JP2007283978A - Knee airbag support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently restrain the legs of an occupant even in the case of an instrument panel in a developing range of a knee airbag having two steps, upper and lower, protruded rearward in a cabin on the lower side. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle is provided with a first instrument panel 12 disposed at the front in the cabin, and a second instrument panel 14 disposed below the first instrument panel 12 to protrude rearward of the first instrument panel 12 in the cabin. A knee airbag support means is provided to make the cabin rearward side of the first instrument panel 12 and the cabin rearward side of the second instrument panel 14, roughly flat continuously. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a knee airbag support structure capable of restraining a lower limb of an occupant.

There is a structure in which the lower cover of the dashboard is displaced and deformed forward of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed so that the lower limbs of the occupant can be restrained by the knee airbag (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, in the case of a vehicle in which the instrument panel has two upper and lower stages and the lower instrument panel protrudes toward the rear of the passenger compartment, the knee air provided on the lower instrument panel side When the bag is inflated and deployed, the knee airbag may escape to the upper instrument panel side (upper part of the lower instrument panel), and the occupant's lower limbs may not be sufficiently restrained.
JP-A-8-80797

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention sufficiently restrains the occupant's lower limb even when the instrument panel in the deployment region of the knee airbag has a two-step upper and lower step projecting to the rear of the passenger compartment. An object is to obtain a knee airbag support structure that can be made.

  In order to achieve the above object, a knee airbag support structure according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a first instrument panel disposed in front of a passenger compartment, and a lower portion of the first instrument panel. A second instrument panel disposed so as to protrude rearward from the first instrument panel and the second instrument panel, and is inflated and deployed by supplying gas to the passenger. A knee airbag unit including a knee airbag capable of restraining a lower limb; and a rear side of the first instrument panel and a rear side of the second instrument panel when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. And knee airbag supporting means for continuously and substantially flat.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the stepped instrument is provided with the second instrument panel disposed at the lower part of the first instrument panel so as to protrude rearward from the first instrument panel. In the instrument panel, when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the rear compartment side of the first instrument panel and the rear compartment side of the second instrument panel can be continuously made substantially flat by the knee airbag support means. Therefore, since the reaction force generated in the knee airbag can be suitably received by the substantially flat first instrument panel and second instrument panel, the occupant's lower limb can be sufficiently restrained.

  Further, the knee airbag support structure according to claim 2 is the knee airbag support structure according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured such that the second instrument is inflated when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. The panel is configured to rotate toward the front of the passenger compartment.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the second instrument panel is rotated toward the front of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the rear side of the passenger compartment of the first instrument panel and It is possible to easily make the second instrument panel on the rear side of the passenger compartment continuously flat.

  Further, the knee airbag support structure according to claim 3 is the knee airbag support structure according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured such that the second instrument is inflated when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. The panel is configured to slide toward the front of the passenger compartment.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the second instrument panel is slid toward the front of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. It is easy to make the instrument panel rear side of the two instrument panels continuously flat.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the knee airbag support structure according to the first aspect, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured such that when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, By the reaction force, the joint portion between the first instrument panel and the second instrument panel is separated, and the second instrument panel is configured to be displaced and deformed forward in the passenger compartment.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the joint portion between the first instrument panel and the second instrument panel is separated by the reaction force of the knee airbag, and the second instrument Since the panel is displaced and deformed to the front side of the passenger compartment, it is easy to continuously make the rear side of the first instrument panel and the rear side of the second instrument panel substantially flat. it can.

  Further, the knee airbag support structure according to claim 5 is the knee airbag support structure according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured such that the second instrument is inflated when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. The restricting member disposed on the panel protrudes from the upper surface of the second instrument panel to the upper side of the passenger compartment, and is interposed on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the first instrument panel.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed, the restricting member disposed on the second instrument panel is projected from the upper surface of the second instrument panel to the upper side of the passenger compartment, Since it is configured to intervene in the rear side of the cabin of the 1 instrument panel, it is easy to continuously make the rear side of the cabin of the first instrument panel and the rear side of the cabin of the second instrument panel substantially flat. Can be.

  As described above, according to the present invention, even when the instrument panel in the deployment region of the knee airbag has a two-step upper and lower step projecting to the rear of the passenger compartment, the occupant's lower limbs are sufficiently restrained. A knee airbag supporting structure that can be provided can be provided.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. In each drawing, the front of the passenger compartment is indicated by an arrow FR, the rear of the passenger compartment is indicated by an arrow RE, the upper part of the passenger compartment is indicated by an arrow UP, and the lower part of the passenger compartment is indicated by an arrow DO. First, the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a knee airbag support structure according to the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 10 is provided in the front part of the passenger compartment. The instrument panel 10 is formed as a separate body in two upper and lower stages, and a lower second instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as “second instrument panel”) 14 is an upper first instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as “first instrument panel”). And a space S is formed on the rear side of the first instrument panel 12 and on the upper side of the second instrument panel 14. Yes. By forming the space S, the vehicle compartment space is expanded.

  Inside the second instrument panel 14, a knee airbag unit 20 including a knee airbag 22 is disposed in a state of being fixed to the second instrument panel 14. The knee airbag unit 20 immediately injects and supplies gas from an inflator unit (not shown) as a gas ejection device into the knee airbag 22 when an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like. Then, the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed from the wall surface 14A of the second instrument panel 14 on the rear side of the passenger compartment to the passenger compartment.

  Further, the second instrument panel 14 and the knee airbag unit 20 are configured to be rotatable around a support shaft 16 provided on the support member 24, and the second instrument panel 14 is inflated when the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed. The upper side of the is configured to be rotatable toward the front of the passenger compartment. Thus, the wall surface 12A on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the first instrument panel 12 and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the second instrument panel 14 are continuously flat. The support member 24 is supported by an instrument panel reinforcement 25 which is a high-strength and rigid member arranged with the vehicle width direction as a longitudinal direction.

  Here, if the wall surface 12A on the vehicle rear side of the first instrument panel 12 and the wall surface 14A on the vehicle rear side of the second instrument panel 14 are not continuously flat, as shown in FIG. The airbag 22 escapes to a space S formed between the rear side of the first instrument panel 12 and the upper side of the second instrument panel 14, and the occupant's lower limbs cannot be sufficiently restrained.

  Therefore, the wall surface 12A of the first instrument panel 12 on the rear side of the passenger compartment and the wall surface 14A of the second instrument panel 14 on the rear side of the passenger compartment are continuously made substantially flat, and the wall surfaces 12A, 14A continuously made substantially flat. Thus, the knee airbag 22 is supported. As a result, the reaction force when the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed and is pressed against the occupant's lower limb can be suitably received, and the occupant's lower limb can be sufficiently restrained.

  The second instrument panel 14 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) so that it cannot normally rotate. When the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, the fixing of the fixing member is released. The upper side of the knee airbag 22 is rotated toward the front of the passenger compartment by the reaction force of the knee airbag 22. The second instrument panel 14 is configured to be rotatable forward of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag 22 is operated, which is the knee airbag support means of the first embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment having such a configuration will be described. When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like, the inflator operates immediately and gas is injected and supplied into the knee airbag 22. When gas is supplied to the knee airbag 22, the knee airbag 22 is inflated, and the wall surface 14 </ b> A on the rear side of the vehicle interior of the second instrument panel 14 is broken and deployed in the vehicle interior, and is pressed against the lower limbs of the passenger.

  At the same time, the fixing by the fixing member is released, and the upper side of the second instrument panel 14 moves toward the front of the passenger compartment centering on the support shaft 16 due to the reaction force when the knee airbag 22 is pressed against the lower limbs of the occupant. By rotating, the wall surface 14A of the second instrument panel 14 on the rear side of the passenger compartment and the wall surface 12A of the first instrument panel 12 on the rear side of the passenger compartment are continuously flattened. Accordingly, the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 can be suitably received by the wall surfaces 12A, 14A that are continuously flat, and the lower limbs of the occupant can be sufficiently restrained.

  In addition, when the second instrument panel 14 is configured to rotate to the front side of the passenger compartment in this way, the second instrument panel 14 rotates just in the opposite direction to the inflating and deploying direction by the knee airbag 22. The positional accuracy of the knee airbag 22 is improved. Further, since the second instrument panel 14 is merely rotated toward the front side of the passenger compartment, the configuration is simple, and the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 is used, so that it can be easily rotated.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the thing equivalent to 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating a knee airbag support structure according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the second instrument panel 14 is configured to be slidable (parallel movement) forward of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed.

  That is, a long hole 24A is formed in the support member 24 of the knee airbag unit 20 in the longitudinal direction of the passenger compartment, and the support shafts 26 projecting from both ends of the knee airbag unit 20 are formed in the long hole 24A. It is inserted and supported. The knee airbag unit 20 is fixed to the second instrument panel 14, and elongated holes 14 </ b> B parallel to the elongated holes 24 </ b> A are formed on the left and right side walls of the second instrument panel 14. A support shaft 18 protruding from a vehicle body frame (not shown) is inserted through the long hole 14B. Therefore, the second instrument panel 14 is configured to be slidable along with the knee airbag unit 20 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle compartment along the long holes 14B and 24A.

  In the normal state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the support shaft 18 is disposed on the front side of the passenger compartment in the long hole 14B, and the support shaft 26 is disposed on the rear side of the passenger compartment in the long hole 24A. In this state, the second instrument panel 14 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) so that it cannot slide. When the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, the fixing member is released, and the second instrument panel 14 slides along the long holes 14B and 24A toward the front of the passenger compartment due to the reaction force of the knee airbag 22. It is supposed to be.

  Thus, the wall surface 12A on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the first instrument panel 12 and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the second instrument panel 14 are continuously flat. Therefore, the length of the long holes 14B and 24A is the length until the wall surface 12A on the rear side of the first instrument panel 12 and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the second instrument panel 14 are continuously flat. It is said. Further, a configuration in which the second instrument panel 14 is slidable toward the front of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag 22 is operated is the knee airbag support means of the second embodiment.

  Next, the operation of the second embodiment having such a configuration will be described. When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like, the inflator operates immediately and gas is injected and supplied into the knee airbag 22. When the gas is supplied to the knee airbag 22, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the knee airbag 22 is inflated, and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the vehicle interior of the second instrument panel 14 is broken and deployed in the vehicle interior. And press against the lower limbs of the passenger.

  At the same time, the fixing by the fixing member is released, and the second instrument panel 14 together with the knee airbag unit 20 is moved into the long holes 14B and 24A by the reaction force when the knee airbag 22 is pressed against the lower limbs of the occupant. The wall surface 14A of the second instrument panel 14 on the rear side of the passenger compartment and the wall surface 12A of the first instrument panel 12 on the rear side of the passenger compartment are continuously flattened. Accordingly, the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 can be suitably received by the wall surfaces 12A, 14A that are continuously flat, and the lower limbs of the occupant can be sufficiently restrained.

  In this way, when the second instrument panel 14 is configured to slide to the front side of the passenger compartment, the wall surface 12A on the rear rear side of the first instrument panel 12 and the wall surface 14A on the rear rear side of the second instrument panel 14 are provided. Continuous flatness is the best. That is, the wall surface 12A and the wall surface 14A can be made continuous and completely flat. Further, since the second instrument panel 14 is simply slid to the front side of the passenger compartment, the configuration is simple, and the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 is used, so that it can be easily slid.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the thing equivalent to 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view illustrating a knee airbag support structure according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, when the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, the second instrument panel 14 is displaced to the front side of the passenger compartment because the joint 13 with the first instrument panel 12 is separated (joining is released). It is configured to be deformed.

  That is, the joint portion 13 between the first instrument panel 12 and the second instrument panel 14 is configured so that the joint is released when a load of a predetermined value position or more is applied, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition, a thin portion 14 </ b> C is formed at the upper end portion of the second instrument panel 14. Therefore, the second instrument panel 14 is configured to be able to be displaced and deformed so that the joint portion 13 is separated by the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 and at least the upper side thereof is crushed toward the front side of the passenger compartment. .

  Normally, the joint 13 is fixed so as not to be separated by a fixing member (not shown) so that the joint 13 is not easily separated (bonding is not released). When the knee airbag 22 is inflated and deployed, the fixing member 13 is fixed. Is fixed, and the joint portion 13 is separated. The second instrument panel 14 is configured to be easily bent by the thin portion 14C. In addition, the configuration in which the joint portion 13 between the first instrument panel 12 and the second instrument panel 14 is separable when the knee airbag 22 is activated and the thin portion 14C is formed at the upper end portion of the second instrument panel 14 is the third embodiment. Knee airbag support means.

  Next, the operation of the third embodiment having such a configuration will be described. When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like, the inflator operates immediately and gas is injected and supplied into the knee airbag 22. When the gas is supplied to the knee airbag 22, as shown in FIG. 3B, the knee airbag 22 is inflated, and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the cabin of the second instrument panel 14 is broken and deployed in the cabin. And press against the lower limbs of the passenger.

  At the same time, the fixing by the fixing member is released, and the joint portion 13 between the first instrument panel 12 and the second instrument panel 14 is separated by the reaction force when the knee airbag 22 presses against the occupant's lower leg (joining). Is released), and the upper end portion of the second instrument panel 14 is bent by the thin portion 14C, and the second instrument panel 14 is crushed toward the front side of the passenger compartment. As a result, the gap between the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the compartment of the second instrument panel 14 and the wall surface 12A on the rear side of the compartment of the first instrument panel 12 is filled and continuously flattened.

  Accordingly, the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 can be suitably received by the wall surfaces 12A, 14A that are continuously flat, and the lower limbs of the occupant can be sufficiently restrained. In this way, when the second instrument panel 14 is separated from the first instrument panel 12 and is crushed to the front side of the passenger compartment, it is easy to adjust the joint strength of the joint part 13 against the reaction force of the knee airbag 22. it can. In addition, since the second instrument panel 14 is only crushed toward the front side of the passenger compartment, the configuration is simple, and the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 is used, so that it can be crushed easily.

  Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the thing equivalent to 1st Embodiment-3rd Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view illustrating a knee airbag support structure according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the fourth embodiment, the knee airbag unit 20 includes a sub airbag 28 that inflates and deploys toward the vehicle compartment upper side simultaneously with the inflation and deployment of the knee airbag 22. As the second instrument panel 14 is pushed up by the sub-airbag 28, the second instrument panel 14 protrudes from the upper surface of the second instrument panel 14 to the upper side of the passenger compartment, and serves as a regulating member interposed on the rear side of the passenger compartment of the first instrument panel 12. A glove box 30 is embedded so as to be movable up and down.

  The glove box 30 has a substantially rectangular box shape, and its upper surface constitutes the upper surface of the second instrument panel 14. That is, an opening 14 </ b> D is formed on the upper surface of the second instrument panel 14, and the opening 14 </ b> D is closed by the upper surface of the glove box 30. Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the glove box 30 is opened at the lower peripheral edge of the second instrument panel 14 so as not to fall off from the second instrument panel 14 when protruding from the upper surface of the second instrument panel 14 to the upper side of the passenger compartment. A flange 32 as a stopper that is engaged from the inside is formed at the peripheral edge of the portion 14D. Further, the glove box 30 has its embedding (arrangement) position set so that the wall surface 30A on the rear side of the passenger compartment is continuously flat with the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the second instrument panel 14. ing.

  Further, the glove box 30 is fixed by a fixing member (not shown) so that the glove box 30 cannot normally protrude upward from the opening 14D of the second instrument panel to the upper side of the passenger compartment. At the time of inflating and deploying 28), the fixing member is released and is configured to be able to protrude from the opening 14D to the upper side of the passenger compartment. The configuration in which the glove box 30 protrudes from the second instrument panel 14 to the upper side of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag 22 is operated is the knee airbag support means of the fourth embodiment. Further, the knee airbag 22 and the sub-airbag 28 are configured to inflate and deploy when gas is injected and supplied from the same inflator.

  Next, the operation of the fourth embodiment having such a configuration will be described. When an impact of a predetermined value or more is applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like, the inflator operates immediately and gas is injected and supplied into the knee airbag 22. When gas is supplied to the knee airbag 22, as shown in FIG. 4 (B), the knee airbag 22 is inflated, and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the cabin of the second instrument panel 14 is broken and deployed in the cabin. And press against the lower limbs of the passenger.

  At the same time, the fixing by the fixing member is released, gas is injected and supplied from the same inflator as the knee airbag 22 to the sub airbag 28, and the sub airbag 28 is inflated and deployed. Then, the glove box 30 is pushed up by the sub-airbag 28 and protrudes upward from the opening 14D of the second instrument panel 14 until the flange 32 engages with the peripheral edge of the opening 14D. . As a result, the glove box 30 is interposed on the rear side of the first instrument panel 12, and the wall surface 14A on the rear side of the second instrument panel 14 and the wall surface 30A on the rear side of the compartment of the glove box 30 are continuous. It is made almost flat.

  Accordingly, the reaction force of the knee airbag 22 can be suitably received by the wall surfaces 14A and 30A that are continuously flat, and the occupant's lower limbs can be sufficiently restrained. The restricting member is not limited to the glove box 30, but a storage member (not shown) other than the glove box 30 may be used or provided separately. However, when the glove box 30 is used, Since the glove box 30 is an existing part, the manufacturing cost is low.

  Further, the means for pushing up the glove box 30 to the upper side of the passenger compartment is not limited to the sub airbag 28 that operates simultaneously with the knee airbag 22, but if the sub airbag 28 that operates simultaneously with the knee airbag 22 is used. The structure is simple and the glove box 30 can be pushed up easily. Further, when the knee airbag 22 and the sub airbag 28 are inflated and deployed by the same inflator, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the knee airbag unit 20 can be downsized.

Explanatory drawing explaining the knee airbag support structure of 1st Embodiment Explanatory drawing explaining the knee airbag support structure of 2nd Embodiment Explanatory drawing explaining the knee airbag support structure of 3rd Embodiment Explanatory drawing explaining the knee airbag support structure of 4th Embodiment Explanatory drawing explaining the knee airbag support structure of a comparative example

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 12 1st instrument panel 12A Wall surface 14 2nd instrument panel 14A Wall surface 14B Long hole 14C Thin part 14D Opening part 16 Support axis 18 Support axis 20 Knee airbag unit 22 Knee airbag 24 Support member 24A Long hole 25 Instrument panel reinforcement 26 Support shaft 28 Sub airbag 30 Glove box (regulation member)
30A Wall 32 Flange

Claims (5)

A first instrument panel disposed in front of the passenger compartment;
A second instrument panel disposed at a lower part of the first instrument panel so as to protrude rearward from the first instrument panel;
A knee airbag unit including a knee airbag provided on the second instrument panel side and capable of restraining an occupant's lower limb by being inflated and deployed by supplying gas;
Knee airbag support means for continuously flattening the rear side of the first instrument panel and the rear side of the second instrument panel when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed;
A knee airbag supporting structure characterized by comprising:   2. The knee airbag according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured to rotate the second instrument panel toward the front of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. Support structure.   2. The knee airbag support according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support means is configured to slide the second instrument panel toward the front of the passenger compartment when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. Construction.   The knee airbag support means separates the joint between the first instrument panel and the second instrument panel by the reaction force of the knee airbag when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. The knee airbag support structure according to claim 1, wherein the instrument panel is configured to be displaced and deformed toward the front side of the passenger compartment.   The knee airbag support means causes the regulating member disposed on the second instrument panel to protrude upward from the upper surface of the second instrument panel when the knee airbag is inflated and deployed. The knee airbag support structure according to claim 1, wherein the knee airbag support structure is interposed between the first instrument panel and the rear side of the passenger compartment.

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