JP2003252140A - Air bag device for pedestrian - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag device for a pedestrian that smoothly opens a door part covering a stored air bag, can expand the air bag rapidly, and has high mounting workability to a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: In the air bag device for the pedestrian, an air bag 56 is folded and stored under a cowl louver 18 made of synthetic resin longitudinally along the cowl louver 18, and gas for expansion delivered from an inflator is made to flow into the air bag to expand and project the air bag upward. The cowl louver 18 has a door part 26 that covers the above part of the folded and stored air bag 56, is pressed by the air bag 56 during the expansion to open on the front side or the rear side of the vehicle, and is bent to project the center of the front and rear edges 26d to the front side. The door part 26 is formed integrally with the cowl louver 18 and has a smoothly openable expansion promoting means PM. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is folded and stored below a cowl louver that is curved between the hood panel of a vehicle and a windshield and extends along the lower end of the windshield. The present invention relates to a pedestrian airbag device including an airbag that is capable of protecting a pedestrian by allowing an inflation gas discharged from an inflator to flow in, expanding and inflating so as to project upward.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a pedestrian airbag device having the above-mentioned structure, there has been a structure shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-108903. The airbag device described in FIGS. 7 and 8 in the above publication includes an airbag that is folded and stored in a long shape along the rear edge side of the hood panel below the rear edge of the hood panel, and an airbag. A door portion that covers the upper side of the bag and can be opened to the vehicle rear side when the airbag is deployed and inflated is provided. In this airbag device, the hood panel is curved on the rear edge side so that the center in the left-right direction is projected forward along the curved shape near the lower end of the windshield arranged on the rear side. The door portion that covers the upper side of the folded airbag is also curved and long along the shape of the rear edge of the hood panel.

That is, in the airbag device having the above-described structure, the door portion is formed into a curved and long shape, and the hinge portion on the trailing edge side of the door portion, which is the center of rotation when the door portion is opened, is curved. Since the airbag is curved along the shape, the door portion is difficult to open smoothly when the airbag is deployed and inflated, which may cause a problem in quickly deploying and inflating the airbag. .

Further, in the airbag device having the above structure, since the door portion is arranged on the rear edge side of the hood panel itself, the interference of the hood panel with the door portion when the hood panel is opened and closed is taken into consideration. Since it is necessary to assemble the airbag device, it is troublesome to assemble the airbag device to the vehicle.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the door portion for covering the accommodated air bag can be smoothly opened to rapidly deploy and inflate the air bag, and the air bag can be assembled into a vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pedestrian airbag device having good workability.

[0006]

In a pedestrian airbag device according to the present invention, an airbag is disposed between a hood panel of a vehicle and a windshield so as to be curved along the lower end of the windshield. Under the synthetic resin cowl louver, it is folded and stored in a long shape along the cowl louver, and the expansion gas discharged from the inflator flows in and expands and expands so as to project upward. A pedestrian airbag device capable of protecting a pedestrian, wherein the cowl louver covers the upper side of the folded and accommodated airbag and is pushed by the airbag at the time of deployment and inflation to the front side of the vehicle. And / or a door portion that is openable to the rear side and is curved so that the center of the front and rear edges project toward the front side, and the door portion is formed integrally with the cowl louver. Rutotomoni, characterized in that it is configured to include a deployment promoting means capable smoothly opened.

Further, it is preferable that the door portion is made of a thermoplastic elastomer as the expansion promoting means.

Further, the door portion may be formed of a plurality of split doors which are divided in the left-right direction of the vehicle to serve as the expansion promoting means.

[0009]

According to the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention,
Since the deployment promoting means is arranged in the door portion integrally formed with the cowl louver made of synthetic resin, the door portion is
Even if the hinge portion on the front edge side and / or the rear edge side of the door portion, which is a long shape curved along the cowl louver and serves as a rotation center when the door portion is opened, is arranged in a curved shape, When the bag is expanded and inflated, by the expansion promoting means,
The door can be opened smoothly.

Further, in the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, the airbag is folded between the hood panel of the vehicle and the windshield below the cowl louver that is curved along the windshield. Since it is arranged in the above manner, it is not necessary to consider the interference of the hood panel with the airbag device when the hood panel is opened and closed, and the assembly work of the airbag device to the vehicle is not hindered. In the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, since the door portion that covers the stored airbag is configured by the cowl louver itself that is a member that configures the vehicle, the number of parts that configure the vehicle is reduced. Therefore, the number of man-hours for assembling the airbag device to the vehicle can be reduced.

Therefore, according to the pedestrian airbag device of the present invention, the door portion for covering the stored airbag can be smoothly opened, and the airbag can be rapidly deployed and inflated, and it can be mounted on the vehicle. Good workability.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the door itself is formed of the thermoplastic elastomer, the door itself is slightly pushed by the airbag when the door is opened. Therefore, the hinge portion on the front edge side or the rear edge side of the door portion, which becomes the center of rotation when the door portion is opened, is arranged to be curved along the cowl louver. The door portion is not damaged and is pushed by the expanding and inflating airbag to open smoothly, and the airbag can be rapidly expanded and inflated.

Further, in the case of the structure as set forth in claim 3, when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the airbag is pushed by the airbag and a plurality of split doors are opened along the left-right direction of the vehicle. It will be. That is, even if the hinge portion of the entire split door, which serves as the center of rotation when the door portion is opened, is arranged curved along the cowl louver, the door portion is divided into a plurality of split doors arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Since it is divided, the portion of the hinge portion that serves as the center of rotation when each split door is opened is in a linearly approximated state. Even if the door itself is curved along the cowl louver, the left and right ends of the adjacent split doors may overlap or separate to open, and the door may expand or contract. It is difficult for force to act on each split door. Therefore, even if the door portion is made of a hard material, the door portion will not be partially damaged and will be pushed by the expanding and inflating airbag to open smoothly. As a result, the entire door can be smoothly opened, and the airbag can be rapidly deployed and inflated.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the front-rear, up-down, left-right directions in the embodiments are the up-down directions of the vehicle, the front-rear direction of the vehicle is the front-rear direction, and the left-right direction when the rear side is viewed from the front side of the vehicle unless otherwise specified. As the directions, the front, rear, upper, lower, left and right directions are shown.

1 to 5 show a pedestrian airbag device (hereinafter abbreviated as "airbag device") M1 which is an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag device M1 is arranged at a portion of the cowl 12 between the hood panel 3 and the windshield 5 of the vehicle V, and includes a folded airbag 56 and an airbag 56. And an inflator 46 that supplies an expansion gas.

In the embodiment, the cowl panel 13 includes the airbag cover having the door portion 26 for covering the folded airbag 56 and the portion 41 as a case for accommodating the airbag 56 and the inflator 46.
It is composed of a cowl louver 18 disposed above the.

The cowl 12 comprises a cowl panel 13 having high rigidity on the body 1 side and a cowl louver 18 above the cowl panel 13.

The vehicle V has a front bumper 9,
A sensor 10 capable of detecting or predicting a collision with a pedestrian is provided, and an airbag operating circuit (not shown) operates the inflator 46 when a signal for detecting or predicting a collision with a pedestrian is input from the sensor 10. Let the airbag 56
Is configured to expand and inflate.

In the case of the illustrated example, the cowl panel 13 is constructed by welding panel materials 14, 15 and 16 made of three steel plates, and a flow path for guiding the air A flowing from the cowl louver 18 side to the indoor side. 13 a and a flow path 13 b for allowing rainwater flowing in from the cowl louver 18 side to be dropped from both left and right edges of the vehicle V.

The front edge of the windshield 5 is fixed to the body 1 side such as the cowl panel 13 using an adhesive 33.

The cowl louver 18 is arranged so as to be curved along the lower end 5a of the windshield 5 so that the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction is projected toward the front side of the vehicle. The cowl louver 18 and the main body 19 are both made of polypropylene. The lower side member 35 is provided. The main body 19 is arranged above the folded airbag 56 to form an airbag cover. The lower surface side member 35 is arranged on the lower surface side of the main body 19 and forms a storage recess 43 for storing the airbag 56 and the inflator 46 between the lower surface side member 35 and the main body 19. As the polypropylene (PP) forming the main body 19 and the lower surface side member 35, it is preferable to use one having excellent impact resistance. Specifically, homo PP, a copolymer of PP and a small amount of an olefinic monomer, PP containing a fibrous filler imparting impact resistance, and further soft polypropylene such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPR). The thing containing the component etc. can be illustrated.

The main body 19 is arranged in a crescent-shaped space between the rear edge 3a of the hood panel 3 and the windshield 5 so as to extend to the vicinity of both left and right edges of the vehicle V. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main body 19 includes an upper wall portion 20 arranged substantially horizontally and a front vertical wall portion 28 extending downward from the front end of the upper wall portion 20. Thus, the cross section in the vehicle front-rear direction has a substantially inverted L shape.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper wall portion 20 has a crescent shape when viewed from above, and a weather strip 31 into which the lower end 5a of the windshield 5 is fitted is integrally provided at the rear end 20a. . A plurality of insertion holes 22 for allowing air or the like to flow to the cowl panel 13 side are formed on the rear portion side of the upper wall portion 20. Further, through holes 21 through which the wiper 11 penetrates are formed in the upper wall portion 20 at two locations. A door portion 26 is provided on the front side of the upper wall portion 20 so as to cover an upper portion of the folded and accommodated airbag 56 and to be opened by being pushed by the airbag 56 during deployment and inflation.

The door portion 26 is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer such as olefin thermoplastic elastomer or styrene thermoplastic elastomer which can be fused with polypropylene constituting the main body 19 by heat during molding (in the embodiment, It is formed of an olefinic thermoplastic elastomer) and is integrally formed with the main body 19. In the embodiment, the configuration in which the door portion 26 is formed of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer is the deployment promoting means PM for smoothly opening the door portion 26. Further, the door portion 26 is arranged at a position above the storage recess 43, and when viewed from above, the substantially crescent moon curved so that the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the front and rear edges 26c, 26d is projected to the vehicle front side. It is said to be a state. And, the door portion 26, the rear edge 26d side,
The hinge portion 25 when opened is configured to open to the vehicle rear side. That is, the hinge portion 25 is formed by the main body 19
A curved shape is formed along the door portion 26 so that the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction protrudes toward the vehicle front side. A thin rupturable portion 24 that can be ruptured by being pushed by the airbag 56 is formed in a U-shaped portion on the periphery of the door portion 26 excluding the hinge portion 25 side. The hinge portion 25 is configured as an integral hinge. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the left and right ends 26a and 26b of the door portion 26 are arranged at positions that are located closer to the vehicle center side than the lower ends 7a of the left and right front pillars 7L and 7R (see FIGS. 2 and 6). ).

When the opening is completed, the door portion 26 is disposed below the windshield 5 so as to cover the front portion side of the wiper 11 at the initial position which is disposed substantially in the left-right direction of the vehicle. (See the chain double-dashed lines in Figures 3 and 4).

The front vertical wall portion 28 is formed by bending the front portion side of the main body 19 downward to form a wall portion on the front portion side of the storage recess 43. Further, the hood panel 3 is provided with a rear vertical wall portion 3d arranged vertically on the rear end 3a side. Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the front vertical wall portion 28 is arranged along the vertical direction so as to approach the rear vertical wall portion 3d of the hood panel 3 from the vehicle rear side and closely face the rear vertical wall portion 3d. ing. The front vertical wall portion 28 is provided with a flange portion 29 arranged on the lower end side so as to be bent forward. A weather strip 32 for sealing the lower surface 3b on the rear end 3a side of the hood panel 3 is attached to the collar portion 29. The weather strip 32 is disposed so as to be capable of pressure contact over substantially the entire area in the left-right direction on the rear end 3a side of the hood panel 3. Further, the collar portion 29 has an airbag 5
A plurality of insertion holes 29a, through which bolts 68 for attaching and fixing a mounting piece 64 of 6 to be described later to the cowl louver 18 together with the cowl louver 18, can be inserted (in the embodiment, 4
Formed).

Further, a fixing projection 30 projecting downward is arranged at a plurality of locations on the collar portion 29 which is a peripheral edge portion of the storage recess 43 and a portion near the hinge portion 25 of the upper wall portion 20. It is set up. These fixing projections 30 connect and fix the main body 19 and the lower surface side member 35, and are configured integrally with the main body 19. In the case of the embodiment, each of the fixing protrusions 30 has a flange portion 37.4 of the lower surface side member 35 described later.
By inserting the holes 37a and 40a formed in 0 into the holes 37a and 40a and melting and solidifying the tip 30a so as to expand the diameter thereof, the main body 19 and the lower surface side member 35 are separated from each other in the vehicle front-rear direction in the storage recess 43. They are connected to each other in the vicinity (see FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, the lower surface side member 35 is provided with a vertical wall portion 36 and a bottom wall portion 38, and the cross section in the vehicle front-rear direction has a substantially inverted L shape. The vertical wall portion 36 is formed so as to extend downward from the vicinity of the lower end of the hinge portion 25. The bottom wall portion 38 is arranged so as to extend from the vicinity of the lower end of the vertical wall portion 36 to the vicinity of the lower end of the front vertical wall portion 28 of the main body 19 along the substantially horizontal direction toward the vehicle front side.
Further, on both end sides of the lower surface side member 35 in the vehicle left-right direction, side wall portions 41, 41 that close both left and right sides of the storage recess 43.
Are provided. These side wall portions 41, 41 are disposed at positions near the left and right ends 26a, 26b of the door portion 26, respectively. Further, at the upper end side of each side wall portion 41, the collar portion 4 is arranged so as to be bent to the left side or the right side which is a side away from the center in the vehicle left-right direction.
2 are formed. The portion surrounded by the door portion 26 and the front vertical wall portion 28 of the main body 19, and the vertical wall portion 36, the bottom wall portion 38, and the side wall portions 41, 41 of the lower surface side member 35 is the airbag 56. It is a storage recess 43 for storing the inflator 46.

As shown in FIG. 5, a portion of the bottom wall portion 38 near the center in the vehicle left-right direction is formed into a recessed shape which is recessed downward in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. This concave portion 39
Is a rear side wall portion 39a formed continuously with the vertical wall portion 36.
A left / right side wall portion 39b / 39c arranged substantially orthogonal to the bottom wall portion 38, a front side wall portion 39d arranged substantially orthogonal to a collar portion 40 described below, and front / rear / left portions. And a bottom wall portion 39e arranged so as to close the lower ends of the right side wall portions 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d. Further, in the embodiment, the concave portion 39 is the inflator housing portion 43b that houses the inflator 46, and the door portion 26, the front vertical wall portion 28, the vertical wall portion 36, and the bottom wall portion are provided on the upper side of the inflator housing portion 43b. A portion surrounded by 38 and the side wall portions 41, 41 is an airbag storage portion 43a for storing the folded airbag 56.

Further, a panel material 15 which constitutes the cowl panel 13 is arranged on the lower side of the bottom wall portion 38 so as to come into contact with the bottom wall portion 38. The panel material 15 has a partially recessed shape so as to contact the lower surface side of the recessed portion 39 even in the portion where the inflator housing portion 43b is arranged. Further, on the bottom wall portion 38, projections 38a are projected downward and are provided at a plurality of locations (four locations in the embodiment) (see FIGS. 3 and 8). As shown in FIG. 3, these protrusions 38a are provided on the cowl panel 1
When the cowl louver 18 is attached to the cowl panel 13 by being inserted into the insertion hole 13e formed in the No. 3, the positioning is performed with respect to the panel 15. Further, an insertion hole 39f for inserting a bolt 52b of the inflator 46, which will be described later, is formed at a predetermined position of the bottom wall portion 39e in the concave portion 39. Further, the connector 48 and the lead wire 4 of the inflator 46, which will be described later, are provided on the right side wall portion 39c of the concave portion 39.
An insertion hole 39g for inserting 9 is formed.

A flange portion 37 is provided on the upper end side of the vertical wall portion 36 so as to bend rearward and come into contact with the lower surface side of the upper wall portion 20 of the main body 19. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the flange portion 37 is formed with a hole portion 37 a through which the fixing protrusion 30 provided on the upper wall portion 20 of the main body 19 can be inserted.

On the front end side of the bottom wall portion 38, there is formed a collar portion 40 which is bent and arranged so as to come into contact with the collar portion 29 of the main body 19. The flange 40 is also arranged at the upper end of the front side wall 39d of the recess 39. Then, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, a hole portion 40 a through which the fixing projection 30 provided in the collar portion 29 can be inserted is formed in the collar portion 40. Further, the collar portion 40 includes
The attachment piece 64 of the airbag 56, which will be described later, is connected to the insertion hole 29a formed in the collar portion 29, and is attached to the cowl louver 18.
At the same time, an insertion hole 40b through which a mounting bolt 68 for mounting and fixing the cowl panel 13 can be inserted is formed.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 9, a seal member 44 is provided between the main body 19 and the lower surface side member 35 so as to seal the peripheral edge of the storage recess 43 over the entire circumference.
Are provided. This seal member 44 is
It is disposed on the side of the upper wall 20 and is integrally molded with the door 26 at the same time as the door 26 and the weather strip 31 by the same forming material. A rear edge seal portion 44a, a front edge seal portion 44b arranged on the flange portion 29, and a left / right portion arranged on the periphery of the door portion 26 and in contact with the flange portions 42 of the lower surface side member 35. The edge sealing portions 44c and 44d (see the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 9) are provided to seal the peripheral edge of the storage recess 43 over the entire circumference. Further, the front and rear edge seal portions 44a and 44b are arranged at positions on the storage recess 43 side of the fixed projection 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inflator 46 is constructed as a cylinder type in which the axial direction is arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle, and is provided with a substantially cylindrical main body 47 and a diffuser 50. . The body 47 is
It has a columnar general portion 47a and a head portion 47b arranged at one end side of the general portion 47a, and is constituted by disposing a plurality of gas discharge ports 47c on the outer peripheral surface of the head portion 47b.
Further, outwardly protruding flange portions 47d and 47d are provided at the tip end side of the head portion 47b and near the base portion side of the general portion 47a.
It is arranged. These flange portions 47d are for fixing the diffuser 50 to the main body 47 by pressing a sandwiching portion 50c of the diffuser 50, which will be described later, with pressure. Then, a connector 48 in which a lead wire 49 for inputting an operation signal is connected to the end surface of the general portion 47a on the base portion side.
Will be connected.

The diffuser 50 has a substantially cylindrical shape in which the end portion on the head 47b side is closed so as to cover the main body 47, and the end portion on the side remote from the head portion 47b is attached to the main body 4.
The general portion 47a of No. 7 is opened so that it can be inserted. Further, on the peripheral wall 50a of the diffuser 50, a plurality of gas outlets 50b capable of flowing out the expansion gas discharged from the gas discharge port 47c of the main body 47 are provided on the upper surface of the peripheral wall 50a mounted on the vehicle. , Formed.
Further, a holding portion 50c for holding the main body 47 is provided near both ends of the peripheral wall portion 50a of the diffuser 50.
Is formed. Each sandwiching portion 50c has a peripheral wall portion 50a.
Is curved in the peripheral wall portion 50a and is plastically deformed so as to be pressed against the outer peripheral surface side of the flange portion 47d. Then, the main body 47 is fixed to the diffuser 50 by inserting the main body 47 from the opening, with the head portion 47b at the front, and inserting the holding portions 50c into the main body 47.
The main body 47 can be fixed to the diffuser 50 by plastically deforming so as to press-contact the outer peripheral surface side of the flange portion 47d.

A seal cap 51 made of synthetic resin or rubber is provided at the end of the diffuser 50 on the connector 48 side so as to cover the opening. The seal cap 51 prevents rainwater and the like from flowing into the diffuser 50, is formed into a substantially disc shape, and has a hole portion 51 near the center through which the connector 48 can be inserted.
a.

The inflator 46 has a retaining ring portion 52a and a bolt 52b protruding from the retaining ring portion 52a.
And a bottom wall portion 39 in the storage recess 39 of the lower surface side member 35 by utilizing the mounting bracket 52 configured to include
It is fixed on the e side. The retaining ring portion 52a is capable of sandwiching the inflator 46 in a state in which an inflow port portion 60 of the airbag 56, which will be described later, is covered from the outer peripheral side. In the embodiment, the mounting bracket 52 includes the inflator 4
6 are provided at two positions, the front end side and the rear end side. Then, the holding ring portion 52 of the mounting bracket 52 is attached to the inflator 46 that covers the inflow port portion 60 of the airbag 56.
a is installed as an exterior, and the bottom wall 39e, the cowl panel 13, and the through holes 39f, 13c, and 17a of the reinforcing panel 17 are inserted, and the nut 5 is attached to the bolt 52b protruding from the reinforcing panel 17.
3 are screwed together and the inflator 46 is attached to the airbag 56.
At the same time, it is attached and fixed to the cowl panel 13 via the bottom wall portion 39e. The reinforcing panel 17 is arranged to firmly fix the inflator 46 to the bottom wall portion 38.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 10, the airbag 56 has an inflating portion 57 which inflates by inflating an inflating gas, and an inflating portion 57.
And a peripheral edge portion 63 that is arranged around the expansion portion 57 and does not allow the expansion gas to flow in. Expansion part 57
When the inflation gas is flown into the inside, the front side wall portion 57a
And the back side wall portion 57b are separated from each other and expand. In the airbag 56, the front wall portion 57a and the back wall portion 57b have the same planar shape, and the wall portions 57a.
7b is a flat air bag type that can be flatly deployed by stacking 7b on top of each other, and is manufactured by bag-weaving using polyester threads, polyamide threads, or the like.

When the inflation and inflation of the air bag 56 is completed,
Most of the back side wall portion 57b is disposed on the vehicle V side,
Most of the front side wall portion 57a will be arranged on the free space side away from the vehicle V side.

The inflatable portion 57 of the airbag 56 is
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 10, the shape when the vehicle is not mounted and when the expansion and expansion are completed is formed in a substantially U shape that is wide in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. The vertical inflating portions 58, 58 arranged on both the left and right sides cover the front surfaces of the left and right front pillars 7L, 7R when the airbag 56 is completely inflated and inflated. The lateral inflating portion 59 arranged so as to connect the lower end sides of the vertical inflating portions 58, 58 to each other is substantially along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle V when the airbag 56 is completely inflated and inflated, and the front surface of the lower end 5a of the windshield 5 is in front. The rear end 3 of the hood panel 3 from the vicinity
This covers the upper part of the cowl louver 18 up to the vicinity of the upper surface 3c of a.

Further, on the front edge 59a side of the lateral expansion portion 59 (which becomes the lower edge side when the expansion is completed in the vehicle mounted state), the front end side is bent and the front end side is bent to the right side of the vehicle. An inflow port 60 is provided. The inflow port portion 60 has an end portion formed as an opening 60a so that the inflator 46 can be inserted therein. And this inflow port part 60 makes the inflating gas from the inflator 46 flow into the inflating part 57 of the airbag 56, and is installed on the inflator 46 and utilizes the mounting brackets 52, 52 to inflate the inflator. It is connected to 46.

A plate-shaped attachment piece 64 is provided at the peripheral edge portion 63 on the front edge 59a side of the lateral expansion portion 59.
It is formed at four locations. Each mounting piece 64 has a mounting hole 6
4a is formed. Each attachment piece 64 includes a bolt 68 for fixing the cowl louver 18 to the cowl panel 13.
Is inserted into the mounting hole 64a and the nut 65 is screwed into the mounting hole 64a to be mounted and fixed to the cowl panel 13 together with the cowl louver 18 (see FIG. 3).

Next, the mounting of the pedestrian airbag device M1 on the vehicle V will be described. First, the airbag 56 is folded. Specifically, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 10, from the state where the front side and back side wall portions 57a and 57b are overlapped with each other,
A bellows fold is made except for the inflow port portion 60 and the attachment piece 64 so as to make a fold C of a mountain fold or a valley fold parallel to the front edge 59a of the lateral expansion portion 59 so as to approach the front edge 59a. To do.
Then, the left and right ends 56a and 56b of the airbag 56 are folded back in a bellows-folded manner (the rear edge 59b side of the lateral inflatable portion 59) so that the airbag 56 can be stored in the storage recess 43. You can After the folding is completed, the airbag 56 is appropriately wrapped with a breakable wrapping material (not shown) for preventing collapse.

Then, the inflator 46 is inserted into the inlet 60 of the folded airbag 56 from the side of the opening 60a, and the retaining ring 52a of each mounting bracket 52 is externally attached to the inflator 46 with the inlet 60 exterior. Then, the inflator 46 is attached to the inlet port 6 of the airbag 56.
Connect to 0.

Next, the folded airbag 56 and the inflator 46 are attached to the bolt 52 of the inflator 46.
b is an insertion hole 39f of the bottom wall portion 39e in the storage recess 39
It is housed in the lower surface member 35 so as to project from the lower surface member 35. At this time, the bolt 52 protruding from the insertion hole 39f
A spring washer (not shown) is provided in b. Then, the main body 19 to which the weather strips 31 and 32 have been assembled in advance is provided with the fixing projections 30 on the lower surface side member 3
The holes 37a and 40a formed on the lower side member 35 are arranged so as to project from the holes 37a and 40a formed in the hole 5.
The tip 30a of the fixed protrusion 30 protruding from the a 40a is thermally caulked, and the main body 19 and the lower surface side member 35 are connected to each other near both edges of the storage recess 43 in the vehicle front-rear direction to form an airbag. Cowl louver 18 with device M1
To assemble. At the same time, the peripheral edge of the storage recess 43 is sealed over the entire circumference by the seal member 44 arranged in the main body 19.

Then, the assembled cowl louver 18 is inserted into the insertion hole 13e through the projection 38a formed on the bottom wall 38 of the lower surface member 35.
The bolt 52b protruding from the bottom wall portion 38 is attached to the cowl panel 13, and the nut 53 is fastened. The bolt 63 is fastened to the cowl panel 13 together with the attachment piece 64 of the airbag 56 at the flange portion 29 of the main body 19. At the same time, if the connector 48 to which the lead wire 49 is connected is connected to the main body 47 of the inflator 46 via the insertion hole 13d of the cowl panel 13 and the insertion hole 39g of the recessed portion 39, the airbag device M1 is connected to the vehicle V. Can be installed.

After the air bag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle V, the arm of the wiper 11, the hood panel 3 and the like are mounted on the vehicle V.

After the pedestrian airbag device M1 is mounted on the vehicle V, if an actuation signal is input to the main body 47 of the inflator 46 via the lead wire 49, the inflator 46
The inflation gas is discharged from the gas discharge port 47c of the above, and the airbag 56 inflates by inflating the inflation gas from the inflow port 60. Therefore, the door 26 of the cowl louver 18 is
The airbag 56 is pushed by the airbag 56 to rupture the peripheral portion to be fractured 24, opens toward the rear side of the vehicle V with the hinge portion 25 as the center of rotation, and the airbag 56 expands and inflates.

Further, in the pedestrian airbag device M1 of the embodiment, if the airbag 56 completes the expansion and inflation,
As shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIGS.
Covers the front surfaces of the front pillars 7L and 7R, and the lateral expansion section 59 covers the upper side of the cowl louver 18 on the front side of the lower end 5a of the windshield 5.

In the airbag device M1 according to the embodiment, the deployment promoting means PM is arranged in the door portion 26 formed integrally with the cowl louver 18 made of synthetic resin. The hinge portion 25 on the side of the rear edge 26d of the door portion 26, which has a long shape curved along the cowl louver 18 and serves as a rotation center when the door portion 26 is opened.
Even when the airbag is curved, the door 26 can be smoothly opened by the deployment promoting means PM when the airbag 56 is deployed and inflated.

Further, in the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the airbag 56 is disposed between the hood panel 3 of the vehicle V and the windshield 5 of the cowl louver 18 which is curved along the windshield 5. Down,
Since it is arranged so as to be folded, it is not necessary to consider the interference of the hood panel 3 with the airbag device M1 when the hood panel 3 is opened and closed, and the assembly work of the airbag device M1 to the vehicle V is not hindered. . Further, in the pedestrian airbag device M1 of the embodiment, the door portion 26 that covers the stored airbag 56 is configured by the cowl louver 18 itself, which is a member that configures the vehicle V. The number of constituent parts can be reduced, and the man-hours for assembling the airbag device M1 to the vehicle V can be reduced.

Therefore, in the airbag device M1 of the embodiment, the door portion 26 for covering the accommodated airbag 56 can be smoothly opened so that the airbag 56 can be rapidly expanded and inflated, and the vehicle V can be expanded. Assembling workability is improved.

In the airbag apparatus M1 of the embodiment, the door portion 26 is used as the expansion promoting means PM for the door portion 26.
Since it is formed of the olefinic thermoplastic elastomer, when the door portion 26 is opened, the door portion 26 itself is pushed by the airbag 56 and slightly stretched or compressed. Therefore, even when the hinge portion 25 on the trailing edge 26d side of the door portion 26, which is the center of rotation when the door portion 26 is opened, is arranged curved along the cowl louver 18, the door portion 2
The airbag 6 is pushed by the airbag 56 which is expanded and inflated without being partially damaged, and is smoothly opened.
It is possible to rapidly deploy and inflate 6.

Next, FIG. 11 shows a pedestrian airbag device M2 which is another embodiment of the present invention. The airbag device M2 has the same configuration as the airbag device M1 described above, except for the main body 73 of the cowl louver 72, and the same reference numerals are given and the description thereof is omitted.

The main body 73, as shown in FIGS.
Similar to the main body 19 in the airbag device M1 described above,
The upper wall portion 20 and the front vertical wall portion 28 are provided, and the main body 7 is provided at a position above the storage recess 43 in the upper wall portion 20.
A door portion 75 integrally formed of polypropylene with 3 is provided.

The door portion 75, as shown in FIGS.
It is formed from a plurality of (12 in the embodiment) divided doors 76 along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Each split door 7
6 is formed by dividing the door portion 75 by a plurality of (11 in the embodiment) to-be-ruptured portions 77 arranged along the vehicle front-rear direction. Then, the door portion 75 has a U shape except that the rear edge 75a side is the hinge portion 25 at the time of opening, except for the hinge portion 25 side at the peripheral edge of the door portion 75, similarly to the door portion 26 in the airbag device M1 described above. In the shape of
The planned breaking portion 24 is provided. That is, each split door 76
Is provided with a hinge portion 25 on the trailing edge side, and the planned breaking portions 24 and 77 are arranged on the peripheral edge portion excluding the hinge portion 25 side,
Each is configured to open to the rear side of the vehicle. In the airbag device M2 of the embodiment, the door portion 75
A plurality (12 in the embodiment) along the left-right direction of the vehicle.
The structure formed from the split door 76 divided into
The expansion promoting means PM is provided to smoothly open the door portion 75.

In the case where the airbag device M2 is constructed as described above, when the airbag 56 is deployed and inflated, the airbag 56 is pushed by the airbag 56 and is divided into a plurality of split doors along the left-right direction of the vehicle V. 76 will open. That is, even if the hinge portion 25 of the entire split door 76, which serves as the center of rotation when the door portion 75 is opened, is arranged curved along the cowl louver 72, the door portion 75 is arranged along the left-right direction of the vehicle V. Since it is divided into a plurality of split doors 76, the portion 25A of the hinge portion that is the center of rotation when each split door 76 is opened is in a linearly approximated state, as shown in FIG. In addition, the door 75 itself is the cowl louver 72.
Even if the curved door is arranged along the curved line,
The end portions 76a and 76a in the left-right direction of 6 and 76 are overlapped or separated from each other to open, and a force for expanding and contracting the door portion 75 is hard to act on each split door 76. Therefore, even if the door portion 75 is formed of a hard material, the door portion 75 is pushed by the airbag 56 that expands and inflates without being partially damaged, and opens smoothly. as a result,
The entire door portion 75 can be smoothly opened, and the airbag 56 can be rapidly deployed and inflated.

Also in the airbag device M2 of the embodiment, the airbag 56 is arranged between the hood panel 3 and the windshield 5 of the vehicle V so as to be curved along the windshield 5 in a cowl louver 72. In the same manner as the airbag device M1 described above, since the door portion 26 that covers the stored airbag 56 is formed by the cowl louver 72 itself, which is a member that configures the vehicle V, while being folded and arranged below Therefore, the number of man-hours for assembling the vehicle V can be reduced. Therefore, even in the airbag device M2 having the above-described configuration, the door portion 75 that covers the accommodated airbag 56 can be smoothly opened to open the airbag 56. It can be rapidly deployed and inflated, and the workability of assembling it to the vehicle V is improved.

The airbag device M2 of the above embodiment is used.
In the above, the door portion 75 is made of polypropylene, but the door portion configured to include the split door may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer like the door portion 26 in the airbag device M1.

In the airbag devices M1 and M2, the hinge portion 25 is arranged on the front edge side of the door portions 26 and 75 to open the door portions 26 and 75 toward the vehicle rear side. The hinge portion 25 may be arranged on the front edge side of the door portion. Furthermore, two hinge portions 25 are arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and are located at the front edge side and the rear edge side of the storage recess. , The hinge parts are arranged respectively, and 2
The two doors may be opened in a double door shape.

Further, in the case of using a door portion having a plurality of split doors divided in the left-right direction like the airbag device M2, the hinge portion is used as a front edge side or a rear edge side of each split door. Alternatively, the split doors may be alternately arranged, and the respective split doors may be alternately arranged such that they open toward the front side of the vehicle and those that open toward the rear side.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle equipped with an pedestrian airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a vehicle equipped with the airbag device of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag device of the same embodiment taken along the vehicle front-rear direction, which corresponds to the III-III portion in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag device of the same embodiment taken along the vehicle front-rear direction, which corresponds to a portion IV-IV in FIG.

5 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag device of the same embodiment taken along the vehicle left-right direction, which corresponds to the portion VV in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main body of a cowl louver as an airbag cover used in the airbag apparatus of the same embodiment.

7 is a partially enlarged end view of the main body, taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
Corresponds to the part.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a lower surface side member of the cowl louver as a storage recess used in the airbag device of the same embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged plan view of a lower surface side member.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where the airbag used in the airbag apparatus of the same embodiment is inflated by itself.

FIG. 11 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view taken along the vehicle front-rear direction of a pedestrian airbag device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the main body of the cowl louver used in the same embodiment.

13 is a partially enlarged end view of the main body, taken along line XIII of FIG.
Corresponds to the -XIII site.

[Explanation of symbols]

3 ... Food panel, 5 ... Windshield, 5a ... the lower end, 12 ... cowl 13 ... Cowl panel, 18 ... Cowl louver 25 ... Hinge part, 26 ... Door, 26d ... trailing edge, 46 ... Inflator, 56 ... Airbag, 72 ... Cowl louver, 75 ... Door, 75a ... trailing edge, 76 ... Split door, 77 ... the part to be broken, PM: Deployment promotion means, V ... vehicle, M1, M2 ... Pedestrian airbag device.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takao Adachi             Aichi Prefecture Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun Ochiai character Nagahata 1             Address within Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takehiko Shiraki             Aichi Prefecture Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun Ochiai character Nagahata 1             Address within Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinji Oguchi             Aichi Prefecture Kasuga-cho, Nishikasugai-gun Ochiai character Nagahata 1             Address within Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An airbag is provided between a hood panel of a vehicle and a windshield, below a cowl louver made of synthetic resin, which is curvedly arranged along a lower end of the windshield, and along the cowl louver. A pedestrian airbag device capable of protecting a pedestrian by being folded and stored in a long shape, inflowing an inflation gas discharged from an inflator, expanding and inflating so as to project upward. The cowl louver covers the upper side of the folded and accommodated airbag and is pushed by the airbag at the time of deployment and expansion so that the cowl louver can be opened to the front side and / or the rear side of the vehicle. , A door portion that is curved so that the center of the front and rear edges is projected toward the front side, and the door portion is integrally formed with the cowl louver and can be opened smoothly. Pedestrian airbag apparatus, characterized by being configured to include a deployment promoting means. 2. The pedestrian airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the door portion uses a structure formed of a thermoplastic elastomer as the deployment promoting means. 3. The pedestrian according to claim 1, wherein the door portion is formed of a plurality of divided doors that are divided in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and is used as the expansion promoting means. Airbag device.