JP2006232000A - Pedestrian protector for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of absorbing an impact when a pedestrian is made to collide with an airbag case by an airbag not deployed, in a vehicle disposed with the case storing an airbag, deployable on the front side of a windshield, positioned close to a hood lower surface. <P>SOLUTION: The airbag case 30 is installed on a vehicle component (cowl member) 25 so that the airbag case 30 may be displaced downward when an impact force works on the airbag case 30 from the above. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle pedestrian protection device having an airbag configured to be deployed on the front side of a windshield, and belongs to the field of vehicle safety technology.

  Conventionally, pedestrian protection devices having an airbag configured to be deployed on the front side of the windshield are known, but in these devices, it is necessary to ensure good deployability of the airbag. Therefore, for example, the storage case is provided in the vicinity of the rear end of the bonnet hood as disclosed in Patent Document 1, or is provided in the bonnet hood as disclosed in Patent Document 2. It may be provided close to the lower surface of the airbag deployment door.

JP 2003-95044 A JP 2003-251422 A

  By the way, since there are various ways of collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, even if various means that can be normally considered are provided, depending on the manner of collision between the vehicle and the pedestrian, the airbag may not be deployed. In that case, in the configuration as described in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that a pedestrian who has jumped up due to the collision may directly collide with a relatively rigid airbag case. Moreover, even when not colliding directly, there exists a possibility of colliding through a hood hood. In the configuration as in Patent Document 2, there is no possibility of a direct collision, but there is a possibility of a collision through a hood.

  Therefore, the present invention aims to further secure pedestrian protection, and a case for storing an airbag that can be deployed on the front side of the windshield is disposed close to the lower surface of the hood. Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of absorbing an impact when a pedestrian collides with an airbag case due to the airbag not being deployed.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is configured as follows.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is a vehicle pedestrian protection device in which a case for storing an airbag that can be deployed on the front side of a windshield is disposed close to a lower surface of a hood. The case is characterized in that the case is attached to the vehicle body constituent member so as to be displaceable downward.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the case is displaced downward when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the case is attached to the vehicle body constituting member via the sliding contact resistance material, so that an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above. It is characterized in that it is displaced downward when done.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein one of the case or the vehicle body constituting member is provided with a long hole extending in the vertical direction, and the case or the vehicle body. A bolt member is fixedly attached to the other of the constituent members and is inserted into the elongated hole. When the case is subjected to an impact force of a predetermined level or more from above by screwing a nut member into the bolt member It is characterized by being displaced downward.

  The invention according to claim 5 of the present application is the invention according to claim 4, wherein the case is locked to the vehicle body side member so that the case is not displaced downward when the airbag is deployed. A locking means is provided.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, when the elongated hole is provided in the vehicle body component member, the locking means is the elongated hole of the vehicle body component member. And a pin member that protrudes from the case side and protrudes into the lower end of the long hole when the airbag is deployed.

  Furthermore, the invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the pin member protrudes from the case side by a gas pressure ejected from a gas generator when the airbag is deployed. It is characterized by doing.

  In the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claim 6, the pin member protrudes from the case side by a solenoid when the airbag is deployed.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein the case is configured such that when the vehicle body constituting member is weakened, an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above. It is characterized by being displaced downward.

  Next, the effect of the present invention will be described.

  First, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the airbag case is attached to the vehicle body structural member so as to be displaceable downward, for example, when an impact force is applied from above, the case is displaced downward. Become. Therefore, for example, even when the airbag does not deploy at the time of a collision, the pedestrian who has jumped up on the hood and the airbag case are separated from each other. As a result, the impact is effectively absorbed, and the pedestrian is It will be more reliably protected.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the case is displaced downward when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above, for example, an impact of about the vertical vibration of the vehicle body during normal operation of the vehicle. Thus, the case is not unnecessarily displaced downward.

  And according to invention of Claim 3 and Claim 4, according to either, the invention of Claim 2 is realizable with a simple structure.

  By the way, if the airbag case is displaced downward when the airbag is deployed as described above, for example, there is a possibility that the front pillar, the windshield, and the like cannot be sufficiently covered.

  However, according to the invention described in claim 5, since the case is provided with a locking means for locking the case to the vehicle body side member so that the case is not displaced downward when the airbag is deployed. The airbag case is not displaced downward by the downward reaction force generated when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, since the airbag is deployed close to the hood, the front pillar, the windshield, etc. can be sufficiently covered.

  And according to invention of Claims 6-8, in any case, the latching means of Claim 5 can be comprised with a simple structure.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 9, the invention described in claim 2 can be realized with a simple structure like the invention described in claims 3 and 4.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  The vehicle pedestrian protection apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle 1 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 is provided with a U-shaped airbag 4 that can be deployed between the left and right front pillars 3, 3 on the front side of the windshield 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle 1 is provided with a controller 10 for controlling the deployment of the airbag 4, and a pedestrian or the like collides with the vehicle body at the front end of the vehicle body. A collision sensor 11 (for example, a G sensor) for detection is provided. An inflator 12 and 12 for generating a gas for deploying the airbag 4 is accommodated in a case 30 (described later) that accommodates the airbag 4 (see FIG. 4). When the signal input from the line coincides with a predetermined condition, the inflators 12 and 12 are energized to generate gas, and the airbag 4 is deployed. Instead of the collision sensor 11, a sensor such as a radar or an infrared sensor may be provided in a bumper or the like as a collision prediction sensor. In this case, when a collision is predicted by a signal from the sensor, the inflator 12, 12 may be energized.

  Next, the structure of the front part of the vehicle body in which the airbag 4 is stored will be described. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, an engine room 22 that is opened and closed by a hood hood 21 is provided at the front of the vehicle 1, and the engine room 22 and the vehicle are disposed at the rear end of the engine room 22. A dash panel 24 that partitions the chamber 23 is disposed. A cowl member 25 that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports the lower side of the windshield 2 is provided on the surface of the upper portion of the dash panel 24 on the engine room 22 side. A cowl top panel 26 made of, for example, a resin material extending in the direction is disposed. In the present embodiment, when the airbag 4 is deployed, the rear end side of the hood hood 21 can be lifted around the front end side by the deployment pressure of the front bulging portion 4a of the airbag 4. (See FIG. 7).

  Further, a case 30 for storing the airbag 4 is disposed below the vicinity of the rear end of the bonnet hood 21. The case 30 extends in the vehicle width direction along the inclined surface 25a of the front portion of the cowl member 25, has an upper surface opened, a storage portion 31 in which the airbag 4 is stored, and a lid that covers the opening of the storage portion 31 The front end wall of the lid portion 32 and the front wall of the storage portion 31 are crimped by a plurality of rivets 34... 34, and the lower end of the rear wall of the lid portion 32 and the upper end of the rear wall of the storage portion 31 are It is fixed. V-shaped grooves are formed on the inner surfaces (see FIG. 1) of the bent portions 32a and 32b extending in the vehicle width direction of the lid portion 32. The depth of the grooves is determined when the airbag is deployed. The bent portion 32b is broken, and the bent portion 32a is not broken, but the portion between the bent portion 32a and the bent portion 32a has a depth that allows rotation about the bent portion 32a. That is, the groove of the bent portion 32b is deeper than the groove of the bent portion 32a.

  The inflators 12 and 12 are fixed to the bottom surface of the storage portion 31 of the case 30 using bolts 35 and nuts 36.

  Next, attachment of the case 30 to the cowl member 25 will be described.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, elongated holes 25 b and 25 b extending in the vertical direction are provided on the left and right ends of the inclined surface 25 a in the vehicle width direction intermediate portion of the cowl member 25. At the same time, stat bolts 41 are fixed to the left and right ends of the outer surface of the storage wall 31. And the said stat bolt 41 ... 41 is penetrated by the upper end side of the said long holes 25b and 25b, and is screwed together by nut 42 ... 42. In this case, these nuts 42... 42 can slide down while sliding with respect to the inclined surface 25 a of the cowl member 25 when a predetermined impact force is applied to the case 30 from above. As shown (see FIG. 8), for example, a torque wrench or the like is used for screwing with a predetermined torque.

  Further, a locking mechanism 50 for preventing the case 30 from sliding down due to the reaction force when the airbag 4 is deployed on the vehicle rear side of the inflators 12, 12 inside the housing portion 31 of the case 30. Is provided. The locking mechanism 50 includes a frame 51 fixed to the rear wall of the storage portion 31, and a pin member 52 supported by the frame 51 so as to be able to advance and retract in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 25a of the cowl member 25. A spring member provided between the enlarged diameter portion 52a provided substantially in the middle of the pin member 52 in the longitudinal direction and the inner surface of the rear wall of the storage portion 32, and biases the pin member 52 toward the inflators 12 and 12. 53. Further, each inflator 12 has a side jet 12a for injecting a part of gas generated from the inflator 12 at the time of explosion toward the pin member 52, facing the end surface of the pin member 52 on the inflator 12 side. The pin member is resisted against the biasing force of the spring member 53 by the pressure of the gas ejected from the side ejection port 12a when the inflator 12 is detonated, that is, when the airbag 4 is deployed. 52 protrudes from the hole 31 a in the rear wall of the storage portion 31 and enters the lower end of the long hole 25 b of the cowl member 25.

  Next, the effect | action by this Embodiment is demonstrated.

  First, when a collision of a pedestrian to the vehicle 1 is detected by the collision sensor 11 while the vehicle 1 is traveling, the inflators 12 and 12 are energized, and gas is instantaneously generated from the inflators 12 and 12. As the airbag 4 begins to inflate and deploy, as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 7, part of the gas generated in the inflators 12 and 12 is ejected from the side ejection ports 12a and 12a toward the pin member 52. As a result, the pin members 52, 52 of the locking mechanisms 50, 50 protrude from the hole portion 31a of the rear wall of the storage portion 31 and enter the lower end portions of the long holes 25b, 25b of the inclined surface 25a of the cowl member 25. . Here, since the side jet outlets 12a and 12a are respectively disposed in the immediate vicinity of the pin members 52 and 52, respectively, almost simultaneously with the start of the deployment of the airbag 4, that is, with the deployment of the airbag 4 to the case 30 Before the reaction force acts, the pin members 52 and 52 protrude from the case 30 side and enter into the long holes 25b and 25b. That is, when the airbag 4 is deployed, the case 30 can be locked to the cowl member 25. As a result, depending on the downward reaction force generated when the airbag 4 is deployed, the case 4 is deployed. The case 30 is not displaced downward. Therefore, the airbag 4 can be deployed in the vicinity of the bonnet hood 21, and the windshield 2, the front pillars 3, 3 and the like can be sufficiently covered.

  When the pressure applied from the airbag 4 to the inner surface of the lid portion 31 of the case 30 exceeds a predetermined pressure due to the inflation of the airbag 4, the bent portion 32b of the lid portion 32 is broken and the bent portion 32a is bent. The lid 32 is opened and the airbag 4 is deployed upward. At this time, the hood hood 21 is lifted around the front end side by the front bulging portion 4 a of the airbag 4. According to this, even if a pedestrian falls on the hood hood 21, The impact is absorbed by the bag 4 and collision with the case 30 is prevented.

  By the way, as explained in the background art, depending on how the vehicle and the pedestrian collide, the airbag 4 does not deploy, and the pedestrian collides with the highly rigid case 30 directly or through the hood hood 21. There is a risk of doing.

  However, in the present embodiment, the case 30 is attached to the cowl member 25 so as to be displaceable downward. Therefore, when a pedestrian collides from above via the bonnet 21 as shown in FIG. Since it slides downward (displaces), the impact at the time of collision is effectively absorbed. Even when the case 30 directly collides with the case 30 from above, the case 30 slides downward.

  By the way, for example, it is not preferable that the case 30 is unnecessarily displaced downward due to the impact of the vertical vibration of the vehicle body during normal operation of the vehicle. However, according to the present embodiment, the case 30 has a predetermined impact or more from above. Since it is attached to the cowl member 25 so as to be displaced downward only when a force is applied, the case 30 is not unnecessarily displaced downward due to, for example, an impact of the vertical vibration of the vehicle body.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the case 30 can be displaced downward with a simple configuration such as bolts 41... 41, nuts 42... 42, long holes 25b and 25b.

  Here, the correspondence between the constituent elements described in the claims and the constituent elements of the present embodiment will be described. It should be noted that those whose correspondence is clear by the explanation of the reference numerals and the like described later are omitted as appropriate. That is, the “case” in claim 1 of the claims corresponds to the case 25, and the “vehicle body constituting member” corresponds to the cowl member 25. The “long hole” in claim 4 corresponds to the long holes 25b, 25b, the “bolt member” corresponds to the stat bolts 41... 41, and the “nut member” corresponds to the nuts 42. Further, “locking means” in claim 5 corresponds to the locking mechanism 50. A “pin member” in claim 6 corresponds to the pin member 52. The “gas generator” in claim 7 corresponds to the inflators 12 and 12.

  Next, a modified example in which the configuration of the locking mechanism 50 according to the embodiment is changed will be described. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in the locking mechanism 50 ′ according to this modified example, an electromagnetic solenoid 55 is used instead of the spring member 53 and the like in the above example, and the controller 10 When a collision is detected by the collision sensor 11, the inflators 12 and 12 are detonated and the solenoids 55 and 55 are operated. According to this, when the collision sensor 11 detects a collision, As indicated by phantom lines, the pin members 56 and 56 protrude from the case 30 side and enter into the long holes 25b and 25b, and the same effect as described above can be obtained. Here, the solenoids 55 and 55 correspond to the solenoids in claim 8.

  In the embodiment and the modification using the solenoids 55 and 55, the cowl member 25 is provided with the long holes 25b and 25b, and the stat bolts 41 and 41 are erected on the rear wall of the housing portion 31 of the case 30. However, conversely, a long hole may be provided in the rear wall of the storage portion 31 of the case 30 and a stat bolt may be provided upright on the cowl member 25. In this case, the stat bolt is inserted into the lower end of the long hole and screwed into the nut, and the pin member of the locking mechanism is configured to protrude into the upper end of the long hole.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the one described in the above embodiment, and the second embodiment and the third embodiment will be described in order below. The basic structure of the vehicle is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the following description will focus on the changes. Moreover, the same code | symbol is used about the same structure and the thing of substantially the same structure.

  First, the second embodiment (corresponding to claim 9) will be described. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the intermediate portion of the cowl member 60 in the vehicle width direction is shown. Two mounting holes 60b and 60b are provided on each of the left and right ends of the inclined surface 60a, and stat bolts 63 and 63 are fixed to the left and right ends of the outer surface of the rear wall 62 of the housing 61. The stud bolts 63... 63 are inserted into the mounting holes 60 b... 60 b of the inclined surface 60 a of the cowl member 60 and screwed into the nuts 64.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the inclined surface 60a of the cowl member 60 is formed with a rectangular frame-like thin portion 70 having a V-shaped groove formed on the back surface.

  In this case, the depths of the V-shaped grooves of the upper side portion 70a, the left side portion 70b, the right side portion 70c, and the lower side portion 70d of the thin-walled portion 70 are predetermined from above for all the side portions 70a, 70b, 70c, and 70d. When the above impact force is applied, the depth is such that it can be broken. According to this, when an impact force acts on the case 61 through the hood hood 21 or directly from above due to a collision from above the pedestrian or the like, all the side portions 70a, 70b, 70c of the thin portion 70 are applied. , 70d are broken, and as a result, as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 11, the case 61 falls into the interior space of the cowl member 60. As a result, the impact applied to the pedestrian is absorbed with a simple structure. be able to.

  In addition, the following two patterns can be formed by changing the depth of the V-shaped groove of each side portion 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d of the thin portion 70. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the first of the other patterns is the depth of the V-shaped groove of each side portion 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d of the thin portion 70, the left side portion 70b, the right side portion 70c, and The lower side portion 70d has a depth that can be broken when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above, and the upper side portion 70a has a depth that does not break but can be bent even if an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above. Is. According to this, when an impact force acts on the case 61 from above or directly through the bonnet 21, the left side portion 70b, the right side portion 70c, and the lower side portion 70d of the thin portion 70 are broken and the upper side portion 70a is As a result, the case 61 enters the internal space of the cowl member 60 while rotating around the upper side portion 70a as shown by the phantom line, and thereby the impact applied to the pedestrian with a simple structure. Can be absorbed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the second of the other patterns is the depth of the groove of the thin portion 70, and the depth of the V-shaped groove of each side portion 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d of the thin portion 70. The upper side portion 70a, the left side portion 70b, and the right side portion 70c have a depth that can be broken when a predetermined or higher impact force is applied from above, and the lower side portion 70d is subjected to a predetermined or higher impact force from above. Although it does not break, it has a depth that allows bending. According to this, when an impact force is applied to the case 61 from above via the bonnet 21 or directly, the upper side portion 70a, the left side portion 70b, and the right side portion 70c of the thin portion 70 are broken and the lower side portion 70d is As a result, the case 61 enters the internal space of the cowl member 60 while rotating around the lower side portion 70d as indicated by the phantom line, and thereby, an impact applied to the pedestrian with a simple structure. Can be absorbed.

  In each pattern of the second embodiment, the inclined surface 60a is made weak by providing the thin portion 70 on the inclined surface 60a of the cowl member 60. The upper surface 60c and the lower surfaces 60d, 60e indicated by the hatching are provided with a breakable thin portion or a bendable thin portion on at least one of the upper or lower surfaces. The bent portions 60f and 60g at both ends of the intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction of the inclined surface 60a may be ruptured. According to this, the case 61 can be directly or directly connected to the case 61 from above. When an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied, a fragile surface among these surfaces is bent or broken, and the case 61 is displaced downward in a manner similar to FIGS. 11, 13, and 14. That.

  Next, a third embodiment (corresponding to claim 3) will be described. In this third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the case 80 includes sliding contact resistance materials 91... 91 a, 91 b... 91 b such as Velcro (registered trademark), for example. (Corresponding to the resistance material). Specifically, one sliding contact resistance material 91... 91 a is fixed to the inclined surface 90 a of the cowl member 90, and the sliding contact resistance material 91. The other sliding contact resistance material 91b ... 91b corresponding to 91a is fixed, and the both sliding contact resistance materials 91 ... 91a, 91b ... 91b are bonded together. According to this, as in the above-described embodiments, when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied to the case 80 from above via the bonnet 21 or directly, the case 80 is displaced downward as indicated by a virtual line. Thus, as in the above embodiments, the impact applied to the pedestrian can be absorbed with a simple structure. In this case, the predetermined impact force may be adjusted by adjusting the area of the sliding contact resistance material 91. As the sliding contact resistance material 91, for example, a double-sided tape may be used.

  The above embodiments are all about the case where the hood is lifted by the deployment of the airbag at the time of collision or prediction, but the present invention is directed to the case where the hood is not lifted when the airbag is deployed. Is applicable.

  The present invention can be widely applied to vehicles in which a case for storing an airbag that can be deployed on the front side of a windshield is disposed close to the lower surface of the hood.

It is a schematic plan view which shows the front part structure of the vehicle which has the pedestrian protection apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic plan view which shows the state which the airbag expand | deployed in the vehicle. It is a control block diagram of this pedestrian protection device for vehicles. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a single item perspective view of a cowl member. It is an arrow view by the arrow B of FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an effect | action when an impact is added to a case from upper direction in the state which an airbag does not expand | deploy. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 for a modified example of the first embodiment. It is a control block diagram about the modification of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 4 about 2nd Embodiment. It is a single item perspective view of a cowl member concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 4 about the 1st other example of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 4 about the 2nd other example of 2nd Embodiment. It is a single-piece | unit perspective view of the cowl member about the modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure equivalent to FIG. 4 about 3rd Embodiment. It is a single-piece | unit perspective view of the cowl member about 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Windshield 4 Airbag 12, 12 Inflator 21 Bonnet hood 25, 60, 90 Cowl member (body component)
25b, 25b Long hole 30, 61, 80 Case 41 ... 41 Stat bolt (bolt member)
42 ... 42 Nut (nut member)
50, 50, 50 ', 50' locking mechanism (locking means)
52,52 Pin member 55,55 Solenoid 56,56 Pin member 91 ... 91 Sliding resistance material

Claims (9)

A vehicle pedestrian protection device in which a case storing an airbag that can be deployed on the front side of the windshield is disposed close to the lower surface of the hood,
A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, wherein the case is attached to a vehicle body constituent member so as to be displaceable downward. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1,
The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the case is displaced downward when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 2,
The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the case is attached to the vehicle body constituent member via a sliding contact resistance member, so that the case is displaced downward when a predetermined impact force is applied from above. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 2,
One of the case or the vehicle body component member is provided with a long hole extending in the vertical direction,
A bolt member is fixed to the other of the case or the vehicle body component member and is inserted through the elongated hole.
The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the case is displaced downward when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above by screwing a nut member to the bolt member. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 4,
A pedestrian protection device for a vehicle, comprising a locking means for locking the case to the vehicle body side member so that the case is not displaced downward when the airbag is deployed. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 5,
In the case where the elongated hole is provided in the vehicle body component member,
The vehicular pedestrian characterized in that the locking means includes the long hole of the vehicle body constituting member and a pin member that protrudes from the case side and protrudes into a lower end portion of the long hole when the airbag is deployed. Protective device. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 6,
The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the pin member protrudes from the case side by a gas pressure ejected from a gas generator when the airbag is deployed. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 6,
The pedestrian protection device for vehicles, wherein the pin member protrudes from the case side by a solenoid when the airbag is deployed. The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 2,
The vehicle pedestrian protection device according to claim 1, wherein the case is displaced downward when an impact force of a predetermined level or more is applied from above due to the vehicle body constituting member being weak.

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