JP2008081005A - Airbag door part structure for instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag door part structure for an instrument panel securing rigidity of the periphery of an airbag door part without increasing the weight and cost. <P>SOLUTION: The instrument panel 1 is constituted by mounting an upper panel 7 to the surface side of an instrument panel frame 5 having an air bag chute insertion opening part 43 formed thereon. An airbag door part main body 15 is constituted by demarcating the upper panel 7 by a rupture projected part 67. An airbag chute 69 is constituted by projecting and forming a flange part 73 at an upper end of a frame body part 71 for storing an airbag device 13. The flange part 73 is vibrated and welded to the outer periphery of the airbag door part main body 15 on the back face of the upper panel 7 such that the lower end of the frame body part 71 can be inserted to the airbag chute insertion opening part 43. In the outside region of the frame body part 71 at least opposing to an occupant, an abutment rib 79 is projectingly provided toward the edge part of the airbag chute insertion opening part 43. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in the structure of an air bag door portion of an instrument panel, and more particularly to a measure for improving rigidity around the air bag door portion.

Patent Document 1 discloses an instrument panel in which an upper panel is attached to an opening of an instrument panel main body, and an airbag door portion is provided on the upper panel. The airbag door portion includes an airbag door portion main body defined by a portion to be broken, and on the back surface of the airbag door portion main body, a tubular frame body portion and an upper end of the frame body portion outwardly. A resin-made air bag chute having a flange portion projecting outward is integrally provided by vibration welding the flange portion to the outer periphery of the airbag door main body on the back surface of the upper panel.
JP 2006-96267 A (paragraph 0028 column to 0030 column, FIG. 3)

  However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the flange portion welded portion of the upper panel is thickened by adding the thickness of the flange portion to the thickness of the upper panel. Since the outer periphery of the part welded portion is a single layer of only the upper panel, the thickness is thin and the rigidity is insufficient compared to the flange part welded portion. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied from the outside around the airbag door part body of the upper panel, such as a head impact during sudden braking, the outer periphery of the welded part of the flange part is greatly bent and damaged on the back side of the upper panel. There is a concern that Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the entire upper panel in order to ensure rigidity around the outer periphery of the welded portion of the flange, but this increases the weight and costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag door portion structure of an instrument panel that ensures rigidity around the airbag door portion without causing an increase in weight and an increase in cost. Is to realize.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the structure of the airbag chute has been devised.

  Specifically, the invention described in claim 1 is an instrument panel frame which is the main body of an instrument panel and has an airbag chute insertion opening, and a resin upper panel attached to the surface side of the instrument panel frame. In an instrument panel comprising: an airbag door body provided by partitioning the upper panel with a portion to be broken so as to correspond to the airbag chute insertion opening so as to open by operation of an airbag device; The flange portion is formed so that the lower end of the frame body portion, which has a flange portion extending outwardly from the upper end of the frame body portion in which the airbag apparatus is accommodated, can be inserted into the airbag chute insertion opening portion. It consists of a resin-made airbag chute that is vibration welded to the outer periphery of the airbag door body on the back of the upper panel. An abutment rib projects toward the edge of the air bag chute insertion opening so as to resist the pressing force from the outside on the upper panel surface, at least in the outer region facing the occupant of the body. It is characterized by.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the abutment rib is connected across the flange portion and the frame portion of the airbag chute.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the abutment rib may be formed on the airbag chute insertion opening in a state where no external pressing force is applied to the upper panel surface. It is characterized by facing the edge with a predetermined interval.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a pressing force is applied around the airbag door body provided on the upper panel, such as a head impact during sudden braking, the welded portion of the flange portion of the upper panel becomes the frame body portion. Is supported by the edge of the air bag chute insertion opening of the instrument panel frame via the abutment rib projecting from the area facing the passenger, so the welded part of the flange part resists the pressing force from the outside. The amount of deflection to the back side is limited. Therefore, the outer periphery of the flange welded portion, which is a single layer of only the upper panel, is not greatly bent toward the back side of the upper panel, and damage to the outer periphery of the flange welded portion can be prevented. Further, since the rigidity around the airbag door portion is ensured in this way, it is not necessary to make the upper panel thicker than necessary, and the weight and cost can be reduced.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, since the flange part of an airbag chute is connected with the frame body part via the contact rib, the support rigidity of an upper panel can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 3, even if the vehicle body vibrates during traveling, the abutment rib does not hit the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening, and no rattling noise is generated.

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

  1 to 4 show an airbag door portion structure of an instrument panel 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 shows an instrument in which a resin upper panel 7 is attached to a resin instrument panel frame 5. The entire panel 1 is shown, and FIG. 2 shows an instrument panel frame 5 made of resin which is the main body of the instrument panel 1.

  The instrument panel 1 has two upper panels 7 on both sides in the vehicle width direction constituting the outer surface of the upper half portion of the instrument panel 1 on the surface side of the instrument panel frame 5 and the outer surface of the lower half portion. Two lower panels 9 on both sides in the vehicle width direction to be formed, and a center panel 11 constituting the outer surface of the central portion are attached. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper panel 7 on the right side in the vehicle width direction on the passenger seat side is formed with an airbag door portion 99 that is opened by the operation of the airbag device 13 (see FIG. 4). A meter hood 17 is formed on the upper panel 7 on the left side in the vehicle width direction on the driver's seat side. Further, side defroster air outlets 19 are formed at both outer end portions of the upper panels 7 in the vehicle width direction. Further, side vent air outlets 21 are formed at both outer ends of the lower panels 9 in the vehicle width direction so as to approach the lower side of the side defroster air outlet 19 and are also provided on the lower panel 9 on the left side in the vehicle width direction. A steering mounting opening 22 is formed, and a meter instrument mounting opening 24 is formed over the upper panel 7 above the steering mounting opening 22. A glove box 23 is disposed on the lower panel 9 on the right side in the vehicle width direction. Further, a pair of center vent air outlets 25 are formed in the center panel 11 so as to approach in the vehicle width direction. Four fastener mounting seats 27 are formed on the rear surface of the right upper panel 7 on the front edge side of the vehicle at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and fasteners 29 are attached to the tips of the fastener mounting seats 27. Further, four attachment pieces 35 having screw insertion holes 31 and fastener insertion holes 33 are formed at the lower edge of the upper panel 7 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. One attachment piece 35 having a screw insertion hole 31 is formed in the middle of the left edge of the upper panel 7. A fastener 29 is attached to the outer peripheral edge of the upper panel 7 on the left side in the vehicle width direction, the lower panels 9 and the center panel 11 via a fastener mounting seat 27, as is the case with the upper panel 7 on the right side in the vehicle width direction. It has been.

  On the other hand, on the back surface of the instrument panel frame 5, a duct component member 37 is vibration welded via a welding rib 37a, and a duct passage 39 is formed between them (see FIG. 4). A front defroster air outlet 41 is formed at the vehicle front end edge of the instrument panel frame 5 so as to extend in the vehicle width direction. A substantially rectangular airbag chute insertion opening 43 is formed on the right side of the instrument panel frame 5 in the vehicle width direction. Further, at both ends of the instrument panel frame 5 in the vehicle width direction, an introduction cylinder portion 45 communicating with the side defroster air outlets 19 of the upper panels 7 and an introduction cylinder communicating with the side vent air outlets 21 of the lower panels 9 are provided. Two introduction cylinders 49 communicating with the center vent air outlet 25 of the center panel 11 are formed at the center in the vehicle width direction. These introduction cylinder portions 45, 47, and 49 communicate with the duct passage 39, and adjustment air adjusted by an air conditioning unit (not shown) passes through the duct passage 39 and the introduction cylinder portions 45, 47, and 49, respectively. The air is blown out from the air outlet 19, the side vent air outlet 21, and the center vent air outlet 25 into the vehicle interior. Adjustment air is also blown out from the front defroster air outlet 41 through the duct passage 39 into the vehicle interior.

  A meter instrument mounting portion 51 is formed on the left side of the instrument panel frame 5 in the vehicle width direction so as to correspond to the meter instrument mounting opening 24, and below the meter instrument mounting portion 51, a steering wheel is provided. A mounting notch recess 53 is formed so as to correspond to the steering mounting opening 22. A glove box mounting opening 55 is formed below the airbag chute insertion opening 43 so as to correspond to the glove box 23. Furthermore, the instrument panel frame 5 is formed with a large number of engagement holes 57 at predetermined intervals throughout. At the vehicle rear end edge of the air bag chute insertion opening 43, four attached portions 59 (three of four appear in FIG. 2) are inserted into the screws of the attachment pieces 35 of the upper panel 7. A boss portion 61 having a screw insertion hole 61a is protruded from the back surface of each attached portion 59 so as to correspond to the hole 31 in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 4).

  The upper panel 7 on the right side in the vehicle width direction configured as described above engages the fastener 29 with the engagement hole 57 on the vehicle front end side of the instrument panel frame 5 and screwes the mounting piece 35 over the mounting portion 59. The instrument panel 5 is attached to the surface side of the instrument panel 5 by screwing 63 into the screw insertion hole 61 a of the boss 61. In this state, the lower panel 9 on the right side in the vehicle width direction engages the fastener 29 with the fastener insertion hole 33 of the mounting piece 35 of the upper panel 7 and the engagement hole 57 of the instrument panel frame 5 so as to be on the surface side of the instrument panel frame 5. It is attached. The upper panel 7, the lower panel 9, and the center panel 11 on the left side in the vehicle width direction also engage the fastener 29 with the fastener insertion hole 33 of the mounting piece 35 of the upper panel 7 and the engagement hole 57 of the instrument panel frame 5. It is attached to the front side.

  The airbag door portion 99 includes an airbag door portion main body 15 and a resin airbag chute 69, and the airbag door portion main body 15 is scheduled to break so as to correspond to the airbag chute insertion opening 43. The section 67 is partitioned (see FIG. 4). The planned break portion 67 is formed by a thin portion corresponding to the V-shaped groove portion 65 formed on the back surface of the upper panel 7 so as to have a substantially Japanese character shape. Therefore, the airbag door portion 99 (airbag door portion main body 15) is a so-called seamless type in which the groove portion 65 cannot be identified from the front side, and the front door portion 15a and the rear door portion 15b are respectively in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It is a so-called double-spread type that opens to

  The airbag chute 69 includes a frame body portion 71 in which the airbag device 13 is accommodated, a flange portion 73 formed to project outward from the upper end of the frame body portion 71, and the frame body portion 71. The flap part 75 formed so that the upper end of the frame part 71 might be covered via the hinge part 77 inside is provided. A plurality of engagement holes 71a are formed in the front wall and the rear wall of the frame body portion 71 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. Further, a plurality of plate-like abutting ribs 79 are spaced in the vehicle width direction in the outer region facing the occupant of the frame body portion 71, that is, the rear wall outer region of the frame body portion 71, and the flange portion 73 and the frame body portion 71, and protrudes toward the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening 43 so as to resist the pressing force from the outside on the surface of the upper panel 7 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). This is the greatest feature of the present invention.

  The airbag chute 69 configured in this manner vibrates and welds the flange portion 73 to the outer periphery of the airbag door body 15 on the back surface of the upper panel 7 via the welding rib 73a, and also attaches the flap portion 75 to the welding rib. By virtue of vibration welding to the back surface of the airbag door portion main body 15 on the back surface of the upper panel 7 through 75a, the air bag door portion main body 15 is disposed correspondingly. Thus, the airbag chute 69 attached to the back surface of the upper panel 7 can be inserted into the airbag chute insertion opening 43 at the lower end of the frame body portion 71 with the upper panel 7 attached to the instrument panel frame 5. It is like that. The abutment rib 79 has a predetermined distance with respect to the edge portion of the airbag chute insertion opening 43 in a normal state, that is, in a state where a pressing force from the outside such as a head impact on the surface of the upper panel 7 is not acting. Open up and confront.

  The airbag device 13 includes a cylindrical airbag case 81, and an inflator 83 and a folded airbag 85 are accommodated in the airbag case 81. A plurality of hooks 97 are fixed to the front wall and the rear wall of the airbag case 81 at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and these hooks 97 are inserted into the respective engagement holes 71a of the frame body 71. As a result, the airbag device 13 is accommodated in the frame body 71. The hook 97 is engaged with the lower end of the engagement hole 71a when the airbag device 13 is operated to prevent the airbag chute 69 from popping out. The airbag apparatus 13 includes a first bracket 89 fixed to the airbag case 81 and a second bracket 91 fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 87 on a metal instrument panel reinforcement 87 extending in the vehicle width direction. The bolt 93 and the nut 95 are supported by fastening.

  In the airbag door 99 of the instrument panel 1 configured as described above, the airbag 85 is inflated by the operation of the airbag device 13, and the scheduled break portion 67 is broken by the inflation pressure, so that the airbag door portion The main body 15 (the front door portion 15a and the rear door portion 15b) rotates around the hinge portion 77 and opens to the front side.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the abutment rib 79 is provided in the outer region facing the occupant of the frame body portion 71 toward the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening 43, so that the head impact during sudden braking, etc. When the pressing force is applied to the outer periphery of the airbag door body 15 from the outside, the welded portion of the flange portion of the upper panel 7 is supported by the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening 43 of the instrument panel frame 5 through the abutment rib 79. Is done. For this reason, the bending amount to the back side of the upper panel 7 is restricted against the pressing force from the outside at the welded portion of the flange portion. Therefore, the outer periphery of the flange welded portion, which is a single layer of only the upper panel 7, does not bend greatly toward the back side of the upper panel 7, and damage to the outer periphery of the flange welded portion can be prevented. Further, since the rigidity around the airbag door portion 99 is ensured in this way, the upper panel 7 does not have to be thicker than necessary, and the weight and cost can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, since the flange 73 of the airbag chute 69 is connected to the frame body 71 via the abutment rib 79, the support rigidity of the upper panel 7 can be increased.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the abutment rib 79 is opposed to the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening 43 with a predetermined interval, so that the abutment rib 79 does not move even when the vehicle body vibrates during traveling. It does not hit the edge of the insertion opening 43 and no rattling sound is generated.

  In the present embodiment, the abutment ribs 79 project from the rear wall outer region of the frame body 71, but may also be provided in the front wall outer region and both side wall outer regions. In this case, the support rigidity of the upper panel 7 can be further increased.

  In the present embodiment, the airbag door 99 is of the double door type, but may be of the single door type.

  The present invention is useful for an airbag door structure of an instrument panel.

It is a perspective view of the whole instrument panel to which the airbag door part structure of the instrument panel which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel frame to which an airbag door part structure of an instrument panel according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a top view of the upper panel of the vehicle width direction right side where the airbag door part structure of the instrument panel which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied. It is sectional drawing equivalent to the AA line of FIG. 1 which shows the airbag door part structure of the instrument panel 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Instrument panel
5 Instrument panel frame
7 Upper panel
13 Airbag device
15 Airbag door body
43 Airbag chute insertion opening
67 Expected break
69 Airbag chute
71 Frame
73 Flange
79 butt ribs
85 airbags
99 Airbag door

Claims (3)

In an instrument panel comprising an instrument panel frame that forms the main body of the instrument panel and an airbag chute insertion opening is formed, and a resin upper panel that is attached to the surface side of the instrument panel frame,
An airbag door body provided by partitioning the upper panel with a portion to be broken so as to correspond to the airbag chute insertion opening to be opened by the operation of the airbag device;
The flange portion is formed so that the lower end of the frame body portion, which has a flange portion extending outwardly from the upper end of the frame body portion in which the airbag apparatus is accommodated, can be inserted into the airbag chute insertion opening portion. It consists of an airbag chute made of resin that is vibration welded to the outer periphery of the airbag door body on the back of the upper panel,
At least in the outer region facing the occupant of the frame body portion, the abutment rib projects toward the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening so as to resist the pressing force from the outside on the upper panel surface. An air bag door portion structure of an instrument panel. In the airbag door part structure of the instrument panel according to claim 1,
The instrument door airbag door structure, wherein the abutment rib is connected across a flange portion and a frame portion of the airbag chute. In the airbag door part structure of the instrument panel according to claim 1 or 2,
The instrument is characterized in that the abutment rib is opposed to the edge of the airbag chute insertion opening with a predetermined interval in a state where no external pressing force is applied to the upper panel surface. The airbag door part structure of the ment panel.

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