member in a state where a movable bracket is separated from a fixed bracket.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel (vehicle interior member) 12 Airbag door 21 Fixed bracket 22 Movable bracket 23 Cylindrical part 30 Airbag device 45 Band-shaped bulging part X-axis direction

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A connection and support between a peripheral portion of a back surface of an airbag door (12) provided on a vehicle interior member (10) and an airbag device (30) installed inside the vehicle interior member (10). And a movable bracket (22) connected and supported between the back surface of the airbag door (12) and the fixed bracket (21), and the airbag device ( 30)
In the door reinforcing member configured to prevent damage to the airbag door (12) and surrounding parts due to an impact at the time of the operation, the wall surface of a cylindrical body (23) forming a main body of the fixing bracket (21), A band-shaped bulging portion (45) projecting outward and extending in a circumferential direction to a required length, wherein when an excessive pressing force is applied to the airbag door (12) or a peripheral portion from outside, the band-shaped bulging portion (45) is formed; The bulging portion (45) is buckled outward to compress and shrink the tubular portion (23), thereby absorbing shock by the concave deformation of the vehicle interior member (10). And door reinforcing members. 2. The swelling portion (45) is provided on the cylindrical portion (23).
2. The door reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the door reinforcing member is partially provided in a circumferential direction at a substantially middle portion of the door. 3. The belt-shaped bulging part (45) is provided in the cylindrical body part (23).
2. The door reinforcing member according to claim 1, wherein the door reinforcing member is provided over the entire circumference in a substantially middle portion of the door.