JP2008126972A - Air bag lid part structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag lid part structure capable of reducing costs of materials and costs of mold and reducing the time and labor required for assembling. <P>SOLUTION: This air bag lid part structure is constituted in such a way that a foaming layer 7 is provided between a surface material 5 and a core material 6, the core material 6 has an opening part 15 and a door member 16 attached to the opening part 15 to block it from above, abutting faces 17, 18 capable of abutting on an upper face of a fringe part of the opening part 15 and a lower face of a fringe part of the door member 16 over their whole peripheries are formed between these faces, respectively, and a sealing structure part 45 capable of sealing both of abutting faces 17, 18 is provided. The sealing structure part 45 is provided with an annular sealing wall part 46 provided protrudedly like a closed loop along the abutting face 17 on a core material 6 side and an annular sealing groove part 47 provided and recessed like a closed loop at a position corresponding to the abutting face 18 on a door member 16 side to fit and press the annular sealing wall part 46 into it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air bag grid part structure.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, an instrument panel is provided in the front part of the passenger compartment. An airbag device for a passenger seat is installed in a portion on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  As shown in either FIG. 12 or FIG. 13, such an airbag device 1 for a passenger seat is installed at an airbag grid 3 provided in the instrument panel 2 and below the airbag grid 3. And an airbag module 4.

  Some instrument panels 2 have a three-layer structure in which a foam layer 7 is provided between a skin 5 and a core material 6. In this case, the instrument panel 2 is for a left-hand drive vehicle, but is not limited thereto. The airbag module 4 stores a bag-shaped airbag body 8 and an inflator (not shown) that can generate pressure gas for inflating the airbag body 8 in a metal module container 10 in order from the top. It has the structure. The airbag body 8 is stored in the module container 10 in a folded state. The module container 10 has an upper end surface opened (upper end opening 11).

  The airbag grid 3 has a planned tearing portion 13 on its lower surface side that can form an opening (airbag body inflation opening) by the pressing force of the inflated airbag body 8. There are various types of the planned cleavage portion 13, and in this case, the shape is substantially “day” in a plan view. The airbag grid 3 includes an instrument that is integral with the instrument panel 2 and an airbag that is formed separately from the instrument panel 2 and attached to the instrument panel 2 later. In this case, it is integrated.

  In this case, the airbag grid 3 has a three-layer structure in which a foam layer 7 is provided between the skin 5 and the core material 6. As described above, when the air bag grid 3 is integrated with the instrument panel 2, the skin 5, the core material 6, and the foamed layer 7 are shared by the instrument panel 2.

  The airbag grid 3 has an opening 15 (door member attachment opening) formed in the core member 6 and a door member 16 attached to the opening 15 so as to be closed from above.

  Then, between the upper surface of the edge of the opening 15 and the lower surface of the edge of the door member 16 are formed contact surfaces 17 and 18 that can contact each other over the entire circumference. In this case, a stepped portion 21 that is one step lower by the thickness of the door member 16 is provided with respect to the entire periphery of the peripheral edge of the opening 15 in the core member 6. Is disposed in a locked state. The lower surface of the stepped portion 21 and the lower surface of the edge portion of the door member 16 corresponding to the stepped portion 21 are contact surfaces 17 and 18 over substantially the entire circumference. The door member 16 is disposed substantially flush with the general surface of the core member 6 by being locked to the stepped portion 21. A reinforcing rib 27 extending substantially downward is provided at the edge of the stepped portion 21 (opening 15).

  And the seal structure part 25 which can seal both the contact surfaces 17 and 18 is provided. Conventionally, as the seal structure portion 25, a double-sided tape-like member such as a urethane seal tape 26 is directly adhered between both contact surfaces 17 and 18. Further, as an auxiliary seal structure portion 25, a locking claw portion 28 that can be locked from the lower side with respect to the reinforcing rib 27 is provided on the front and rear mounting legs 31 described later.

  Further, the front and rear mounting leg portions 31 are provided so as to project substantially downward from the lower surface side of the door member 16. At least the upper half of the airbag module 4 is inserted between the front and rear mounting legs 31 so that the upper end opening 11 is interposed. A hook portion 33 is provided on each of the front and rear side surfaces of the airbag module 4 (module container 10). The hook portions 33 are inserted and arranged in a state in which they can be locked to hook window portions 35 formed at corresponding positions of the front and rear mounting leg portions 31.

  In the above configuration, when the airbag main body 8 is inflated by the pressure gas from the inflator in an emergency, the inflated airbag main body 8 presses the back surface side of the door member 16 and is to be cleaved. 13 is broken and the door member 16 and the airbag grid 3 are opened. Further, the airbag main body 8 bulges from the opening toward the passenger in the passenger compartment, and protects and restrains the passenger's body so that the head of the passenger does not secondarily contact the instrument panel 2.

  Such an airbag grid 3 (or instrument panel 2) is formed, for example, by setting the skin 5 and the core material 6 in a foaming mold, and injecting a foaming agent (chemical solution) between them to form the foamed layer 7 by foaming. Manufactured by. At this time, by attaching the door member 16 to the opening 15 of the core member 6 in advance, the door member 16 is integrated with the airbag grid 3 (in this case, the instrument panel 2).

  Then, the contact surfaces 17 and 18 formed between the upper surface of the edge portion of the opening 15 and the lower surface of the edge portion of the door member 16 are sealed by the seal structure portion 25, whereby the contact surface 17, The leakage of the foaming agent from 18 is eliminated, and the occurrence of defective products is prevented.

In order to perform this sealing, a double-sided tape-like member such as a urethane seal tape 26 is directly adhered between the both contact surfaces 17 and 18. In addition, as an auxiliary seal, locking claws 28 provided on the front and rear mounting legs 31 are locked under the reinforcing ribs 27 extending substantially downward provided at the edge of the stepped portion 21. . Sealing by these is performed when the door member 16 is attached to the opening 15 of the core member 6.
JP 2001-88646 A

  However, since the double-sided tape-like member such as the urethane seal tape 26 is used as the seal structure portion 25 in the air bag grid portion structure, the material cost of the urethane seal tape 26 is increased, and the urethane seal tape 26 is used. There was a problem that it took time and effort to stick. Further, as the auxiliary seal structure portion 25, a structure in which the reinforcing rib 27 and the locking claw portion 28 are locked is adopted, so that the locking claw portion 28 is integrally formed with the door member 16. There is a problem in that a slide mold is required and the mold cost is increased, and it takes time to assemble the door member 16 to the core member 6.

  In order to solve the above problems, in the invention described in claim 1, a foamed layer is provided between the skin and the core material, an opening is formed in the core material, and the opening is formed from above with respect to the opening. A door member is attached so as to be able to be closed, and an abutment surface that can abut against each other is formed between the upper surface of the edge of the opening and the lower surface of the edge of the door member. An air bag grid part structure provided with a seal structure part capable of sealing a contact surface, wherein the seal structure part is an annular seal wall part projecting in a closed loop shape along the contact surface on the core side, and a door member And an annular seal groove portion that is recessed in a closed loop shape at a corresponding position of the contact surface on the side and can be fitted and pressure-bonded to the annular seal wall portion.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the annular seal wall portion is formed to be slightly larger than the annular seal groove portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a confirmation mechanism portion capable of confirming a seal state by the seal structure portion is provided between the both contact surfaces, and the confirmation mechanism portion is a contact surface on the door member side. The air bag according to claim 1, further comprising: a confirmation window portion formed on the core member, and a confirmation hook portion formed at a position corresponding to the contact surface on the core material side and insertable into the confirmation window portion. It features a grid part structure.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the seal structure portion is provided at a position corresponding to the annular seal wall portion projecting in a closed loop shape along the contact surface on the core material side and the contact surface on the door member side. By being provided with an annular seal groove that is recessed in a closed loop shape and that can be fitted and crimped to the annular seal wall, it can be simply and reliably simply fitted and crimped between the annular seal wall and the annular seal groove. Since the sealing between the contact surfaces can be performed, it is possible to reduce the material cost and the mold cost, and to reduce the time and labor of assembly.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the annular seal wall portion is formed slightly larger than the annular seal groove portion, the fitting pressure-bonding state between the annular seal wall portion and the annular seal groove portion is further strengthened. Sealability can be improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, a confirmation mechanism portion capable of confirming a sealing state by the seal structure portion is provided between the both contact surfaces, and the confirmation mechanism portion is provided on the contact surface on the door member side. Confirmation is made from the confirmation window portion by including the confirmation window portion formed and a confirmation flange portion that is formed at a corresponding position of the contact surface on the core material side and can be inserted into the confirmation window portion. Since it is possible to actually confirm the seal state with the eye simply by looking into the collar, it is possible to effectively prevent a seal failure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described together with illustrated examples.

  1 to 5 show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 8 and FIGS. 9 to 11 show modifications thereof.

  First, the configuration will be described.

  An instrument panel 2 is provided in the front part of the passenger compartment of a vehicle such as an automobile. On the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 2, an airbag device 1 for the passenger seat is installed.

  As shown mainly in FIG. 1, the airbag device 1 for a passenger seat includes an airbag grid 3 provided in a portion of the instrument panel 2 and an airbag module 4 installed below the airbag grid 3. I have.

  Among these, the instrument panel 2 has a three-layer structure in which a foam layer 7 is provided between the skin 5 and the core material 6. The airbag module 4 stores a bag-shaped airbag body 8 and an inflator (not shown) that can generate pressure gas for inflating the airbag body 8 in a metal module container 10 in order from the top. It has the structure. The airbag body 8 is stored in the module container 10 in a folded state. The module container 10 has an upper end surface opened (upper end opening 11).

  The airbag grid 3 has a planned tearing portion 13 on its lower surface side that can form an opening (airbag body inflation opening) by the pressing force of the inflated airbag body 8. The planned cleavage portion 13 has various shapes such as an H shape and a U shape. The airbag grid 3 includes an instrument that is integral with the instrument panel 2 and an airbag that is formed separately from the instrument panel 2 and attached to the instrument panel 2 later. In this case, it is integrated. In the case of such an integrated type, the presence of the airbag device 1 for the passenger seat can be made inconspicuous from the outside.

  The above-described airbag module 4 (module container 10 thereof) is fixed at its lower part to a vehicle body side member (not shown) disposed inside the instrument panel 2. The vehicle body side member is a strength member that connects the left and right vehicle body panels. This strength member is called a cross car beam or the like. Alternatively, it is also called a steering support member by holding a steering column.

  On the other hand, the airbag grid 3 has a three-layer structure in which a foam layer 7 is provided between the skin 5 and the core material 6 in this case. As described above, when the air bag grid 3 is integrated with the instrument panel 2, the skin 5, the core material 6, and the foamed layer 7 are shared by the instrument panel 2.

  The airbag grid 3 has an opening 15 (door member attachment opening) formed in the core member 6 and a door member 16 attached to the opening 15 so as to be closed from above. Yes. The opening 15 and the door member 16 have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.

  Furthermore, contact surfaces 17 and 18 that can contact each other over the entire circumference are formed between the upper surface of the edge of the opening 15 and the lower surface of the edge of the door member 16. In this case, a stepped portion 21 is provided that is one step lower than the entire periphery of the peripheral edge of the opening 15 in the door member 16 by the thickness of the door member 16. However, it is locked and arranged from above. The lower surface of the stepped portion 21 and the lower surface of the edge portion of the door member 16 corresponding to the stepped portion 21 are contact surfaces 17 and 18 over substantially the entire circumference. The door member 16 is disposed substantially flush with the general surface of the core member 6 by being locked to the stepped portion 21. A reinforcing rib 27 extending substantially downward is provided at the edge of the stepped portion 21 (opening 15).

  The core material 6 is made of a relatively hard resin (for example, a PP material such as PPE or PPC), and the door member 16 is made of a relatively soft resin. (For example, a TPE material having elasticity including a rubber-based material).

  Further, the air bag module 4 (module container 10) and the door member 16 can be held in a floating state. That is, the front and rear mounting leg portions 31 are projected from the lower surface side of the door member 16 substantially downward. At least the upper half of the airbag module 4 is inserted between the front and rear mounting legs 31 so that the upper end opening 11 is interposed. A hook portion 33 is provided on each of the front and rear side surfaces of the airbag module 4 (module container 10). The hook portions 33 are inserted and arranged in a state (floating state) that can be locked to hook window portions 35 formed at corresponding positions of the front and rear mounting leg portions 31.

  The above configuration is almost the same as that of the conventional example described above.

  Further, a seal structure 45 capable of sealing both contact surfaces 17 and 18 is provided.

  In this embodiment, the seal structure portion 45 corresponds to the annular seal wall portion 46 projecting in a closed loop shape along the contact surface 17 on the core material 6 side and the contact surface 18 on the door member 16 side. An annular seal groove 47 that is recessed in a closed loop shape at a position where the annular seal wall 46 can be fitted and crimped is provided (see FIG. 2). The closed loop-shaped annular seal wall 46 and the annular seal groove 47 have a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. The corner portions of the annular seal wall portion 46 and the annular seal groove portion 47 that are substantially rectangular in a plan view are subjected to a rounding process.

  Here, the protrusion amount of the annular seal wall portion 46 and the depth of the annular seal groove portion 47 are, for example, in the range of about 60% to 90% of the thickness of the corresponding portion of the door member 16. The annular seal wall portion 46 preferably has a cross-sectional shape with a thick root and a thin tip, and the annular seal groove portion 47 preferably has a cross-sectional shape with a wide opening and a narrow back.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cross section of the annular seal wall 46 may be a trapezoidal convex shape, and the cross section of the annular seal groove 47 may be a corresponding trapezoidal concave shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the cross section of the annular seal wall portion 46 may be a right-angled triangular convex shape with an acute tip, and the cross-section of the annular seal groove 47 may be a corresponding right-angled triangular concave shape. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the cross-section of the annular seal wall 46 may be an isosceles triangular convex shape with an acute tip, and the cross-section of the annular seal groove 47 may be a corresponding isosceles triangular concave shape.

  Alternatively, the annular seal wall 46 and the annular seal groove 47 may have different cross-sectional shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the cross section of the annular seal wall portion 46 is a quadrangular convex shape in which the tip of an elongated substantially trapezoidal convex portion is cut obliquely, and the cross section of the annular seal groove portion 47 is the same isosceles as in FIG. It may be a triangular concave shape.

  In this case, preferably, the annular seal wall 46 is formed to be slightly larger than the annular seal groove 47 (large annular seal wall 48).

  More precisely, the large annular seal wall 48 has a lateral width that is slightly larger than the annular seal groove 47, and the length is the same as the depth of the annular seal groove 47. Alternatively, it may be slightly shorter than the depth of the annular seal groove 47. In addition, although it depends on the material, the upper limit is set to the extent that the contact surfaces 17 and 18 are not substantially floated at the portion outside the annular seal wall portion 46.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a confirmation mechanism 51 capable of confirming the seal state by the seal structure 45 is provided between the contact surfaces 17 and 18 as necessary. For example, the confirmation mechanism 51 is formed at a position corresponding to the confirmation window 52 formed on the contact surface 18 on the door member 16 side and the contact surface 17 on the core 6 side. It is assumed that a confirmation collar 53 that can be inserted into the part 52 is provided.

  In this case, the confirmation window 52 is preferably a cylindrical through-hole formed substantially perpendicular to the door member 16. Corresponding to this, it is preferable that the confirmation collar portion 53 be a round bar or the like that protrudes from the core member 6 almost directly above the surface. The confirmation flange 53 is preferably slightly smaller in diameter than the confirmation window 52, and preferably has a gap between the side surfaces when inserted. Further, the confirmation flange 53 has a length equal to the thickness of the corresponding portion of the door member 16, and when the annular seal wall 46 is completely fitted and crimped to the annular seal groove 47, the end of the confirmation flange 53 Is preferably confirmed by being flush with the upper surface of the door member 16. This confirmation mechanism 51 is preferably provided inside the seal structure 45. In addition, the confirmation mechanism unit 51 can easily confirm the fitting and crimping state such as a corner portion of the seal structure 45 having a closed loop shape, and an equal dividing point of each side (for example, a bisection point of a long side). It is preferable to arrange in the vicinity of the position.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In an emergency, when the airbag main body 8 is inflated by the pressure gas from the inflator, the inflated airbag main body 8 presses the back surface side of the door member 16 to break the planned cleavage portion 13, and the door member 16 and The air grid 3 is opened. Further, the airbag main body 8 bulges from the opening toward the passenger in the passenger compartment, and protects and restrains the passenger's body so that the head of the passenger does not secondarily contact the instrument panel 2.

  At this time, the front and rear mounting legs 31 guide the airbag main body 8 so that the airbag main body 8 can properly press the back side of the door member 16 and reliably break the planned tearing portion 13 during inflation.

  The hook portion 33 functions to receive the reaction force of the pressing force by being locked to the lower side portion of the hook window portion 35 when the airbag body 8 presses the door member 16.

  Such an airbag grid 3 (or instrument panel 2) is formed, for example, by setting the skin 5 and the core material 6 in a foaming mold, and injecting a foaming agent (chemical solution) between them to form the foamed layer 7 by foaming. Manufactured by. At this time, by attaching the door member 16 to the opening 15 of the core member 6 in advance, the door member 16 is integrated with the airbag grid 3 (in this case, the instrument panel 2).

  Then, the contact surfaces 17 and 18 formed between the upper surface of the edge of the opening 15 and the lower surface of the edge of the door member 16 are sealed by the seal structure 45, whereby the contact surface 17, The leakage of the foaming agent from 18 is eliminated, and the occurrence of defective products is prevented.

  In this case, the annular seal wall portion 46 projecting in a closed loop shape along the contact surface 17 on the core member 6 side and the corresponding position of the contact surface 18 on the door member 16 side are recessed in a closed loop shape. Sealing is easily performed by fitting and crimping the annular seal groove portion 47 thus formed.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, the seal structure portion 45 includes the annular seal wall portion 46 protruding in a closed loop shape along the contact surface 17 on the core material 6 side, and the contact on the door member 16 side. The annular seal wall portion 46 and the annular seal groove portion 47 are fitted by being provided with an annular seal groove portion 47 that is recessed in a closed loop shape at a corresponding position of the surface 18 and that can be fitted and crimped to the annular seal wall portion 46. Since the sealing between the contact surfaces 17 and 18 can be performed easily and surely only by joint bonding, the urethane seal tape 26 and the locking claw portion 28 shown in FIG. It is possible to reduce the cost and the time and effort of assembly while reducing the cost.

  Further, since the annular seal wall portion 46 is formed to be slightly larger than the annular seal groove portion 47, the fitting and crimping state between the annular seal wall portion 46 and the annular seal groove portion 47 is further strengthened to improve the sealing performance. can do.

  In particular, in the seal structure portion 45 composed of the annular seal wall portion 46 and the annular seal groove portion 47, the core material 6 is made of a relatively hard resin (for example, a PP material such as PPE or PPC), and Since the door member 16 is made of a relatively soft resin (for example, an elastic TPE material including a rubber-based material), the annular seal wall portion 46 is slightly larger than the annular seal groove portion 47. It is effective to form in

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a confirmation mechanism portion 51 capable of confirming the seal state by the seal structure portion 45 is provided between both contact surfaces 17 and 18, and the confirmation mechanism portion 51 is configured to be a door member. A confirmation window portion 53 that is formed at a corresponding position on the confirmation window portion 52 formed on the 16-side contact surface 18 and the contact surface 17 on the core material 6 side and can be inserted into the confirmation window portion 52. By simply looking into the confirmation collar 53 from the confirmation window 52, it becomes possible to actually confirm the seal state with the eyes, so that it is possible to effectively prevent a seal failure. It becomes. In addition, by making the confirmation collar part 53 into the length equal to the thickness of the corresponding part of the door member 16, since the front-end | tip of the confirmation collar part 53 became flush with the surface of the door member 16, it is easy and The seal state can be confirmed reliably.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the embodiments are only examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the embodiments. Needless to say, design changes and the like within a range not departing from the gist of the invention are included in the present invention. For example, when each embodiment includes a plurality of configurations, it goes without saying that possible combinations of these configurations are included. In addition, when a plurality of embodiments and modifications are shown, it is needless to say that possible combinations of configurations straddling these are included.

It is sectional drawing of the airbag grid part structure concerning the Example of this invention. It is a top view of the core material and door member of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of FIG. 3. It is an exploded view similar to FIG. 5 which shows the modification of a seal structure part. It is an exploded view similar to FIG. 5 which shows another modification of a seal structure part. It is an exploded view similar to FIG. 5 which shows the other modification of a seal structure part. It is a top view similar to FIG. 2 provided with the confirmation mechanism part. It is sectional drawing similar to FIG. 2 provided with the confirmation mechanism part. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is a front view of the instrument panel used for description of a prior art example. It is sectional drawing of the airbag grid part structure of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Airbag grid 5 Skin 6 Core material 7 Foam layer 15 Opening part 16 Door member 17 Contact surface 18 Contact surface 45 Seal structure part 46 Annular seal wall part 47 Annular seal groove part 51 Confirmation mechanism part 52 Confirmation window part 53 Confirmation rod Part

Claims (3)

A foam layer is provided between the skin and the core material,
An opening is formed in the core material, and a door member is attached to the opening so as to be closed from above,
Between the edge upper surface of the opening and the edge lower surface of the door member, contact surfaces that can contact each other over the entire circumference are formed, respectively.
In the air bag grid part structure provided with the seal structure part capable of sealing both contact surfaces,
The seal structure portion is recessed in a closed loop shape at a corresponding position on the contact surface on the door member side, and an annular seal wall portion protruding in a closed loop shape along the contact surface on the core material side, An air bag grid part structure comprising: an annular seal groove part that can be fitted and pressed against the annular seal wall part.   The air bag grid part structure according to claim 1, wherein the annular seal wall part is formed to be slightly larger than the annular seal groove part. Between the contact surfaces, there is provided a confirmation mechanism part capable of confirming a seal state by the seal structure part,
The confirmation mechanism portion is formed at a position corresponding to the confirmation window portion formed on the contact surface on the door member side and the contact surface on the core member side, and can be inserted into the confirmation window portion. The air bag grid part structure according to claim 1, wherein the air bag grid part structure is provided.

Images