JP2008049909A - Structure of airbag door of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive airbag door which is not interfered with windshield glass when it is opened, or not broken into pieces and scattered. <P>SOLUTION: Four plate-like hinges 11 are projected at intervals along a weakened portion 5 close to one inner side of the back surface of an airbag door body 9. Flexible portions 15 adjacent to sides of the plate-like hinges 11 of the airbag door body 9 are curved and deformed toward the back side of a panel component 1 following the initial turning operation of the panel component 1. Extended weakened portions 13 at both sides of the flexible part 15 are broken by curving and deforming operations of the flexible portions 15. The plate-like hinges 11 are curved and deformed so as to be separated from an airbag device 25 with engagement parts with hooks 49 as supporting points, the sides of the hinges 11 of the airbag door body 9 are turned and drawn to the back side of the panel component 1, and portions except the sides of the hinges 11 of the airbag door body 9 are turned to the face side of the panel component 1 and raised. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag door portion that is opened when a rectangular fragile portion is broken by an operation of an airbag device at the time of a collision of an automobile, for example.

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 an airbag door portion that is surrounded by a rectangular fragile portion formed on an interior panel of an automobile and is opened by breaking the rectangular fragile portion by the operation of an airbag device. The following solution was taken.

  That is, in the invention according to claim 1, 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. Engagement means provided on the airbag device side is engaged with the hinge portion, and the extended weak portion is located on each of the weak portions perpendicular to the weak portion on the one side, respectively. The outer side of the one side of the weakened portion of the airbag door body is extended continuously outside the one of the weakened portions, and a flexible portion sandwiched between the two extended weakened portions is adjacent to the outer side of the airbag door body. The flexible portion is bent and deformed to the back side of the interior panel following the initial turning operation in which the plate-like hinge side portion of the airbag door body starts to rotate to the back side of the interior panel, The fragile portion is broken by the bending deformation operation of the flexible portion, and the plate-like hinge portion is broken by the rectangular fragile portion. The portion of the airbag door portion is bent away from the airbag device with the engagement portion with the engagement means as a fulcrum by breaking the fragile portion and the extended weak portion, and the plate hinge portion side portion of the airbag door portion main body is the back side of the interior panel And a portion of the airbag door portion main body excluding the plate hinge portion side portion is turned to the front side of the interior panel to be raised.

  In the invention according to claim 2, a plate-like hinge portion is integrally projected on the inner side of the back surface of the airbag door portion main body so as to follow the weak portion on the one-side side. Is engaged with engagement means provided on the airbag device side, and the interior panel on the one side of the airbag door body is formed with a rising surface, and the rising surface is formed on the one side. A weak portion is formed, and the plate-like hinge portion is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement point with the engagement means as a fulcrum by breaking the rectangular weak portion, and the airbag door portion main body Rotate and pull the plate-like hinge side part to the back side of the interior panel, and rotate the part except the plate-like hinge side part of the airbag door body to the front side of the interior panel to get up Specially configured To.

  According to the first and second 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). The weak part breaks.

  At this time, in claim 1, the plate-like hinge portion side portion of the airbag door body starts to turn to the back side of the interior panel with the plate-like hinge portion as a fulcrum, and the flexible portion provided adjacent thereto follows this. It begins to bend and deform on the back side of the interior panel, and the extended weak part breaks. As a result, a pressing force acts on the fragile portion on one side (plate hinge portion side) of the airbag door body toward the back side of the interior panel, so that the fragile portion can be broken smoothly and reliably. .

  In claim 2, the plate-like hinge side portion of the airbag door body starts to turn to the back side of the interior panel with the plate-like hinge as a fulcrum, and the weakened portion of the rising surface portion is pulled toward the back side of the interior panel. Since a cutting force acts, the fragile portion can be broken smoothly and reliably.

  As a result, the plate-like hinge portion is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement point with the engagement means provided on the airbag device side as a fulcrum, and the plate-like hinge portion side of the airbag door main body While the portion is rotated and pulled into the back side of the interior panel, the portion other than the plate-like hinge side portion of the airbag door body is rotated to the front side of the interior panel and rises.

  Therefore, the airbag door body is slidably brought into contact with the broken edge on the plate-like hinge portion side, and the protrusion of the rectangular weak portion forming region (airbag door portion forming region) to the outside is restricted, and the opening degree of the airbag door portion is restricted. Is not larger than necessary, and interference with the window glass of the airbag door portion can be prevented.

  Further, since the plate-like hinge portion is formed in a plate shape that can be bent and deformed by its name, it effectively absorbs the deployment pressure of the airbag and is less likely to be broken compared to the case of a thin-walled hinge. It is possible to prevent the bag door portion from scattering. 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 plate-like hinge portion is integrally projected on the inner side of the back surface of the airbag door portion main body so as to follow the weak portion on the one side, the plate-like hinge portion is used when the airbag is deployed. The number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where an airbag chute member is provided separately.

  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 V-shaped cross section is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view by molding so as not to reach the surface, and is a thin portion corresponding to the fracture groove portion 3. The front panel weak portion 5a, the rear vehicle weak portion 5b, and the two front side weak portions 5c are formed so that the rectangular weak portion 5 having a rectangular shape in plan view cannot be identified from the surface thereof. The airbag door portion structure according to the first embodiment is applied to the inner side surrounded by the rectangular fragile portion 5, and a so-called seamless type rectangular airbag door portion 7 in plan view is integrated with a part of the panel component 1 It is molded into. Note that the airbag door portion 7 may be of a type in which the rectangular weak 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 front side on the rear side of the airbag door main body 9 constituting the main body of the airbag door portion 7 and extends in the vehicle width direction (the vehicle body front side of the breaking groove portion 3). On the inner side of the one side 3a), the four plate-like hinge portions 11 are integrated substantially perpendicularly to the airbag door body 9 at a distance so as to extend along the vehicle body front side weak portion 5a on the one side. Projected to A rectangular engagement hole 11 a for engaging a hook 49 described later is formed near the protruding end of the plate-like hinge portion 11.

  In the vehicle body side weak portion 5c on both sides orthogonal to the vehicle body front side weak portion 5a on one side, extended weak portions 13 are respectively provided on the vehicle side front weak portion 5a on the one side of the airbag door body 9. It extends continuously outward. A rectangular flexible portion 15 extending in the vehicle width direction and sandwiched between the two extended weak portions 13 is provided adjacent to the vehicle body front side weak portion 5a on the one side of the airbag door main body 9. The flexible portion 15 follows the rotation initial operation in which the plate-like hinge portion 11 side portion of the airbag door portion main body 9 starts to turn to the back side of the panel component member 1, and moves to the back side of the panel component member 1. The extended fragile portion 13 is bent and deformed by the bending deformation operation of the flexible portion 15 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The extended fragile portion 13 is also formed to be thin by a break groove portion 3d having a V-shaped cross section, like the rectangular fragile portion 5. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 16 denotes a linear hinge portion of the flexible portion 15, but the groove portion is not particularly formed thin, and the extended weak portion 13 is formed when the flexible portion 15 is curved and deformed. When it breaks, it naturally becomes a pivot point.

  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 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 and the bolt 33. Fastened with a nut 35. 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 rectangular shape in plan view is 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. 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 constituent member 1 so that the rectangular weak 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 to have a significantly shorter vertical dimension than the rear wall portion 41 and the side wall portions 43, and four (only one appears in FIG. 1) at the upper end of the front wall portion 39. Hooks 49 as engaging means are bent so as to correspond to the engaging holes 11a of the plate hinges 11, and the hooks 49 are formed by the airbag device 25, the first bracket 27 and the second bracket. It is supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 29 through 31. When each of the hooks 49 is engaged with each of the engagement holes 11 a and the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 acts on the airbag door portion 7, the panel component 1 on the vehicle body front edge side of the airbag door portion 7. Is bent in the pushing direction so that the hooks 49 are pressed against the lower edges of the engaging holes 11a. 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 airbag 37 is surrounded by the said frame 37 and each plate-shaped hinge part 11, and this airbag apparatus The airbag 23 deployed by the operation of 25 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 plate-like hinge portion. 11, the airbag door 7 (airbag door main body 9) is pressed upward by the deployment pressure, and the rectangular fragile portion 5 is broken. As shown in FIG. The door portion 7 is separated from the panel constituent member 1 while being integrally connected to one end of the four plate-like hinge portions 11.

  At this time, the plate hinge 11 side portion of the airbag door body 9 starts to turn to the back side of the panel component 1 with each plate hinge 11 serving as a fulcrum, and is a flexible portion that is adjacent to the follower. 15 rotates around the linear hinge portion 16 as a fulcrum and begins to bend and deform to the back side of the panel component 1, and the extended weak portion 13 is broken. As a result, a pressing force acts on the vehicle body front side fragile portion 5a on one side (plate hinge portion 11 side) of the airbag door main body 9 toward the back side of the panel constituent member 1, so that the breaking groove portion on the vehicle body front side 3a can be broken in the opening direction, and the vehicle body front side fragile portion 5a can be broken smoothly and reliably.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4, each plate-like hinge portion 11 is bent and deformed away from the airbag device 25 with the engagement point with the hook 49 as a fulcrum, and the plate-like hinge portion of the airbag door main body 9. The 11 side portion is turned to the back side of the panel constituent member 1 and pulled in, and the portion excluding the plate-like hinge portion 11 side portion of the airbag door body 9 is turned to the front side of the panel constituent member 1 and raised. It is configured to let you. As a result, the airbag door portion 7 rotates about each plate-like 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 impacts in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. ing.

  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 plate hinge portion 11, whereby the airbag door portion main body 9 is formed in the rectangular weak portion 5 formation region ( The opening angle of the airbag door portion 7 is restricted so that it does not protrude outwardly, so that the opening degree of the airbag door portion 7 does not have to be increased more than necessary. Can be prevented from interfering with the window glass.

  Moreover, since each said plate-shaped hinge part 11 is formed in the plate shape which can be curvedly deformed so that it can ask | require from the name, it is arc-shaped, raising each plate-shaped hinge part 11 at the time of air bag door part 7 opening. Thus, the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 can be effectively absorbed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the deployment pressure of the airbag 23 from acting excessively on the airbag door portion 7 and to prevent each plate-like hinge portion 11 from being broken up compared to the case of a thin hinge. It is possible to prevent the airbag door portion 7 from being scattered. 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 one side of the vehicle body front side along the vehicle body front side fragile portion 5a. Therefore, the rotation resistance is distributed to the four plate-like hinge portions 11, and the rotation resistance with respect to each plate-like hinge portion 11 is reduced, so that the airbag door portion 7 can be opened smoothly. Each plate-like hinge 11 serves as an airbag chute member for guiding the airbag 23 together with the frame 37 when the airbag is deployed. The airbag 37 is formed by the frame 37 and each plate-like hinge 11. Can be led to the back surface of the airbag door portion 7, and the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where an airbag chute member is separately provided.

  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 the engagement hole 11a of each plate-like hinge portion 11. Therefore, it is possible to restrict the movement of the panel constituent member 1 in the extrusion direction. Therefore, even if the airbag door portion 7 is subsequently opened, the panel component 1 can be prevented from moving without being affected by its operation, and the rectangular fragile portion 5 is quickly broken to open the airbag door portion 7. Performance can be improved. Further, in a state where the hooks 49 of the frame body 37 are engaged with the engagement holes 11 a of the plate-like hinge portions 11 and the airbag apparatus 25 is temporarily fixed, the airbag apparatus 25 is interposed via the frame body 37. Since it attaches to the attachment boss | hub part 19 of the panel structural member 1 back surface, 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, the panel weakening portion 13, the flexible portion 15, and the linear hinge portion 16 in the first embodiment are not provided, and the panel constituent member 1 on the vehicle body front side that is one side of the airbag door main body 9 is used. The rising surface portion 17 is formed, and the rising surface portion 17 is formed with the one-side vehicle body front side weak portion 5a. 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 airbag apparatus 25 act | operates, the plate-shaped hinge part 11 side part of the airbag door part main body 9 will begin to rotate to the back side of the panel structural member 1 by using each plate-shaped hinge part 11 as a fulcrum. In addition, since a force that tears toward the rear side of the panel constituent member 1 acts on the vehicle body front side fragile portion 5a of the rising surface portion 17, the vehicle body front side fragile portion 5a can be broken smoothly and reliably. . Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, as in the first embodiment, each plate-like hinge portion 11 is bent and deformed away from the airbag device 25 with the engagement point with the hook 49 as a fulcrum. The plate-like hinge 11 side portion of the main body 9 is rotated and pulled to the back side of the panel constituent member 1, and the portion other than the plate-like hinge 11 side portion of the airbag door main body 9 is removed from the panel constituent member 1. It is constructed so that it can be turned up and turned up.

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

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the four plate-like hinge portions 11 are arranged at an interval inwardly on one side extending in the vehicle width direction on the vehicle body front side of the airbag door body 9. It may be a single long hinge part 11.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the rectangular fragile portion 5 and the extended fragile portion 13 are thinned by forming the fracture groove portion 3 on the back surface of the panel constituent member 1 by molding, so that the fragile portion 5 and the extended fragile portion 13 are easily broken. It may be easy to break with a blade, and the same applies to the rectangular weak portion 5 of the second embodiment. Further, the linear hinge portion 16 of the first embodiment may also be formed by a groove similarly to the rectangular weak portion 5 and the extended weak portion 13.

  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 the first embodiment, 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 part 5 (breaking groove part 3) is connected to the middle side of the two sides 3c on the side of the vehicle body in the substantially rectangular breaking groove part 3 in the plan view of the first embodiment by an intermediate groove part. Will be formed.

  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. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Panel component (interior panel)
5 Rectangle weak part 5a Car body front side weak part 5b Car body rear side weak part 5c Car body side side weak part 7 Air bag door part 9 Air bag door part main body 11 Plate-like hinge part 13 Extension weak part 15 Flexible part 17 Standing up Surface 25 Airbag device 49 Hook (engaging means)

Claims (2)

Surrounded by a rectangular fragile portion formed on the interior panel of the automobile, the structure of the airbag door portion opened by breaking the rectangular fragile portion 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.
Engagement means provided on the airbag device side engage with the plate-like hinge portion,
The fragile portions on both sides orthogonal to the fragile portion on the one side are each extended continuously to the outside of the fragile portion on the one side of the airbag door main body,
A flexible part sandwiched between the two extended weak parts is provided next to the weak part on the one side of the airbag door body.
The flexible portion is bent and deformed to the back side of the interior panel following the initial rotation operation in which the plate-like hinge side portion of the airbag door body starts to rotate to the back side of the interior panel.
The extended fragile portion is broken by the bending deformation operation of the flexible portion,
The plate-like hinge portion is bent and deformed so as to separate from the airbag device with the engagement portion with the engagement means as a fulcrum by breaking the rectangular weak portion and the extended weak portion, and the plate of the airbag door portion main body The side part of the hinge hinge is turned to the back side of the interior panel and pulled in, and the part other than the plate hinge part side part of the airbag door body is turned to the front side of the interior panel to rise. A structure of an air bag door portion of an automobile characterized by being made. Surrounded by a rectangular fragile portion formed on the interior panel of the automobile, the structure of the airbag door portion opened by breaking the rectangular fragile portion by the operation of the airbag device,
On the inner side of one side of the back surface of the airbag door main body, a plate-like hinge portion is integrally provided so as to extend along the fragile portion on the one side.
Engagement means provided on the airbag device side engage with the plate-like hinge portion,
A rising surface portion is formed on the interior panel on the one side of the airbag door body.
The fragile portion on the one side is formed on the rising surface portion,
The plate-like hinge portion is bent and deformed away from the airbag device with the engagement point with the engagement means as a fulcrum by breaking the rectangular weak portion, and the plate-like hinge portion side portion of the airbag door portion main body Is turned to the back side of the interior panel and pulled in, and the portion excluding the plate-like hinge side portion of the airbag door body is turned to the front side of the interior panel to rise. A car air bag door structure which is a feature.

Images