JP2008037370A - Airbag door part structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag door part being not interfered with a window glass at opening operation and being not torn off and scattered at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: Four plate-like hinge part 11 are projectedly provided on portions close to an inner side of one side side of a back surface of an airbag door part body 9 along a fragile part 5 with clearances. A first bendable part 13 for breaking the fragile part 5 and a second bendable part 15 engaged with a hook 49 are provided on the hinge part 11, the first bendable part 13 is bent to incline the airbag door part body 9 in an opening direction by a predetermined angle, and a hinge part 11 side portion is turned to a back side of a panel constitution member 1 to break the fragile part 5. The second bendable part 15 is curved/deformed so as to be left from the airbag device 25 making an engagement portion with the hook 49 as fulcrum after bending of the first bendable part 13, the hinge part 11 side portion of the airbag door part body 9 is drawn-in to the back side of the panel constitution member 1, and the portion other than the hinge part 11 side portion of the airbag door part body 9 is turned and stood up to a front side of the panel constitution member 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag door portion that is opened by breaking a fragile portion by an operation of an airbag device, for example, in a car collision.

Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag door portion that is easy to open by configuring the hinge portion serving as a fulcrum during opening operation of the airbag door portion with two parallel thin hinges, so-called double hinges. A structure is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-310100 (pages 5 and 6, FIGS. 1 and 3)

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the hinge part bends at two places, there is a dislike that the opening degree of the airbag door part becomes too large, and the airbag door part may interfere with the wind glass.

  Further, since the hinge portion is a thin hinge and is thin, it is easy to break, and it is dangerous if the airbag door portion is scattered by an impact when the airbag is deployed. In order to solve this, it is conceivable to mold the airbag door portion with a tough thermoplastic elastomer material, but the thermoplastic elastomer material is expensive compared to a general-purpose resin material such as polypropylene (PP). Incurs an increase in cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive airbag door portion that does not interfere with the wind glass during opening operation and that does not break apart and scatter.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the structure of the hinge portion serving as a fulcrum when the airbag door portion is opened is devised.

  Specifically, the present invention is directed to a structure of a substantially rectangular airbag door that is surrounded by a fragile portion formed on an interior panel of an automobile, and the fragile portion is broken and opened by operation of an airbag device. The following solutions were taken.

  That is, in the first aspect of the invention, a plate-like hinge portion is integrally provided so as to protrude along at least one side of the back surface of the airbag door portion main body along the fragile portion on the one side. Is supported on the fixed side and a first bendable part that bends and tilts the airbag door body in the opening direction by a predetermined angle to rotate the hinge part side part to the back side of the interior panel and break the fragile part. After the engagement member is engaged and the first bendable portion is bent, the hinge portion of the airbag door body is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement point with the engagement member as a fulcrum. A second bendable part that pulls the side part into the back side of the interior panel and rotates the part excluding the hinge part side part of the airbag door body to the front side of the interior panel to rise. Features.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first bendable portion is formed in a thin shape, and an air is provided between the first bendable portion and the second bendable portion. An inclined portion that abuts and supports the airbag door main body tilted downward toward the outside of the bag door portion and tilted by the bending of the first bendable portion is integrally provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the first bendable portion is formed in a thin wall shape, and the first bendable portion is formed on the back surface of the airbag door main body or the second bendable portion. A stopper portion that abuts and holds the tilting posture of the airbag door main body tilted by the bending of the curved portion is integrally projected.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a plurality of hinge portions are arranged at intervals.

  According to the first to third aspects of the invention, when the automobile collides and the airbag device is activated, the airbag is deployed, and the deployment pressure acts on the airbag door portion (airbag door portion main body), and is fragile. The part breaks. At this time, the first bendable portion of the hinge portion is bent and the airbag door body is tilted by a predetermined angle in the opening direction, and the hinge portion side portion rotates around the first bendable portion to the back side of the interior panel. Move. As a result, a pressing force acts on the fragile portion on one side of the front side of the vehicle body from above, so that the fragile portion can be broken smoothly and reliably. At the same time as the breakage of the fragile portion, in claim 2, the airbag door body is abutted and supported by the inclined portion, and in claim 3, the stopper portion is the second bendable portion or the back surface of the airbag door body. And the tilting posture of the airbag door body is maintained.

  Thereafter, the second bendable portion is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement portion with the engagement member supported on the fixed side as a fulcrum, and the hinge side portion of the airbag door body is the interior panel. The portion of the airbag door body except for the hinge portion side portion rotates to the front side of the interior panel and rises.

  Therefore, the airbag door body is slidably brought into contact with the rupture edge on the hinge portion side to prevent the fragile portion formation region (airbag door portion formation region) from protruding outward, and the opening degree of the airbag door portion is more than necessary. The interference with the window glass of the airbag door portion can be prevented.

  Moreover, since the hinge part is formed in a plate shape that can be bent and deformed, it effectively absorbs the deployment pressure of the airbag, making it difficult to break compared to the case of a thin hinge and preventing the airbag door part from scattering. can do. Therefore, as an anti-scattering measure, there is no need to mold the airbag door portion with a tough and expensive thermoplastic elastomer material, and an inexpensive airbag door portion can be obtained.

  Further, since the hinge portion is integrally projected at least on one side of the back surface of the airbag door main body so as to follow the weak portion on the one side, the hinge portion guides the airbag when the airbag is deployed. The number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the airbag chute member is separately provided and the airbag chute member is provided separately.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the hinge portions are not continuous, and a plurality of the hinge portions are arranged at intervals on the inner side of at least one side of the airbag door body. The rotational resistance against the individual hinge portions is reduced, and the airbag door portion can be opened smoothly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG.1 and FIG.2 shows the panel structural member 1 which comprises the right half of the upper panel in the instrument panel as an interior panel of a motor vehicle. This panel component member 1 is for a left-hand drive vehicle, and is disposed on the passenger seat side adjacent to the right side of the driver's seat. For example, the panel component member 1 is a single injection molded with a general-purpose resin material such as polypropylene (PP) containing glass fiber or the like. Although it is made of a material, it may have a two-layer structure in which the skin material is integrally attached to the base material.

  In the portion corresponding to the passenger seat on the rear surface of the panel component 1, the fracture groove portion 3 having a substantially V-shaped cross section is formed in a substantially rectangular ring shape in plan view by molding so as not to reach the surface, and the thin wall corresponding to the fracture groove portion 3 is formed. The fragile portion 5 having a substantially rectangular annular shape in plan view is formed on the panel component 1 so as not to be identified from the surface thereof, and the airbag door portion structure according to the first embodiment is applied to the inside surrounded by the fragile portion 5. Further, a so-called seamless type airbag door portion 7 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed integrally with a part of the panel constituting member 1. Note that the airbag door portion 7 may be of a type in which the fragile portion 5 can be identified from the surface of the panel constituent member 1.

  The airbag door portion 7 is of a single-open type, and extends on the vehicle body front side on the rear surface of the airbag door body 9 that forms the main body of the airbag door portion 7 (on the vehicle body front side of the breaking groove portion 3). On the inner side of the side 3a of the airbag door portion main body 9, the four plate-shaped hinge portions 11 having a substantially "f" shape in side view are spaced along the fragile portion 5 on the side 3a side. As a whole, they are integrally projected substantially vertically.

  Each of the hinge portions 11 has a first bendable portion 13 that is integrally formed on the back surface of the airbag door body 9 and a rectangular engagement hole 15a that engages a hook 49 described later. Between the second bendable part 15 near the protruding end part and the first bendable part 13 and the second bendable part 15, the airbag door part 7 is inclined downward (toward the front of the vehicle body). The upper end is integrally connected to the first bendable portion 13, and the lower end is composed of an inclined portion 17 that is integrally connected to the second bendable portion 15.

  A screw hole (see FIG. 3) is provided on the rear surface of the panel component member 1 corresponding to the other three sides (one side 3b on the rear side of the vehicle body and two sides 3c on the side side of the vehicle body) except the one side 3a on the vehicle body front side. A plurality of mounting boss portions 19 having a not-shown shape are reinforced with three reinforcing rib portions 21 so as to project integrally with a space therebetween.

  On the back surface of the airbag door portion 7 is an airbag device that accommodates a folded airbag 23 (shown in an initial deployment state in FIG. 3 and a deployment state in FIG. 4), an inflator (not shown), and the like. The first bracket 27 is welded to the bottom surface of the airbag device 25. On the other hand, one end of the second bracket 31 is welded to the instrument panel reinforcement 29 which is a fixed side that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports the instrument panel, and the other end of the second bracket 31 is connected to the first bracket 27. The bolt 33 and the nut 35 are fastened together. Thus, the airbag device 25 is connected and supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 29 via the first and second brackets 27 and 31 so as to correspond to the fragile portion 5.

  A metal frame 37 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is externally fitted and fixed to a substantially upper half portion of the airbag device 25. The frame body 37 includes a front wall portion 39 and a rear wall portion 41 that extend in the vehicle width direction, and both side wall portions 43 that extend in the vehicle body front-rear direction connecting both ends of the front wall portion 39 and the rear wall portion 41. Has been. The upper ends of the rear wall portion 41 and the both side wall portions 43 of the frame body 37 approach the other three sides 3b, 3c of the fractured groove portion 3 excluding the one side 3a on the front side of the vehicle body, or abut the periphery thereof. In addition, the peripheral edges of the three sides 3b and 3c of the breaking groove 3 are supported against the pressing force acting from the front side of the panel component 1 so that the fragile portion 5 does not break carelessly. Further, at the upper ends of the rear wall portion 41 and the side wall portions 43, mounting piece portions 45 having screw insertion holes (not shown) are bent downward so as to correspond to the mounting boss portions 19, respectively. These mounting piece portions 45 are fastened by being screwed into the screw holes of the mounting boss portions 19 through the screw insertion holes by being applied to the mounting boss portions 19.

  On the other hand, the front wall portion 39 is formed so that its vertical dimension is significantly shorter than that of the rear wall portion 41 and the side wall portions 43, and four engagement members (in FIG. 1) are formed at the upper end of the front wall portion 39. 1 hook) is bent so as to correspond to the engagement hole 15a of each hinge part 11 (second bendable part 15), and each hook 49 is connected to the airbag device 25, the first The instrument panel reinforcement 29 supports the bracket 27 and the second bracket 31. And when each said hook 49 is engaged with each said engagement hole 15a and the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 acts on the airbag door part 7, the panel structural member 1 of the vehicle body front edge side of the airbag door part 7 is provided. Is bent in the pushing direction so that the hooks 49 are pressed against the lower edges of the engagement holes 15a. And in the state which has arrange | positioned the said airbag apparatus 25 on the back surface of the airbag door part 7 via the frame 37, the said frame 37 and each hinge part 11 surround the airbag apparatus 25, and this airbag apparatus 25 of The airbag 23 that is deployed by operation is guided to the back surface of the airbag door portion 7.

  In the panel constituent member 1 having the airbag door portion 7 configured as described above, when the automobile collides, the airbag 23 of the airbag device 25 is inflated by the operation of the inflator, and the frame body 37 and each hinge portion 11 are inflated. The airbag door portion 7 (airbag door portion main body 9) is pushed upward by the deployment pressure by the deployment pressure, and the fragile portion 5 is broken. As shown in FIG. Is separated from the panel constituent member 1 in a state of being integrally connected to one end (the first bendable portion 13) of the four hinge portions 11. At this time, the first bendable part 13 of each hinge part 11 bends and the airbag door part main body 9 tilts by a predetermined angle in the opening direction, and the hinge part 11 side portion uses the first bendable part 13 as a fulcrum. It rotates to the back side of the panel component 1. Thereby, since the pushing force acts on the fragile portion 5 on the side 3a side on the front side of the vehicle body from above, the fragile portion 5 can be broken smoothly and reliably. At the same time when the fragile portion 5 is broken, the airbag door body 9 is supported by the inclined portion 17.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, the second bendable portion 15 is bent and deformed away from the airbag device 25 with the engagement position with the hook 49 as a fulcrum, and the hinge door 11 side of the airbag door body 9 is formed. The portion is drawn into the back side of the panel constituent member 1, and the portion excluding the hinge portion 11 side portion of the airbag door body 9 is rotated to the front side of the panel constituent member 1 to rise. As a result, the airbag door portion 7 pivots about each hinge portion 11 and opens upward in the front of the vehicle body, and the deployed airbag 23 protects the passenger in the front passenger seat from impact in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. .

  Therefore, when the airbag door portion 7 is opened, the airbag door portion main body 9 is brought into sliding contact with the broken edge portion on the side of each hinge portion 11, whereby the airbag door portion main body 9 is formed in the fragile portion 5 formation region (airbag door). Since the opening angle is regulated so as not to protrude outside the portion 7 formation region), the opening degree of the airbag door portion 7 does not need to be increased more than necessary. Can be prevented from interfering with.

  Further, since each of the hinge portions 11 is formed in a plate shape that can be bent and deformed, when the airbag door portion 7 is opened, each hinge portion 11 is bent and deformed in an arc shape, and the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 is effective. Can be absorbed. Thereby, while being able to prevent the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 from acting on the airbag door part 7 excessively, each hinge part 11 can be prevented from being broken compared to the case of a thin hinge, Scattering of the airbag door portion 7 can be prevented. Therefore, as an anti-scattering measure, there is no need to mold the airbag door portion with a tough and expensive thermoplastic elastomer material, and an inexpensive airbag door portion can be obtained.

  Further, the four plate-like hinge portions 11 are integrally projected at intervals toward the inside of the airbag door portion main body 9 on the side 3a side on the front side of the vehicle body along the fragile portion 5 on the side 3a side. Therefore, the rotation resistance is distributed to the four hinge portions 11, and the rotation resistance with respect to the individual hinge portions 11 is reduced, so that the airbag door portion 7 can be opened smoothly. Also, each hinge 11 serves as an airbag chute member for guiding the airbag 23 together with the frame 37 when the airbag is deployed, and the airbag 37 is connected to the airbag door by the frame 37 and each hinge 11. This can be led to the rear surface of the part 7, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where an airbag chute member is provided separately.

  Furthermore, when a pushing force in the opening direction is applied to the airbag door portion 7 by the deployment pressure of the airbag 23, each hook 49 of the frame body 37 engages with each hinge portion 11 (second bendable portion 15). By engaging with the hole 15a, it is possible to restrict the panel component 1 from moving in the extrusion direction. Therefore, after that, even if the airbag door portion 7 is opened, the panel component 1 can be prevented from moving without being affected by its operation, and the opening operation performance of the airbag door portion 7 can be quickly broken by breaking the fragile portion 5. Can be improved. Further, in a state in which the hooks 49 of the frame body 37 are engaged with the engagement holes 15a of the hinge portions 11 (second bendable portions 15) and the airbag device 25 is temporarily fixed, Since it attaches to the attachment boss | hub part 19 of the panel structural member 1 back surface via the frame 37, the attachment operation | work of the airbag apparatus 25 can be performed easily.

(Embodiment 2)
5 and 6 show the panel constituting member 1 to which the airbag door portion structure according to the second embodiment is applied. In the second embodiment, each hinge portion 11 does not have the inclined portion 17 of the first embodiment, and the first bendable portion 13 and the second bendable portion 15 are integrally connected in a straight line. Further, on the back surface of the airbag door body 9, a stopper portion 51 that abuts and holds the tilting posture of the airbag door body 9 tilted by the bending of the first bendable portion 13 corresponds to each hinge portion 11. Two of them are integrally projected. The stopper portion 51 may protrude from the second bendable portion 15. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  And in Embodiment 2, when the weak part 5 fractures | ruptures by the action | operation of the airbag apparatus 25, as shown in FIG. 7, the 1st bendable part 13 of each hinge part 11 bends. Then, the airbag door body 9 is tilted by a predetermined angle in the opening direction, and the hinge 11 side portion rotates to the back side of the panel constituting member 1 with the first bendable portion 13 as a fulcrum. Thereby, the stopper part 51 is contact | abutted to the 2nd bendable part 15, and the inclination attitude | position of the airbag door part main body 9 is hold | maintained. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, as in the first embodiment, the second bendable portion 15 is bent and deformed away from the airbag device 25 with the engagement point with the hook 49 as a fulcrum. The hinge part 11 side part of the body part 9 is pulled into the back side of the panel constituent member 1 and the part other than the hinge part 11 side part of the airbag door part body 9 is rotated to the front side of the panel constituent member 1 to rise. It is configured to let you.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved.

  In each of the above embodiments, the four hinge portions 11 are arranged with an interval inward of the side 3a side on the front side of the vehicle body of the airbag door portion main body 9, but one piece that is long in the vehicle width direction is arranged. The hinge part 11 may be sufficient.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the weakened portion 5 is thinned by forming the fracture groove portion 3 on the back surface of the panel constituent member 1 by molding, so that the weakened portion 5 is easily broken. However, the weakened portion 5 is easily broken by laser processing or a hot blade. Also good.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the airbag door part 7 was formed integrally with the panel structural member 1, the opening part was formed in the panel structural member 1, and the airbag door part 7 separately shape | molded in this opening part is provided. The airbag door portion 7 may be configured separately from the panel constituent member 1 by fitting a panel material having the same.

  Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the airbag door portion 7 is a single-open type is illustrated, but the airbag door portion 7 is configured by a front door portion and a rear door portion, and the vehicle body longitudinal direction. It can also be applied to the double door spread type that opens upward. In this case, the fragile portion 5 (breaking groove portion 3) is connected to the middle side of the two sides 3c on the side of the vehicle body in the substantially rectangular shape of the breaking groove portion 3 in the plan view of the first and second embodiments by the intermediate groove portion. It will be formed into a letter shape.

  In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the interior panel is the panel component 1 of the instrument panel has been shown. However, the panel of the steering wheel at the airbag door assembly portion, the center pillar garnish with the airbag door portion And a door trim with an airbag door part etc. may be sufficient.

  The present invention is useful as a structure of an airbag door portion provided in an interior panel that needs to protect an occupant in the event of a collision, such as an instrument panel of an automobile.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line II in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the panel structural member of the state which the hinge part and the attachment boss | hub part in Embodiment 1 showed with the continuous line, and the airbag door part closed. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 at an initial stage of opening operation of the airbag door portion in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 in a state where an airbag door portion is opened in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 2 of the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 of the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Panel component (interior panel)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Fragile part 7 Airbag door part 9 Airbag door part main body 11 Hinge part 13 1st bendable part 15 2nd bendable part 17 Inclined part 25 Airbag apparatus 29 Instrument panel reinforcement (fixed side)
49 Hook (engagement member)
51 Stopper part

Claims (4)

It is surrounded by a fragile part formed on the interior panel of the automobile, and is a structure of a substantially rectangular airbag door part that is opened by breaking the fragile part by the operation of the airbag device,
A plate-like hinge portion is integrally projected so as to be along the weak portion on the one side, at least on the inner side of the back surface of the airbag door body.
The hinge portion is bent and tilted by a predetermined angle in the opening direction of the airbag door body to rotate the hinge portion side portion to the back side of the interior panel to break the fragile portion; and
After the engagement member supported on the fixed side is engaged and the first bendable portion is bent, the airbag door is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement point with the engagement member as a fulcrum. A second bendable part that pulls the hinge part side part of the main part body into the back side of the interior panel and rotates the part excluding the hinge part side part of the airbag door part main body to the front side of the interior panel to rise. A structure of an air bag door portion of an automobile, comprising: In the automobile airbag door structure according to claim 1,
The first bendable part is formed in a thin shape,
Between the first bendable part and the second bendable part, the airbag door body main body tilted downwardly and tilted by the bending of the first bendable part is abutted and supported. An airbag door portion structure for an automobile, wherein the inclined portion is integrally provided. In the automobile airbag door structure according to claim 1,
The first bendable part is formed in a thin shape,
A stopper portion that abuts and holds the tilting posture of the airbag door main body tilted by the bending of the first bendable portion is integrally projected on the back surface of the airbag door main body or the second bendable portion. An automobile airbag door structure characterized by the above. In the airbag door part structure of the automobile according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A structure of an air bag door part of an automobile, wherein a plurality of hinge parts are arranged at intervals.

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