JP2008120150A - Retainer for airbag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a retainer for an airbag capable of suppressing manufacturing costs, and preventing a development section of an interior panel of an automobile from being scattered to the cabin side while having a simple form not inhibiting the expansion of the airbag. <P>SOLUTION: This retainer 10 for the airbag is provided with a frame-like fixing base section 11 to be fixed in the backside of the interior panel 10 of the automobile, a door section 12 arranged so as to cover an opening on the inner side of the fixing base section 11, and a hinge section 13 rotatably connecting the door section 12 to the inner edge of the fixing base section 11, and an airbag device 30 is made attachable to the backside of the fixing base section 11. Moreover, a protection sheet 14 for preventing the hinge section 13 from being contacted with the interior panel 20 when the airbag 31 is expanded and the door section 12 is rotated is firmly fixed on the surface of the hinge section 13. The hinge section 13 is usually formed of an elastomer. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag retainer fixed to the back surface of an automobile interior panel in order to support the airbag on the back side of the automobile interior panel.

  Conventionally, a frame-like fixed base for fixing to the back surface of an automobile interior panel, a door portion arranged to cover an opening inside the fixed base, and a fixed base in a state in which the door portion can be rotated. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an airbag retainer that includes a hinge portion that is connected to an inner edge and that can fix an airbag device to the back side of a fixed base (for example, Patent Document 1). In the automobile interior panel to which the airbag retainer is fixed, an opening (airbag inflation outlet) for inflating the airbag inflated on the back side of the automobile interior panel to the cabin side is surely formed. The fragile portion is formed by laser processing or ultrasonic processing.

  In this type of airbag retainer, the door portion is a deployment portion of the automobile interior panel (the portion that is deployed on the cabin side by the pressing force received from the airbag that is inflated on the back side of the vehicle interior panel. The airbag inflation outlet is blocked. Fixed to the back of the part.). On the other hand, the fixed base is fixed to the back surface around the development portion. As a result, when the airbag is inflated, even if the deploying part is completely separated from other parts (parts other than the deploying part) in the automobile interior panel, the deploying part is connected to the fixed frame part via the hinge part. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the development part from scattering toward the cabin.

  However, since the pressing force applied from the inflating airbag to the hinge portion is very large, there is a possibility that the surface of the hinge portion is strongly pressed against the edge of the airbag inflation outlet and the hinge portion is broken. In particular, when the hinge portion is formed of an elastomer, the hinge portion is heated and greatly expanded by frictional heat generated when the airbag contacts the back surface of the hinge portion, so that the hinge portion is easily broken. . In view of such a situation, a device for preventing breakage is applied to the hinge portion.

  For example, the back side of the hinge portion is covered with a covering material, and the door portion and the fixed base portion are connected with the covering material. This not only makes it difficult to generate frictional heat at the hinge part, but also enables the door part to be supported by the covering material even if the hinge part breaks. Patent Document 2 describes an airbag door in which a canvas is bonded to the entire inner surface (the entire back surface) of the core material, although it is not fixed to the back surface of the automobile interior panel. Thereby, it is supposed that the broken core material can be prevented from scattering to the cabin side. In addition, a reinforcing material is embedded in the hinge part to improve the breaking strength of the hinge part.

JP 2003-160014 A JP 2000-219096 A

  However, the method of covering the back side of the hinge portion with a covering material may not be preferable from the viewpoint of stabilizing the deployment performance of the airbag because the covering material may hinder inflation of the airbag. In addition, both the method of covering the back side of the hinge part with a covering material and the method of embedding a reinforcing material in the hinge part have the disadvantage that the structure of the air bag retainer is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high. .

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and has a simple configuration that does not significantly increase the manufacturing cost and does not hinder the inflation of the airbag. The present invention provides a retainer for an air bag that can be prevented from being scattered.

  The above-mentioned problems include a frame-shaped fixed base for fixing to the back surface of an automobile interior panel, a door portion arranged to cover an opening inside the fixed base, and a fixed base in a state in which the door portion can be rotated. The airbag retainer is configured to be attached to the back side of the fixed base portion, and is hinged when the airbag is inflated and the door portion rotates. This is solved by providing a retainer for an air bag characterized in that a protective sheet for preventing the part from contacting the automobile interior panel is fixed to the surface of the hinge part (the surface facing the automobile interior panel). The

  In this way, by attaching the protective sheet to the back surface of the hinge portion, it becomes possible to prevent the pressing force from being directly applied to the hinge portion from the edge of the airbag inflation outlet, and the hinge portion is broken. It can be difficult. In addition, even if the hinge part is broken, the hinge part may be kept in a state of being connected by the protective sheet, so that the development part of the automobile interior panel can be prevented from scattering to the cabin side. .

  Although the form of a protective sheet is not specifically limited, It is preferable in it being a strip | belt-shaped thing which coat | covers the surface of a hinge part along a longitudinal direction. Thereby, it becomes possible to protect the whole location which can contact the edge of the airbag inflation outlet in a hinge part.

  The material of the hinge part is not particularly limited, but is usually formed of an elastomer. As a result, the hinge part can be made to have excellent elasticity, and the door part is normally supported when the airbag interior is inflated while the deployment part of the automobile interior panel is firmly supported by the door part. It will also be possible to facilitate deployment on the cabin side. However, the hinge portion formed of elastomer tends to expand greatly due to the influence of frictional heat generated when it comes into contact with the airbag that is inflated on the back side of the automobile interior panel, and is easily broken. Therefore, when the configuration of the present invention is adopted for the hinge portion formed of elastomer, the significance of the present invention is further deepened.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the deployment portion of the automobile interior panel from being scattered to the cabin side without significantly increasing the manufacturing cost and in a simple form that does not hinder the inflation of the airbag. It is possible to provide a retainer for an airbag that can be used.

  A preferred embodiment of the air bag retainer of the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of an airbag retainer 10 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the airbag retainer 10 of FIG. 1 is attached to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 (instrument panel). 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the airbag retainer 10 when the airbag retainer 10 of FIG. 1 is attached to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 (instrument panel) and the airbag 31 is inflated toward the cabin. It is.

1. Overview of Airbag Retainer As shown in FIG. 1, the air bag retainer 10 of this embodiment includes a frame-shaped fixing base 11 for fixing to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 (see FIG. 2), The door portion 12 is disposed so as to cover the opening inside the base portion 11, and the hinge portion 13 is connected to the inner edge of the fixed base portion 11 so that the door portion 12 is rotatable. An airbag device 30 (see FIG. 2) can be attached to the fixed base 11. A protective sheet 14 is fixed to the surface of the hinge portion 13 (the surface facing the automobile interior panel side). In the airbag retainer of this embodiment, the hinge portion 13 is formed of an elastomer.

2. Automobile Interior Panel The automobile interior panel 20 that fixes the airbag retainer 10 of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is used as an interior material of an automobile cabin, and examples thereof include an instrument panel and a door trim panel. . Among these, the instrument panel is most common as the automobile interior panel 20 for fixing the airbag retainer 10. When the airbag retainer 10 is fixed to the instrument panel, the deployment portion 21 is provided at a position facing the upper half of the passenger seated in the passenger seat.

  The material of the automobile interior panel 20 is not particularly limited, but a resin is usually used. When the resin-made automobile interior panel 20 is roughly classified, the surface of the base material layer (the layer forming the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20) that fixes the airbag retainer 10 is exposed to the cabin side (skinless type) ) And those having a skin layer on the front side of the base material layer (skin type). In the skin type automobile interior panel 20, a foam layer is usually provided between the base material layer and the skin layer. When the airbag retainer 10 is vibration welded to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20, the base material layer is preferably formed of the same type of resin as the fixed base portion 11 and the door portion 12 of the airbag retainer 10.

  In the following, for convenience of explanation, the airbag retainer 10 of the present invention will be described by taking as an example the case where the automobile interior panel 20 is a skinless type instrument panel.

3. Fixed base portion The fixed base portion 11 of the airbag retainer 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is frame-shaped. In the airbag retainer 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixed base 11 is located above the deployment portion 21 of the automobile interior panel 20 (when the automobile interior panel 20 is assembled to the automobile, the deployment portion The upper frame portion 11A for fixing to the upper portion 21) and the lower portion of the developing portion 21 (the portion lower than the developing portion 21 when the automobile interior panel 20 is assembled to the automobile). And a left frame portion 11C for fixing to the left side of the deploying portion 21 (a portion on the left side of the deploying portion 21 when viewed from the cabin side when the automobile interior panel 20 is assembled to a vehicle). And a right frame portion 11D for fixing to the right side of the deploying portion 21 (a portion on the right side of the deploying portion 21 when viewed from the cabin side when the automobile interior panel 20 is assembled to a vehicle). Yes.

  The fixed base 11 is not limited to the one to which the airbag device 30 can be directly attached, but can be attached to the airbag device 30 indirectly (through another member). Also good. In the airbag retainer 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cylindrical projecting portion 11E is provided on the back surface of the fixed frame portion 11, and is provided on the peripheral wall of the projecting portion 11E. The airbag device 30 can be attached to the fixed base portion 11 by hooking the plurality of claws 41 of the airbag container 40 that houses the airbag device 30 in the plurality of through holes.

  A method for fixing the fixing base 11 to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 is not particularly limited, and an adhesive, a bolt, or the like may be used. Usually, vibration welding, ultrasonic welding, high frequency welding, laser welding, or hot plate is used. It is fixed by welding. Thereby, it becomes possible to firmly fix the fixed base 11 to the automobile interior panel 20 with good workability. The airbag retainer 10 according to this embodiment fixes the fixed base 11 to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 by vibration welding. At this time, the surface of the door portion 12 (the surface in contact with the automobile interior panel 20) is also vibration welded to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 at the same time.

4). Although the door part 12 will not be specifically limited if it is a thing of the form which can support the expansion | deployment part 21 in the vehicle interior panel 20 from a back surface side, Usually, it forms in plate shape. Thereby, it is possible to cover substantially the entire inner opening of the frame-shaped fixed base 11 with the door 12, and increase the rigidity of the deploying portion 21 in the automobile interior panel 20 (the deploying portion 21 on the cabin side). So that it does not easily dent even if it is pressed down. Moreover, the door part 12 may be constituted by only one member (single-opening type) or may be divided into a plurality of parts.

  In the airbag retainer 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the door portion 12 is arranged on the upper side when the airbag retainer 10 is fixed to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20 and assembled to the automobile. It consists of a plate-like upper door portion 12A and a plate-like lower door portion 12B arranged on the lower side. The upper edge of the upper door portion 12A is connected to the lower edge of the upper frame portion 11A in the fixed frame portion 11 via the upper hinge portion 13A, and the lower edge of the lower door portion 12B is connected to the lower hinge portion 13B. It is connected to the upper edge of the lower frame portion 11B in the fixed frame portion 11 via the intermediate frame. For this reason, when the upper door portion 12A receives a pressing force from the airbag 31 that is inflated on the back side of the automobile interior panel 20, the upper door portion 12A rotates upward on the cabin side around the upper hinge portion 13A. On the other hand, when the lower door portion 12B receives a pressing force from the airbag 31 that is inflated on the back side of the automobile interior panel 20, the lower door portion 12B rotates downward on the cabin side around the vicinity of the lower hinge portion 13B.

5. Hinge part The hinge part 13 (upper hinge part 13A and lower hinge part 13B) can be connected to the fixed base 11 in a state in which the door part 12 (upper door part 12A and lower door part 12B) is rotatable. If it is a thing of a form, it will not specifically limit. In the airbag retainer 10 of this embodiment, the hinge portion 13 has a belt-like shape formed in a U-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 2, and a groove along the longitudinal direction is formed on the front side. It has become. For this reason, the door portion 12 is difficult to turn to the back side due to the pressing force from the front side (cabin side), but easily turns to the front side by the pressing force from the back side.

  Although the material of the hinge part 13 is not specifically limited, Usually, an elastomer is selected. Examples of the elastomer include thermoplastic elastomers such as polyolefin elastomers, polystyrene elastomers, polyvinyl chloride elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, polyamide elastomers, and polyester elastomers. In the air bag retainer 10 of the present embodiment, as a material of the hinge portion 13, not only excellent flexibility and weather resistance, but also a polyolefin elastomer that is easy to mold (particularly injection molding) and relatively inexpensive is employed. is doing.

  By the way, although the retainer 10 for airbags may be the form which combined the fixed base part 11, the door part 12, and the hinge part 13 which were formed separately, the retainer 10 for airbags of this embodiment is The fixed base portion 11, the door portion 12, and the hinge portion 13 are integrally formed by injection molding, and are excellent in productivity. The material of the fixed base portion 11 and the door portion 12 is the same polyolefin elastomer (thermoplastic elastomer) as that of the hinge portion 12, and the fixed base portion 11 and the door portion 12 are easily vibration welded to the back surface of the automobile interior panel 20. It has become something that can be.

6). Protective sheet The protective sheet 14 fixed to the surface of the hinge portion 13 is the edge of the airbag inflation outlet in which the hinge portion 13 is formed in the automobile interior panel 20 when the airbag 31 is inflated and the door portion 12 is rotated. It is intended to prevent contact with the battery. In the airbag retainer 10 of this embodiment, the protective sheet 14 has a belt-like shape that covers the surface of the hinge portion 13 along the longitudinal direction. The back surface of the protective sheet 14 is an adhesive surface to which an adhesive or the like is applied so that the protective sheet 14 can be easily fixed to the hinge portion 13.

  The protective sheet 14 is not particularly limited as long as it is a sheet-like sheet having flexibility enough to follow the deformation generated in the hinge part 13 when the door part 12 rotates. For example, a nonwoven fabric, a woven fabric, a metal film, a resin film, paper, etc. can be used as the protective sheet 14. In the airbag retainer 12 of this embodiment, a nonwoven fabric (polyester nonwoven fabric) entangled with polyester fibers is used as the protective sheet 14. Polyester nonwoven fabrics can be suitably used as the protective sheet 14 because they are not only available at a relatively low cost, but also have high bending strength and tensile strength and do not break easily.

  The width of the protective sheet 14 (the length of the protective sheet 14 in the short direction) is not particularly limited. However, if the width is too small, the protection in the hinge part 13 occurs when the airbag 31 is inflated and the door part 12 rotates. The edge of the airbag inflation outlet in the automobile interior panel 10 is likely to come into contact with the portion where the seat 14 is not fixed, and the door 12 may be supported by the protective sheet 14 in the event that the hinge 13 is broken. May be lowered. The width of the protective sheet 14 is preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 10 mm or more. On the other hand, if the width of the protective sheet 14 is too wide, the protective sheet 14 may be difficult to adhere to the hinge portion 13. The width of the protective sheet 14 is preferably 30 mm or less, and more preferably 20 mm or less.

  The length of the protective sheet 14 (the length over the protective sheet 14 in the longitudinal direction) varies depending on the dimensions of the hinge portion 13 and the like, and is not particularly limited. However, if the width of the protective sheet 14 is too narrow, when the airbag 31 is inflated and the door 12 is rotated, the airbag inflated in the automobile interior panel 10 is not attached to the portion of the hinge 13 where the protective sheet 14 is fixed. Not only does the edge of the outlet easily come into contact, but also the possibility that the door portion 12 can be supported by the protective sheet 14 in the event that the hinge portion 13 breaks may be reduced. For this reason, it is preferable that the length of the protective sheet 14 is set to a length that substantially matches the width of the hinge portion 13 (the length from the left end to the right end of the hinge portion 13).

  The thickness of the protective sheet 14 varies depending on the material of the protective sheet 14 and is not particularly limited. However, if the protective sheet 14 is too thin, the strength of the protective sheet 14 cannot be kept high, and the protective sheet 14 may be easily broken. The thickness of the protective sheet 14 is preferably 0.1 mm or more, and more preferably 0.3 mm or more. On the other hand, if the protective sheet 14 is too thick, the protective sheet 14 may interfere with the operation of the hinge portion 13. The thickness of the protective sheet 14 is preferably 3 mm or less, and more preferably 1 mm or less.

  In the case where a plurality of hinge portions 13 are provided, the protective sheet 14 may be fixed to at least one hinge portion 13. In the airbag retainer 10 of the present embodiment in which the hinge portion 13 is composed of the upper hinge portion 13A and the lower hinge portion 13B, the upper door portion 12A easily scatters toward the windshield and scatters toward the occupant. Whereas the lower door portion 12B tends to scatter toward the occupant. For this reason, in the airbag retainer 10 of this embodiment, the protective tape 14 is fixed only to the lower hinge portion 13B that supports the lower door portion 12B, but the lower door portion 12B and the upper door portion 12A It is also preferable to attach the protective sheet 14 to both.

7). Operation of Airbag Retainer When the air bag 31 is inflated on the back side of the automobile interior panel 20, the air bag retainer 10 of this embodiment presses the back surface of the air bag 31 against the air bag 31 as shown in FIG. 3. And turn to the cabin side. The deployment portion 21 in the automobile interior panel 20 is deployed on the cabin side while being supported by the door portion 12, and the airbag 31 is expanded on the cabin side from the airbag inflation outlet formed by the deployment portion 21 being deployed. At this time, the hinge portion 13 is pressed against the edge of the airbag inflation outlet while being stretched by the pressing force or frictional force received from the airbag 31, but the protective sheet 14 is sandwiched therebetween, so that the hinge portion 13 is not broken. The door portion 12 can be kept connected to the fixed base portion 11. For this reason, the expansion | deployment part 21 and the door part 12 are prevented from scattering to the cabin side.

It is the perspective view which showed the suitable embodiment of the retainer for airbags of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the state which attached the retainer for airbags of FIG. 1 to the back surface of a motor vehicle interior panel (instrument panel). FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the airbag retainer when the airbag retainer of FIG. 1 is attached to the back surface of an automobile interior panel (instrument panel) and the airbag 31 is inflated to the cabin side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Retainer for airbags 11 Fixed base part 11A Upper frame part 11B Lower frame part 11C Left frame part 11D Right frame part 11E Protrusion part 12 Door part 12A Upper door part 12B Lower door part 13 Hinge part 13A Upper hinge part 13B Lower hinge Part 14 Protective sheet 20 Automotive interior panel 21 Deployment part 30 Airbag device 31 Airbag 40 Airbag container 41 Claw part

Claims (3)

  A frame-shaped fixed base for fixing to the back of an automobile interior panel, a door portion arranged to cover an opening inside the fixed base, and a door portion connected to the inner edge of the fixed base in a rotatable state A retainer for an air bag, wherein the air bag device can be attached to the back side of the fixed base, and the hinge portion is mounted on the interior of the automobile when the air bag is inflated and the door is rotated. A retainer for an air bag, wherein a protective sheet for preventing contact with the panel is fixed to the surface of the hinge portion.   The retainer for an air bag according to claim 1, wherein the protective sheet has a belt-like shape covering the surface of the hinge portion along the longitudinal direction.   The airbag retainer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge portion is formed of an elastomer.

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