JP2004106646A - Air bag lid structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the rotation amount of an air bag lid without invading space in the back side of the air bag lid. <P>SOLUTION: In a structure of the double door type seamless air bag lid, hinge members 40, 50 have plate portions 41, 51 fixed on an instrument panel main body, plate portions 42, 52 fixed on a back surface of door portions 11a, 11b of the air bag lid 11, and two or more bridging portions 43, 53. The plate portion 42 of the hinge member 40 has extension planned portions 42x sandwiched by a pair of first slits 42b. Further, almost U-shaped second slits 42c are formed as surrounding the extension planned portions 42x and the insides of these second slits 42c are connecting portions 42y. When the door portions 11a, 11b of the air bag lid 11 are opened, the extension planned portions 42x and the connecting portions 42y separate from a back surface of the air bag lid, and the extension planned portions 42x become a part of the bridging portions 43 and increase expansion margins of the bridging portions 43. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a seamless airbag grid structure provided on an instrument panel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The vehicle is equipped with a passenger airbag unit to protect passengers in the passenger seat. The airbag unit for the passenger seat is arranged behind an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel).
[0003]
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-39254, a rectangular groove is formed on the back surface of the instrument panel so as to surround a portion corresponding to the airbag unit, and is thin along this groove. A portion inside the groove, that is, a portion corresponding to the airbag unit is provided as an airbag grid, and a portion outside the groove is provided as an instrument panel main body (hereinafter, referred to as an instrument panel main body). The airbag grid and the front surface of the instrument panel body are continuous, and the boundary line (partition line) is not visible from the front side (the cabin side), and the appearance is good. Such a structure is generally called seamless.
[0004]
The air bag grid and the instrument panel body are connected by a hinge member disposed on the back surface thereof. When the airbag is inflated and presses the airbag lid during a vehicle collision, the thin portion at the boundary between the instrument panel body and the airbag lid is broken, the airbag lid is removed and an opening is opened, and the airbag expanded from this opening is used as an assistant. It jumps out toward the seat. Since the airbag lid is supported by the instrument panel main body via the hinge member, its scattering is prevented, and the airbag lid is opened around the hinge member like a door.
[0005]
The hinge member has a plate shape and has two plate portions and a bridging portion bridged between these plate portions. One plate portion is fixed to a mounting portion of the instrument panel main body, and the other plate portion is fixed to the back surface of the airbag lid. The bridge portion is curved, and expands when the airbag inflates and the airbag lid opens, thereby trying to secure the opening amount of the airbag lid.
[0006]
In order to further secure the opening operation of the air bag grid, it is necessary to greatly expand the bridging portion to increase the elongation, but the space behind the air bag grid, specifically, the air bag is accommodated. Since the space to be formed is limited, if the amount of curvature of the bridge portion is increased, the space may not be used effectively, and the opening amount of the airbag grid may be limited.
[0007]
In the airbag structure of the above publication, a plate portion of the hinge member on the instrument panel body side has a slot, and the hinge member is attached to the instrument panel body by a screw passing through the slot. When the airbag lid is opened, the bridging portion extends, and this plate portion moves by the amount of play of the slot, thereby securing the opening amount of the airbag lid.
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-29254 A (FIG. 3)
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the air bag grid structure disclosed in the above publication, the one plate portion of the hinge member needs to be movable with a predetermined force, and cannot be securely fixed to the instrument panel body.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a groove is formed on a back surface of an instrument panel so as to surround a portion corresponding to an airbag unit, so that a portion inside the groove serves as an airbag grid. Provided, a portion outside the groove is provided as an instrument panel body, the air bag grid and the instrument panel body, in an air bag grid structure connected by a hinge member disposed on the back surface thereof,
The hinge member has a plate shape, and a main body-side plate portion fixed to the mounting portion of the instrument panel main body, a lid-side plate portion fixed to the back surface of the airbag lid, and a hook is interposed between these plate portions. Having a plurality of passed bridges integrally,
A pair of first slits extending from the side edges and facing each other are formed in at least one of the body-side plate portion and the lid-side plate portion of the hinge member, and a portion between the first slits is formed by the bridging portion. Will be provided as an extension that will be linked to
Further, a second slit having a substantially U-shape is formed in the one plate portion so as to surround the extended portion, and both ends of the second slit are separated from the side edge of the one plate portion. And a portion inside the second slit is provided as a communication portion that connects the extension portion and the other portion of the one plate portion,
The extension portion and the connecting portion can be separated from the instrument panel body to which the one plate portion is fixed or the back surface of the air bag grid when the air bag grid is opened.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, when the airbag is opened, the extension portion and the connecting portion of the one plate portion are separated from the instrument panel body or the back surface of the airbag grid, and in particular, the extension portion is a part of the bridge portion. Become a growth allowance. As a result, a sufficient amount of rotation of the airbag grid can be ensured, and the inflated airbag can smoothly fly out. In addition, the two plate portions of the hinge member can be firmly fixed to the instrument panel body and the air bag grid, and the thin portion around the air bag grid can be reliably reinforced, and the air bag grid is scattered when the air bag grid is opened. Can be reliably prevented. In addition, the extension portion and the connecting portion do not invade the space on the back side of the airbag grid, and this space can be effectively used.
[0012]
Preferably, the pair of first slits extend linearly in connection with both side edges of the bridging portion, whereby the extended portion has the same width as the bridging portion and extends in the same direction as the bridging portion. I have. Thus, when the airbag lid is opened, the portion to be extended most effectively functions as a part of the bridge portion, and it is possible to ensure a substantial increase in elongation allowance of the bridge portion.
[0013]
Preferably, the second slit has a pair of straight portions parallel to the first slit. Thereby, both sides of the substantially U-shaped connecting portion are parallel to the bridging portion and the portion to be extended. As a result, when the airbag lid is opened, the connecting portion is bent with respect to the other portion of the plate portion, and the bent portion with respect to the connecting portion is smoothly bent, and the substantial increase in the extension of the bridge portion is further ensured. It can be.
[0014]
Preferably, the bridge portion is curved. According to this, since the bridge portion is extended from the curved shape, it is possible to further increase the extension allowance of the bridge portion in combination with the effect of increasing the extension allowance of the planned extension portion.
[0015]
The extension portion and the connecting portion are formed in a plate portion on the lid side. According to this, since the extended portion and the connecting portion are extended away from the air bag grid from the initial stage of the air bag grid rotation at the time of inflation of the air bag, the effect of increasing the extension allowance of the bridge portion is smoothly exhibited. can do.
[0016]
The present invention can also be applied to a double-opening airbag grid that allows the airbag to pop out more smoothly. That is, another groove is formed on the back surface of the airbag grid so as to intersect the groove surrounding the airbag grid, and the airbag grid has a pair of door portions divided by the other groove, and the pair of door portions is The hinge panel is connected to the instrument panel main body via the hinge member, and a plate portion of at least one hinge member has the extension portion and the connecting portion.
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a seamless airbag grid structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The instrument panel 10 of the present embodiment is called a hard instrument panel, and is formed as a single layer by injection molding a resin.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, an airbag unit 20 is arranged on the back side of the instrument panel 10 so as to face the passenger seat. The airbag unit 20 includes a casing 21, an airbag 22 housed in a folded state in a housing space 21 a on the rear side (closer to the passenger seat) of the casing 21, and a housing space 21 b on the front side of the casing 21. And a stored actuator 23. The casing 21 is made of an injection-molded product made of the same resin material as the instrument panel, and is fixed to the steering beam 30 via a bracket 25 embedded at the front end thereof. The bracket 25 also has a role of supporting the actuator 23.
[0019]
The casing 21 has a rectangular flange portion 24 (attachment portion) formed on the periphery of the rear end opening of the accommodation space 21a. The flange portion 24 has a step and has two mounting surfaces 24a and 24b. The outer mounting surface 24 a of the flange portion 24 is vibration-welded to the back surface of the instrument panel 10. The mounting surface 24b inside the flange portion 24 faces the back surface of the instrument panel 10 via a gap.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, a groove 15 is formed on the back surface of the instrument panel 10 so as to surround a portion 11 corresponding to the airbag unit 20 and is thin. This part 11 is provided as an air bag grid. In the instrument panel 10, a portion outside the groove 15 is provided as an instrument panel body 12.
[0021]
The groove 15 draws a rectangle as shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 (A), a linearly extending groove 16 is formed on the back surface of the airbag lid 11, and is thin. The groove 16 is inclined with respect to the two long sides of the rectangle drawn by the groove 15 as shown in FIG. 2 and intersects with the two short sides of the longer diameter. The airbag lid 11 has a pair of door portions 11a and 11b partitioned forward and backward by the groove 16.
[0022]
Next, the hinge means for the airbag lid 11 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4A, the hinge means includes two hinge members 40 and 50 corresponding to the two door portions 11a and 11b of the airbag lid 11. These hinge members 40 and 50 are arranged on the back side of the instrument panel 10 and play a role of connecting the door portions 11a and 11b of the airbag lid 11 to the instrument panel main body 12, and have a metal plate shape, such as an aluminum plate or a steel plate. It is formed with. The hinge member 40 is disposed on the rear side (passenger seat side), and the hinge member 50 is disposed on the front side.
[0023]
The hinge member 40 has an elongated substantially flat plate portion 41 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle, an elongated substantially flat plate-shaped second mounting portion 42 extending in the same direction, and a plurality of elongated bridge portions connecting the plate portions 41 and 42. 43. One plate portion 41 has a screw hole 41a, and is firmly fixed to a mounting surface 24b of the flange portion 24 of the casing 21 with a screw 45.
[0024]
The other plate portion 42 of the hinge member 40 has a shape corresponding to the door portion 11a, has a slightly smaller area than the door portion 11a, and is fixed over substantially the entire back surface thereof. More specifically, the plate portion 42 has a large number of slits 42a, and when these slits 42a are fitted into a large number of elongated convex portions formed on the back surface of the door portion 11a of the airbag lid 11, these convex portions are formed. The portion is heated and melted to be fixed to the back surface of the door portion 11a.
[0025]
Opposing side edges 41s, 42s of the plate portions 41, 42 extend linearly in the left-right direction of the vehicle in parallel with each other.
[0026]
The bridge portion 43 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle (that is, the direction orthogonal to the side edges 41s, 42s of the plate portions 41, 42), and is curved in a substantially U-shape so as to project downward. The bridge portions 43 are arranged side by side at intervals along the rear side edge of the rectangle (rear side edge of the door portion 11a) drawn by the groove 15.
[0027]
Similarly to the above-mentioned hinge member 40, the other (front side) hinge member 50 has a plate portion 51 having a screw hole 51a and attached to the attachment surface 24b of the flange portion 24 of the casing 21 by a screw 55, and a slit 52a. It has a plate portion 52 attached to the front door portion 11b of the airbag lid 11, and a curved bridge 53 connecting the plate portions 51, 52. The plate portion 52 has a shape corresponding to the door portion 11b, has a slightly smaller area than the door portion 11b, and is fixed over substantially the entire back surface thereof. The plate portion 52 has an opening 52b for stealing meat.
[0028]
The bridge portions 53 are arranged side by side at intervals along the front edge of the rectangle drawn by the groove 15.
As shown in FIG. 2, opposing side edges of the second mounting portions 42, 52 of the hinge members 40, 50 are linear and extend in parallel with the above-described groove 16. A groove 16 is arranged between these side edges.
[0029]
Next, the features of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, in the rear hinge member 40, the plate portion 42 on the side of the airbag lid 11 has a pair of linear One slit 42b, 42b is formed. These first slits 42b, 42b are orthogonal to the side edge 42s of the plate portion 42 and are parallel to each other, extend a predetermined distance X from the side edge 42s, and have their front ends stopped. The portion between the first slits 42b, 42b is provided as a planned extension portion 42x that performs an operation described below.
[0030]
Further, a substantially U-shaped (or substantially C-shaped) second slit 42c is formed in the plate portion 42 so as to surround the expected extension portion 42x. The second slit 42c has a pair of linear portions 42c ', 42c' arranged outside the first slits 42b, 42b in parallel with the first slits 42b, 42b, and the side edges arranged in front of the first slits 42b, 42b. The rear ends (both ends of the second slit 42c) of the linear portions 42c 'and 42c' are separated from the side edges 42s of the plate portion 42 by a predetermined distance Y. The portion inside the second slit 42c is provided as a substantially U-shaped connecting portion 42y that connects the extension portion 42x and the other portion of the plate portion 42.
[0031]
In the above configuration, when the actuator 23 of the airbag unit 20 operates and inflates the airbag 22 in response to a vehicle collision, the airbag 22 pushes the airbag lid 11 with a strong impact force. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the thin portions corresponding to the grooves 15 and 16 are broken, and the two door portions 11a and 11b of the airbag lid 11 are separated from each other and also separated from the instrument panel body 12. You. At this time, since the door portions 11a and 11b are connected to the instrument panel main body 11 by the hinge members 40 and 50, they respectively rotate around one side edge.
[0032]
As described above, the airbag lid 11 is divided into the two door portions 11a and 11b and opened in a double-opening manner, so that the opening 60 is formed in the instrument panel body 12, and the inflated airbag 22 pops out through the opening 60.
[0033]
When the door portions 11a and 11b of the airbag lid 11 open, the curved bridge portions 43 and 53 of the hinge members 40 and 50 extend, so that the opening operation of the door portions 11a and 11b can be ensured. In particular, the door portion 11a on the passenger side is required to have a large amount of rotation so as not to hinder the airbag 22 from popping out. In the present embodiment, the substantial extension of the bridge portion 43 is further increased. This requirement can be satisfied.
[0034]
Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When the door portion 11a is pushed by the airbag 22, the extension portion 42x bends with respect to the connecting portion 42y at the distal end position of the first slit 42b, and the connecting portion 42y moves to another portion at both end positions of the second slit 42c. Bend to it. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3B, in addition to the length L of the bridge portion 43, the dimension (X-2Y) is added to the length X of the extension portion 42x at the maximum. The elongation allowance substantially increases by the length. If X = 2Y, the increase in the extension allowance is substantially equal to the length X of the extension portion 42x. Due to such a substantial increase in the extension of the bridge portion 43, the door portion 11a can be greatly opened without being restricted by the hinge member 40, so that the inflated airbag 22 can smoothly fly out.
[0035]
As described above, since the extension portion 42x becomes a part of the bridge portion 43 and increases the amount of extension of the bridge portion 43, the amount of bending of the bridge portion 43 can be small, and the accommodation space 21a on the back side of the airbag grid 11 can be reduced. Space does not need to be greatly affected. In some cases, the extension of the bridge portion 43 can be obtained only by the extension portion 42x without bending the bridge portion 43. Further, such a configuration that increases the extension allowance of the bridge portion 43 can be firmly fixed without affecting the structure of fixing the plate portions 41 and 42 of the hinge member 40 to the instrument panel body 12 and the airbag lid 11. . As a result, the thin portion around the airbag lid 11 can be reliably reinforced, and the airbag lid 11 can be reliably prevented from scattering when the airbag lid 11 is opened.
[0036]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modes are possible. For example, the airbag lid may be constituted by a single door portion. In this case, the structure is similar to that of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-39254. For example, a side edge of the airbag grid that is farther from the passenger seat and the instrument panel body are connected by a hinge member.
In the above embodiment, the mounting portion of the instrument panel main body (the mounting portion to which one plate portion of the hinge member is fixed) is formed by the flange portion of the casing fixed to the instrument panel main body, but this mounting portion projects from the instrument panel main body. To be integrally formed with the instrument panel main body.
The first and second slits may be formed in a plate portion on the instrument panel main body side of the hinge member, or may be formed on both the plate portion on the instrument panel main body side and the plate portion on the airbag grid side.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a large amount of rotation of the air bag grid can be ensured by increasing the substantial extension allowance of the bridge portion. Moreover, the hinge member can be firmly fixed to the instrument panel body and the airbag lid, and the space on the back side of the airbag lid is not affected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an air bag grid structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a hinge member used in the air bag grid structure.
3A and 3B are perspective views showing a main part of the hinge member, wherein FIG. 3A shows a state before the airbag operation, and FIG. 3B shows a state after the airbag operation.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the airbag grid structure, in which (A) shows a state before the airbag operation, and (B) shows a state after the airbag operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Instrument panel 11 Air bag grids 11a, 11b Door part 12 Instrument panel body 15 Groove 20 Air bag unit 22 Air bag 24 Flange part of casing (attachment part of instrument panel body)
40, 50 Hinge members 41, 51 Plate portions 42, 52 on instrument panel body side Plate portions 43, 53 on air bag grid side Bridge portion 42b First slit 42c Second slit 42c 'Linear portion 42x Planned extension portion 42y Contact portion

Claims (6)

By forming a groove on the back surface of the instrument panel so as to surround the part corresponding to the airbag unit, the part inside this groove is provided as an airbag grid, and the part outside this groove is provided as the instrument panel body In the air bag grid structure in which the air bag grid and the instrument panel body are connected by a hinge member disposed on the back surface thereof,
The hinge member has a plate shape, and a main body-side plate portion fixed to the mounting portion of the instrument panel main body, a lid-side plate portion fixed to the back surface of the airbag lid, and a hook is interposed between these plate portions. Having a plurality of passed bridges integrally,
A pair of first slits extending from the side edges and facing each other are formed in at least one of the body-side plate portion and the lid-side plate portion of the hinge member, and a portion between the first slits is formed by the bridging portion. Will be provided as an extension that will be linked to
Further, a second slit having a substantially U-shape is formed in the one plate portion so as to surround the extended portion, and both ends of the second slit are separated from the side edge of the one plate portion. And a portion inside the second slit is provided as a communication portion that connects the extension portion and the other portion of the one plate portion,
The air bag grid structure, wherein the extension portion and the connecting portion can be separated from the instrument panel body or the back surface of the air bag grid to which the one plate portion is fixed when the air bag grid is opened. . The pair of first slits extend linearly in connection with both side edges of the bridging portion, so that the extended portion has the same width as the bridging portion and extends in the same direction as the bridging portion. The airbag grid structure according to claim 1, wherein: The airbag grid structure according to claim 2, wherein the second slit has a pair of straight portions parallel to the first slit. The airbag grid structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bridge portion is curved. The airbag grid structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the planned extension portion and the connection portion are formed in a lid-side plate portion. On the back surface of the air bag grid, another groove intersecting with the groove surrounding the air bag grid is formed, the air bag grid has a pair of door portions divided by the other groove, and the pair of door portions are hinge members respectively. The airbag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the airbag is connected to the instrument panel main body via a second member, and a plate portion of at least one of the hinge members has the extension portion and the connecting portion. Grid structure.

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