JP2007022444A5 - - Google Patents

Description

Airbag device with horn switch

  The present invention relates to an airbag device with a horn switch for a driver's seat of an automobile, and more particularly to a horn ring structure of the horn switch device.

As an airbag device with a horn switch for a driver's seat, a decorative member is fixed to a portion on the steering shaft extension of the steering device, and a horn (horn) is sounded by pressing this decorative member. There is a prior invention of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-22943 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-212647) filed.

  FIG. 4 is a front view of the airbag device with a horn switch according to the invention of the prior application. As shown in the figure, the decorative member 6 is disposed at the center of the steering handle 30, the horn ring 7A is disposed on the outer periphery thereof, and the horn base 1 is disposed on the outer periphery thereof. Further, an air bag cover 21 for storing the air bag is disposed on the outside thereof.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the horn switch device M1 of the airbag device with a horn switch. The horn switch device M1 has a bowl-shaped cylindrical shape, a spring (coil spring) 2 placed at the center of the bottom of the horn base 1, a spring plate 3 that holds the spring 2 at its peripheral edge, and the spring plate 3 The decorative member sheet 5 placed thereon, the decorative member 6 placed so as to cover the decorative member sheet 5, and the members 5, 6 are slidably fitted, and both the members 5, 6 are springs. 2 is provided with a cylindrical horn ring 7A provided with a hook projecting inward that serves as a stopper for holding it so that it does not fly out by the urging force of 2. The horn ring 7A is engaged in the saddle-shaped cylindrical horn base 1. The horn base 1 is accommodated in a central recess 21a of an airbag cover 21 that accommodates an airbag.

  The airbag cover 21 includes an airbag 22 including an airbag body 10a and a cylindrical tether belt 11a that regulates the extension length of the body. The airbag 22 is folded in a bellows shape in the occupant side direction. Housed in the cover 21. The airbag main body 10 a is fixed to the base plate 26 by a cushion ring 25 inserted into the airbag 22. The airbag cover 21 is fixed to the base plate 26 so as to cover them.

The end portion of the cylindrical tether belt 11a is sandwiched between the concave portion 21a at the center portion of the airbag cover 21 and the connecting member 23, and in this state, the concave portion is formed using the bolt 4 and the nut that protrude to the back side of the horn base 1. By fixing 21a and the connection member 23, the edge part of the said cylindrical tether belt 11a is fixed to an airbag apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing an engaged state of the horn base 1 and the horn ring 7A shown in FIG. The horn base 1 has a bowl-shaped cylindrical shape, and a columnar cylindrical side wall 1b is erected vertically from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 1a. Two lines passing through the center of the horn base 1 are perpendicular to the cylindrical side wall 1b. a position facing on a line crossing, four engagement holes 1c for engaging Kagiashi portion 7Ab of the horn ring 7A to be described later is provided on. The horn ring 7A is composed of a ring- shaped flange portion 7Aa and four key foot portions 7Ab protruding at a predetermined interval from a part below the ring- shaped flange portion 7Aa, and the shape thereof is a wedge shape. The four key feet 7Ab are provided at opposite positions on the diagonal line of the horn ring 7A, like the horn base 1. Then, in the state shown in the drawing, the protruding portion of the Kagiashi portion 7Ab of 2 pairs of the opposite is inserted into the engagement hole 1c Kagiashi portion 7Ab, and the left side surface in FIG engagement hole 1c in surface contact The horn ring 7A can not be removed from the horn base 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the bowl-shaped cylindrical horn base 1 shown in FIGS. The horn base 1 is integrally formed of synthetic resin, and a substantially regular square hole 1d through which the bolt 4 is inserted is provided at the center of the bottom 1a. A cylindrical columnar side wall 1b is erected vertically from an outer peripheral edge 1f of the bottom portion 1a, and an upper end 1e of the columnar side wall 1b extends outward in a bowl shape. Four engagement holes 1c in a position already described is provided in the cylindrical side wall 1b.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective view of the horn ring 7A shown in FIGS. The horn ring 7A is composed of a ring- shaped flange portion 7Aa serving as the stopper and four key foot portions 7Ab protruding at a predetermined interval from a part below the ring- shaped flange portion 7Aa, and the shape thereof is a wedge shape. The foot portion 7Ab is provided at the position described above, and is composed of two pairs of two key foot portions 7Ab at opposing positions. Since the inner wall surfaces of these key feet 7Ab are formed on the same circumference, the decorative member sheet 5 and the decorative member 6 fitted in the horn ring 7A slide along the inner wall surface. Is possible.

FIG. 8B is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the key foot portion 7Ab of the horn ring 7A, and the shape of the horn ring 7A will be described with reference to FIG.
The height L ₁ from the upper end of the ring Jotsuba portion 7Aa of the horn ring 7A to the lower end of the Kagiashi portion 7Ab is substantially the height of the inner peripheral wall of the horn base 1 the same, about half of its height L ₁ Kagiashi portion the height _{L 2} of 7Ab, about one third of its height _{L 1} is the height _{L 3} of the ring Jotsuba unit 7Aa. Then, the lateral width _{L 4} of Kagiashi portion 7Ab is slightly smaller than the width of the engagement hole 1c, the projecting width _{L 5} of Kagiashi portion 7Ab is smaller than the thickness of the engaging hole 1c. The thickness _{W 1} of the ring Jotsuba portion 7Aa is about fold Kagiashi portion thickness of 7Ab _{W 2} contiguous thereto, the lateral width _{L 4} of Kagiashi portion 7Ab is about fold thickness _{W 1} of the ring Jotsuba portion 7Aa is there.

More upon assembly of the horn ring 7A of shape as the horn base 1, move the position of the Kagiashi portion 7Ab and the horn base 1 of the engagement hole 1c, the key to the upper end portion of the engagement hole 1c When the key portion of the foot portion 7Ab is pushed in from the top of FIG. 7 to be engaged, the horn ring 7A is in contact with the outer peripheral edge 1f of the horn base 1 while the lower end portion of the key foot portion 7Ab is in contact with the horn. The base 1 is fitted. Since the key foot portion 7Ab has a wedge shape, the key foot portion 7Ab has a structure that is easy to be pushed in from the top and engaged, and is difficult to come off.

Wherein the hook portion of the Kagiashi portion 7Ab is prevented from disengagement from the engagement hole 1c is its Kagiashi unit as effective as larger protruding length L ₅ of 7Ab, its protruding length L ₅ too And the horn ring 7A for engaging the key part with the engagement hole 1c has a limit of elastic deformation, making it difficult to engage. Therefore, the shape of the key portion is determined by the balance between the difficulty of detachment and the ease of engagement. The shape of the horn ring 7A, the ring of Jotsuba portion 7Aa height L ₃ is low, the Kagiashi portion that large elastic deformation from the lateral width L ₄ is narrow 7Ab, easy to increase the projecting width L ₅ shape It is.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a state where the airbag 22 of the airbag device with a horn switch is inflated and deployed by detecting an impact such as a vehicle collision. When the gas generated in the inflator 24 by the impact detection is introduced into the airbag 22, the airbag cover 21 receives the expansion force of the airbag 22, and the horn switch device M <b> 1 and the recessed portion at the center of the airbag cover 21. The air bag cover 21 is split along a tear line formed in the air bag cover 21 leaving 21a, and the split air bag cover 21 is radially expanded.

  Immediately after splitting the airbag cover 21, the tubular tether belt 11a described above is rapidly extended by the internal pressure thereof, and the airbag main body 10a is extended with this movement. However, when the airbag 22 detects an impact, When the airbag 22 is inflated at a maximum speed of 300 km / h and the airbag 22 is fully inflated, the inflation force suddenly shuts off, so that the inflating force that has lost the escape is a horn switch such as the horn base 1 and the horn ring 7A. Join the device M1 at once.

The horn switch device M1 according to the invention of the prior application employs the horn ring 7A having the structure described above, thereby solving problems such as the horn switch device M1 being destroyed by the expansion force.
Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-22943

  The present invention is a further improvement of the prior invention, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air bag device with a horn switch that further enhances safety against the direct impact of the inflating force caused by the impact deployment of the air bag. .

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is an airbag device with a horn switch having a horn switch device at a substantially central portion of a steering wheel, wherein the horn switch device is a saddle type cylindrical horn base and A horn ring including a cylindrical horn ring, and a plurality of engagement protrusions formed on a lower portion of the cylindrical outer wall, and a horn base having a plurality of engagement holes formed in the cylindrical wall; The plurality of engagement holes and engagement projections are provided at positions that do not oppose each other on a line passing through the center of the horn ring.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the airbag device with a horn switch according to the first aspect, the shape of the engaging convex portion is a wedge shape.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the airbag device with a horn switch according to the first or second aspect, the horn ring is provided with a flange on the upper part of the inner wall of the cylinder.

Cylindrical horn ring of the present invention, without increasing the protruding length of the engaging convex portion, by providing a position for forming the engaging protrusion in a position not on a line passing through the center of the horn ring, wherein The engagement convex portion is more difficult to separate from the engagement hole.

In addition, the horn ring has a strong cylindrical shape, and a wedge-shaped engagement convex portion is formed below the outer periphery of the horn ring. Therefore, the flange portion and the engaging convex portion of the horn ring 7 are more difficult to break due to the expansion force.
According to the configuration of the horn ring of the present invention, the safety of the horn switch device is further enhanced.

Hereinafter, an air bag device with a horn switch for a driver's seat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowl-shaped cylindrical horn base 1.
The same members as those in the conventional airbag device with a horn switch shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In addition, since the arrangement | positioning structure of each member of the airbag apparatus with a horn switch of this embodiment is the same as what was demonstrated in FIG. 5, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

Configuration of the horn base 1 shown in FIG. 1 has been described located not on a line engagement hole 1c passes through the center of each other cylindrical side wall 1b, for example 3 except that provided in the equally divided positions in FIG. 6 content The description is omitted because it is the same. The upper end of the to the upper end of the engagement hole 1c height of the cylindrical sidewall 1b is approximately half the height of the cylindrical side wall 1b, the width of the engagement hole 1c is be formed larger than the width of the engaging portion 7b The engaging projection 7b of the horn ring 7 described later has a size that can be engaged.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the horn ring 7 as viewed from below. The horn ring 7 is integrally formed of synthetic resin and has a circular cylindrical shape. The horn ring 7 includes an upper flange 7a and a lower engaging projection 7b, and the shape of the flange 7a is the same as that of a conventional ring-shaped flange 7Aa. The engaging protrusion 7b is a member engaged with the engagement hole 1c of the horn base 1, extending downwardly from the flange portion 7a in the same shape, and its outer periphery is formed with protrusions wedge, this The engaging convex part 7b is provided in the lower part of the outer periphery of the horn ring 7 at a position not on a line passing through the center of the horn ring 7, for example, a position divided into three equal parts.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the engaging convex portion 7 b of the horn ring 7. The shape of the horn ring 7 will be described with reference to this figure. The height of the horn ring 7 at the height L ₁ and substantially the same horn ring 7A, similarly the height of the engaging portion 7b in the height L ₂ substantially the same Kagiashi portion 7Ab, further, the flange portion the height of 7a is substantially the same as the height _{L 3} of the ring-shaped flange portion 7Aa. The thickness of the flange portion 7a in the thickness W ₁ substantially the same ring Jotsuba portion 7Aa, the thickness of the engaging portion 7b contiguous thereto is substantially the same as the thickness W ₂ of the conventional Kagiashi portion 7Ab. Here, while the lateral width _{L 4} of the conventional Kagiashi portion 7Ab is approximately times the thickness _{W 1} of the ring Jotsuba portion 7Aa, the width L ₄ of the engaging portion 7b in this horn switch device M1 Is the length of the inner circumference and is connected continuously. The protruding length _{L 5} of the engaging portion 7b is smaller than the protruding length _{L 5} of the Kagiashi portion 7Ab.

Next, an attachment procedure for engaging and fixing the horn ring 7 to the horn base 1 will be described again with reference to FIG. After inserting the bottom 1 a bolt 4 into a substantially square shape hole in the horn base 1, the bottom spring 2 to 1 a, the spring plate 3 thereon, further decorative member sheet 5 thereon, a last decorative The member 6 is placed. Thereafter, while the decorative member 6 and the decorative member sheet 5 is fitted into the horn ring 7, by aligning the engaging portion 7b and the horn base 1 of the engagement hole 1c, horn base 1 and the decorative The lower end portion of the horn ring 7 is pushed into the gap between the members 6 for engagement. Since the shape of the engaging convex portion 7b is a wedge shape, it is easy to push in and engage, and has a structure that is difficult to come off.

By the way, the length of the outer periphery of the horn ring 7 including the three engaging convex portions 7b is longer than the inner peripheral length of the horn base 1, but the horn ring 7 is made of a synthetic resin, so the convex portion 7b after engaged with the engagement hole 1c, while bending the flange portion 7a of the engaging portion 7b of the other two places may be engaged with the engagement hole 1c. The shape of the engagement convex portion 7b is a balance between the difficulty of detachment from the engagement hole 1c of the horn base 1 and the ease of engagement, similar to the shape of the key foot portion 7Ab of the prior invention. It is determined. The shape of the horn ring 7 has a smaller elastic deformation of said is a flange portion 7a-circular cylindrical shape composed of the engaging convex portion 7b, difficult to increase the projected width L ₅ of the engaging protrusion 7b Shape.
Note that four or more engaging convex portions 7b may be provided on the outer periphery of the horn ring 7 as long as each engaging convex portion 7b is arranged at a position not on the line passing through the center of the flange portion 7a.

The horn ring 7 fitted to the horn base 1 has the three engaging projections 7b of the horn ring 7 due to the expansion force, like the key foot portion 7Ab of the prior invention of FIG. The base 1 is bent in the direction of the center line. However, since the shape of the horn ring 7 fitted to the horn base 1 is a circular cylinder composed of the upper flange portion 7a and the lower engagement convex portion 7b as described above, it is elastically deformed. Further, the three engaging projections 7b of the horn ring 7 are provided at the positions of the apexes of a triangle formed by dividing the inner circumference of the horn ring 7 into three equal parts. A bending moment is applied to the engaging convex portion 7b facing one side of the square. However, since the length of the one side is shorter than the diameter of the inner periphery of the horn ring 7A of the prior invention, the bending moment is small. Therefore, the arrangement of the engaging projections 7b is small. Despite not possible to increase the projecting width L ₅ of the engaging convex portion 7b, the shape and arrangement of the engaging portion 7b, a horn ring 7 that wrinkles engaging portion 7b is smaller from the horn base 1 It becomes more difficult to leave.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the horn ring 7 has a strong cylindrical shape, and a wedge-shaped engagement protrusion 7b is formed below the outer periphery thereof. Of course, since 7b has a structurally strong shape as a whole, the flange portion 7a and the engaging convex portion 7b of the horn ring 7 are further hardly broken by the expansion force.

As described above, the shape of the engagement convex portion 7b of the present embodiment is related to the difficulty of detachment of the horn base 1 from the engagement hole 1c, similar to the shape of the key foot portion 7Ab of the prior invention. is determined by the ease balance of focus, the cylindrical shape before Symbol horn base 1, since poor elastic deformation than the shape of the horn base 1A of the prior invention, the protruding width of the engagement convex portion 7b Although it cannot be enlarged, by providing the position where the engaging convex portion 7b is formed at a position not on the line passing through the center of the horn ring 7, the engaging convex portion 7b is further detached from the engaging hole 1c. It becomes difficult.

The height of the horn ring 7 of this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the horn ring 7A of the prior invention, but the horn ring 7 has a strong cylindrical shape and has a wedge-like engagement below its outer periphery. Since the convex portion 7b is formed, the engaging convex portion 7b as a whole has a structurally strong shape as a whole, so that the flange portion 7a and the engaging convex portion 7b of the horn ring 7 are formed by the expansion force. It becomes harder to destroy.
As described above, the configuration of the horn ring 7 according to the present embodiment makes the horn switch device more secure and makes it easier to obtain customer trust.

It is a perspective view of a saddle type cylindrical horn base. It is the top view which looked at the horn ring from the bottom. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a part of a horn ring. It is a front view of the airbag apparatus with a horn switch. It is a cross-sectional view of an airbag device with a horn switch. It is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the engagement state of the horn base shown in FIG. 5, and a horn ring. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a saddle-shaped cylindrical horn base shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective view of the horn ring shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, and FIG. 8B is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a key foot portion of the horn ring. It is the schematic diagram which showed the state which the airbag of the said airbag apparatus with a horn switch inflate-deployed by impact detections, such as a vehicle collision.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... horn base, 1c ... engaging hole, 2 ... spring, 3 ... spring plate, 4 ... bolt, 5 ... decorative member sheet, 6 ... decorative member , 7 ... Horn ring, 7a ... collar, 7b ... engagement convex part, 21 ... airbag cover, 22 ... airbag, 23 ... connecting member, 24 ... Inflator.