JP2008149810A - Airbag door structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably assemble an airbag chute to an airbag releasing opening without being detached by the expansion pressure of the airbag. <P>SOLUTION: An airbag door 11 comprising a surface skin 3, a base material 7 on which an approximate rectangular airbag releasing opening 5 is formed, and a foamed layer 9 is formed corresponding to an airbag releasing opening 5 of a panel constituting member 1. The structure of the airbag door 11 includes an airbag chute 13 assembled to the airbag releasing opening 5, and the airbag chute 13 comprises a tubular part 17 for housing an airbag device 15, a flap part 19 covering the airbag releasing opening 5, and flanges 21, 23 and 25 continuously provided at the outer top end of or near the tubular part 17 to extends outward. An occupant side flange part 25 is assembled with the airbag releasing opening 5 to be overlaid on the bottom face of the airbag releasing opening edge 7a of a base material 7 in a face contact state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in the structure of an airbag door provided on an instrument panel, and in particular, measures for preventing an airbag chute from coming off from an airbag discharge opening of a base material due to an impact when the airbag is deployed. It is about.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an instrument panel having a three-layer structure including a skin, a base material in which a substantially rectangular airbag discharge opening is formed, and a foam layer integrally formed between the skin and the base material. The structure of the airbag door provided corresponding to the airbag release opening is disclosed.

The airbag door includes an airbag chute assembled to the airbag discharge opening, and the airbag chute has a cylindrical portion in which the airbag device is accommodated, and a flange is provided at an outer upper end of the cylindrical portion. A plurality of claws are formed at a predetermined interval in the vicinity of the lower portion of the airbag, and the edge of the airbag discharge opening is vertically formed by each of the claws and the flange. The air bag chute is assembled to the air bag discharge opening.
JP 2000-318559 A (paragraph 0010 column, 0013 column, FIG. 2, FIG. 3)

  By the way, since the airbag bulges toward the occupant side at the time of a vehicle collision, the bulging pressure is concentrated on the occupant side claw portion on the rear side of the vehicle, the claw portion is broken, and the airbag chute opens the airbag discharge opening. There is a risk that the airbag door part may be hindered from opening.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to stably assemble the airbag chute to the airbag discharge opening so as not to come off due to the inflation pressure of the airbag.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the way of relating the flange portion of the airbag chute and the edge of the airbag discharge opening is elaborated.

  Specifically, the present invention relates to an instrument panel comprising a skin, a base material in which a substantially rectangular airbag discharge opening is formed, and a foam layer integrally formed between the skin and the base material. The following solution was taken for the structure of the airbag door provided corresponding to the airbag discharge opening.

  That is, the invention described in claim 1 includes an airbag chute assembled to the airbag discharge opening, and the airbag chute includes a cylindrical portion in which an airbag device is accommodated, and an inner upper end of the cylindrical portion. A flange portion provided so as to cover the airbag discharge opening, and a flange portion provided so as to project outward at the outer upper end of the cylindrical portion or in the vicinity thereof, and at least the passenger-side flange portion is the above-mentioned It is assembled | attached to the said airbag discharge | release opening so that it may overlap with the airbag discharge | release opening edge edge lower surface of a base material in a surface contact state.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of claw portions are formed in the vicinity of the outer upper end of the anti-occupant side tubular portion, and the airbag chute has an anti-occupant side flange portion. The claw portions engage with the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material in a state where the claw portions overlap with the upper surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material. It is characterized by being comprised so that the airbag discharge | release opening edge part of a material may be clamped from an up-down direction.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of holes are formed in the non-passenger side cylindrical portion, while the airbag discharge opening edge of the anti-passenger side base material A plurality of protrusions projecting into the airbag discharge opening so as to correspond to the holes, and the airbag chute interferes with the edge of the airbag discharge opening. So that the cylindrical portion is inserted into the airbag discharge opening from above and moved toward the occupant side, and the projections are inserted into the holes. From this state, the occupant side flange portion becomes the base material. The cylindrical portion is moved to the occupant side so as to overlap the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the airbag, the projections are separated from the holes, and the anti-occupant flange portion and the flap portion are pressed from above. By attaching the anti-occupant side flange, In addition to overlapping the upper surface of each protrusion, each claw is engaged with the lower surface of each protrusion, and the protrusion is sandwiched between the anti-occupant side flange and the claw from above and below. It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, on the occupant side where the inflation pressure of the airbag is concentrated, the occupant side flange portion of the airbag chute is overlapped with the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material in a surface contact state. Therefore, compared with the case where the nail | claw part like patent document 1 is engaged with the lower surface of the airbag discharge | release opening edge part of a base material, mutual contact area is large, and also the air which acts on an airbag discharge | release opening edge The inflation pressure of the bag is dispersed and weakened over a wide range. Therefore, the airbag discharge opening edge and the occupant side flange are prevented from being damaged, and the airbag chute can be stably assembled without coming off the airbag discharge opening. it can.

  According to the invention according to claim 2, with the occupant side flange portion overlapped with the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material, the inflation pressure of the airbag is relatively small compared to the occupant side, By pressing the anti-occupant side flange and flap from above, the air bag discharge opening edge of the base material is sandwiched from above and below between the anti-occupant side flange and the respective claws of the anti-occupant side tubular portion. The airbag chute can be easily assembled to the airbag discharge opening.

  According to the invention of claim 3, the operation of moving the airbag chute (cylindrical portion) to the non-occupant side and the occupant side in the process of inserting the airbag chute (cylindrical portion) into the airbag discharge opening, and the subsequent pressing operation on the anti-occupant side Thus, the airbag chute can be easily assembled to the airbag discharge opening. Moreover, when the airbag chute is moved to the side opposite to the occupant and the side of the occupant, the projections of the base material on the side of the occupant are inserted into and removed from the holes of the tubular portion on the side of the occupant, thereby avoiding interference. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure an airbag discharge opening wider than necessary, and the degree of freedom in layout can be increased.

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

  FIG.1 and FIG.2 shows the panel structural member 1 which comprises a part of resin instrument panel to which the airbag door structure which concerns on embodiment of this invention was applied. The panel component 1 includes a skin 3, a base material 7 on which a substantially rectangular airbag discharge opening 5 (see FIG. 3) is formed, and a foam formed integrally between the skin 3 and the base material 7. The air bag door 11 is provided corresponding to the air bag discharge opening 5.

  The panel component 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. The airbag door 11 includes a skin 3 and a foam layer 9 of the panel component 1 and will be described later. The airbag door portion 12 includes a three-layer airbag door portion 12 formed of a flap portion 19 of the airbag chute 13 and a resin airbag chute 13 assembled to the airbag discharge opening 5. It consists of a front door portion 12a and a rear door portion 12b that open upward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the airbag chute 13 includes a cylindrical portion 17 having a substantially rectangular cross section in which an airbag device 15 (see FIG. 2) is accommodated, and the cylindrical portion 17 is a front side of the vehicle. A front wall 17a positioned on the passenger side and extending in the vehicle width direction, a rear wall portion 17b positioned on the passenger side on the rear side of the vehicle and extending in the vehicle width direction, and both ends of the front wall portion 17a and the rear wall portion 17b are connected to each other. It is composed of both side wall portions 17c extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a flap portion 19 is integrally formed at the inner upper end of the cylindrical portion 17 via a thin hinge portion 19a so as to cover the airbag discharge opening 5. An anti-passenger side flange portion 21 is integrally formed on the outer upper end of the non-passenger side tubular portion 17 so as to project outward, and at the outer upper end of the both side tubular portions 17 in the vehicle width direction. The side flange 23 will protrude outward Formed integrally with, these counter-occupant side flange portion 21 and side flange portion 23 is formed continuously with the flap portion 19. Further, an occupant side flange portion 25 is integrally formed in the vicinity of the outer upper end of the occupant side cylindrical portion 17 so that the occupant side flange portion 25 projects outward from a position one step below the upper end of the cylindrical portion 17. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 25a are integrally bridged between the lower surface of the occupant side flange portion 25 and the rear wall portion 17b of the tubular portion 17, and the rigidity of the occupant side flange portion 25 is ensured. Yes. The tubular portion 17, the flap portion 19, and the flange portions 21, 23, 25 constitute the airbag chute 13. Therefore, the flap portion 19 also serves as the base material 7 of the airbag door portion 12.

  On the back surface of the flap portion 19, a first break groove portion 27a having a substantially V-shaped cross section extending in the vehicle width direction and a second break portion having a substantially V-shaped cross section extending in the vehicle front-rear direction from both ends of the first break groove portion 27a. A groove portion 27b is formed in an H shape, and first and second planned break portions 29a and 29b are formed corresponding to the first and second fracture groove portions 27a and 27b. The airbag door portion 12 is a so-called seamless type in which the first and second planned fracture portions 29a and 29b cannot be distinguished from the surface of the instrument panel 1, and the first and second planned fracture portions 29a, 29b, 29b is broken so that the front door portion 12a and the rear door portion 12b are opened upward in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

  Further, the front wall portion 17a and the rear wall portion 17b of the cylindrical portion 17 have four hook engagement hole portions 31a and 31b corresponding to the hook 15b of the airbag device 15 described later in the vehicle width direction. The hook engaging hole 31a of the front wall 17a is formed larger in the vertical direction than the hook engaging hole 31b of the rear wall 17b. The hook engaging hole 31a is formed so large that the projection 37 described later interferes with the front wall 17a of the tubular portion 17 when the airbag chute 13 is assembled to the airbag discharge opening 5. This is to prevent it from happening. Further, in the vicinity of the upper end of the front wall portion 17a, four claw portions 33 (one each appearing in FIGS. 2 and 5 to 9) are arranged in the vehicle width direction so as to correspond to the hook engaging hole portion 31a. It is formed at intervals.

  An anti-occupant side receiving portion 35a and a side receiving portion 35b for receiving the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 and the side flange portion 23 are flanged on the opposite side and both sides of the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a of the base material 7. In the vehicle width direction, the projections 37 are formed so as to correspond to the thicknesses of the portions 21 and 23, and the four projections 37 correspond to the anti-occupant side hook engaging hole portions 31a. And projecting into the airbag discharge opening 5 with a gap therebetween. A reinforcing rib 39 is integrally formed on the lower surface of each protrusion 37 so as to extend toward the base material 7, and the rigidity of each protrusion 37 is ensured.

  In the airbag chute 13, the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 overlaps the upper surface of the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7 a of the base material 7, that is, the upper surface of the anti-occupant side receiving portion 35 a and each projection portion 37. The claw portions 33 engage with the reinforcing ribs 39 on the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge 7a of the base member 7, that is, the lower surfaces of the projections 37, and the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 and the claw portions 33 Thus, the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a of the base material 7, that is, each protrusion 37 is sandwiched from above and below. The side flange portion 23 overlaps the upper surface of the side receiving portion 35b, and the occupant side flange portion 25 overlaps the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a of the base material 7 on the occupant side in a surface contact state. In this way, the airbag chute 13 is assembled to the airbag discharge opening 5.

  The airbag device 15 includes an airbag 15a (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2), an inflator (not shown) and the like housed in a case 15d, and a bracket 15c fixed to the bottom of the case 15d. The hook 15b fixed to the wall surface around the case 15d is inserted into the hook engaging holes 31a and 31b of the cylindrical portion 17 while being supported by an instrument panel reinforcement (not shown) through The tubular portion 17 is housed.

  As described above, in order to assemble the airbag chute 13 to the airbag discharge opening 5 of the substrate 7, first, the airbag chute 13 is inserted into the airbag discharge opening 5 from the upper part to the middle as shown in FIG. To do. In this process, as shown in FIG. 7, the projections 37 are inserted into the hook engaging holes 31a to insert the airbag chute 13, and the occupant side flange 25 is connected to the airbag discharge opening edge 7a. Move to the non-occupant side to avoid interference. Next, the occupant-side flange portion 25 is moved downward and positioned below the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a on the lower surface of the base member 7, as shown in FIG. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 9, the airbag chute 13 is moved to the occupant side, and the occupant side flange portion 25 is overlaid on the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7 a of the base material 7. At this time, the protrusions 37 are detached from the hook engaging holes 31a, and the claw parts 33 are positioned on the top surfaces of the tips of the protrusions 37. Thereafter, by pressing the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 and the flap portion 19 from above, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 is connected to the anti-occupant side receiving portions 35a and the protruding portions. 37, the claw portions 33 engage with the bottom surfaces of the projections 37, and the projections 37 are sandwiched between the anti-occupant side flange portions 21 and the claw portions 33 from above and below. Further, the side flange portion 23 receives the side flange portion 23 from below.

  In this way, the base material 7 to which the airbag chute 13 is assembled is set on the movable mold of the molding die, the skin 3 is set on the stationary die, and the foamed resin is put into the cavity with the molding die closed. By pouring, the panel constituent member 1 in which the foam layer 9 is integrally formed between the skin 3 and the base material 7 is formed.

  When the vehicle collides, the airbag 15a of the airbag device 15 is inflated, and the first and second scheduled breakage portions 29a and 29b are broken by the inflation pressure, and the airbag door portion 12 (the front door portion 12a, The rear door portion 12b) opens upward, and the airbag 15a bulges toward the occupant side from the viewpoint of protecting the occupant. At this time, the inflation pressure of the airbag 15a is concentrated on the occupant side rather than the side opposite to the occupant side of the airbag door 11, but the occupant side flange portion 21 of the airbag chute 13 is connected to the airbag discharge opening edge of the base member 7. Since the surface 7a is overlapped with the lower surface of the portion 7a in a surface contact state, the contact area is large compared to the case where the claw portion as in Patent Document 1 is engaged with the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material. The inflation pressure of the airbag 15a acting on the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a is dispersed and weakened over a wide range, and thus the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a and the passenger side flange portion 25 are prevented from being damaged. The chute 13 can be stably assembled without being detached from the airbag discharge opening 5.

  Further, in a state where the occupant side flange portion 25 is overlapped on the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge portion 7a of the base material 7, the anti-occupant side flange is provided on the counter occupant side where the inflation pressure of the airbag 15a is relatively smaller than that of the occupant side. By pressing the portion 21 and the flap portion 19 from above, the airbag discharge opening edge of the base member 7 is formed by the anti-occupant side flange portion 21 and the claw portions 33 of the front wall portion 17a (anti-occupant side cylindrical portion 17). Since the portion 7a is sandwiched from above and below, the airbag chute 13 can be easily assembled to the airbag discharge opening 5.

  Further, the airbag chute 13 (cylindrical portion 17) is moved to the occupant side and the occupant side in the process of inserting the airbag chute 13 (cylindrical portion 17) into the airbag discharge opening 5, and then the pressing operation on the anti-occupant side is performed. The chute 13 can be easily assembled to the airbag discharge opening 5. In addition, when the airbag chute 13 moves toward the occupant side and the occupant side, the projections 37 of the anti-occupant side base material 7 are inserted into and removed from the hook engagement holes 31 a of the anti-occupant side tubular portion 17. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure the airbag discharge opening 5 more than necessary in order to avoid interference, and the degree of freedom in layout can be increased. In addition, as described above, since each hook engaging hole 31a is used as a hole for avoiding interference, it is not necessary to provide a hole separately. In addition, you may make it provide separately the hole part which inserts / removes the projection part 37 at the time of assembling the airbag chute | shoot 13 (cylindrical part 17) to the airbag discharge | release opening 5. FIG.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the hook engagement hole portions 31a and 31b, the claw portion 33, and the projection portion 37 are formed four by four, but the number is not limited to this.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, although the airbag door part 12 was formed integrally with the panel structural member 1, a separate body may be sufficient.

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

It is a top view of the panel structural member of the instrument panel to which the airbag door structure concerning this embodiment is applied. It is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the airbag discharge | release opening of a base material. It is a perspective view of an airbag chute. It is sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. FIG. 6 is an assembly process diagram showing a state in the middle of inserting the tubular portion of the airbag chute into the airbag discharge opening of the base material in the cross section corresponding to the line CC in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is an assembly process diagram showing a state where the airbag chute is moved to the non-occupant side from the state of FIG. 6. It is an assembly | attachment process figure which shows the state which located the passenger | crew side flange part below the airbag discharge | release opening edge part of the base material from the process of FIG. It is an assembly | attachment process figure which shows the state which moved the airbag chute to the passenger | crew side from the process of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Panel component (instrument panel)
3 epidermis
5 Airbag discharge opening
7 Base material
7a Airbag discharge opening edge
9 Foam layer
11 Airbag door
12 Airbag door
13 Airbag chute
15 Airbag device
15a airbag
17 Cylindrical part
19 Flap part
21 Non-passenger side flange
23 Side flange
25 Passenger side flange
27a First breaking groove
27b Second fracture groove
29a First fracture planned portion
29b Second fracture planned portion
31a, 31b hook engaging hole
33 Nail
35a, 35b receiving part
37 Projection

Claims (3)

Corresponding to the airbag discharge opening of the instrument panel comprising a skin, a base material in which a substantially rectangular airbag discharge opening is formed, and a foam layer integrally formed between the skin and the base material A structure of an air bag door provided,
An airbag chute assembled to the airbag discharge opening is provided, and the airbag chute is provided so as to cover the airbag discharge opening at a cylindrical portion in which an airbag device is accommodated and an inner upper end of the cylindrical portion. And a flange portion provided so as to project outward at the outer upper end of the cylindrical portion or in the vicinity thereof, and at least the passenger-side flange portion is on the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material. An airbag door structure assembled to the airbag discharge opening so as to overlap in a surface contact state. In the airbag door structure according to claim 1,
A plurality of claws are formed in the vicinity of the outer upper end of the non-passenger side tubular portion,
The air bag chute is configured so that each of the claw portions engages with a lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material in a state where the non-occupant side flange portion overlaps the upper surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material. An airbag door structure configured to sandwich an airbag discharge opening edge of a base material in a vertical direction between a side flange portion and each of the claw portions. In the airbag door structure according to claim 1 or 2,
A plurality of holes are formed in the non-passenger side cylindrical portion, while an air bag discharge opening edge of the non-passenger side base material has a plurality of protrusions corresponding to the holes. Projecting into the bag discharge opening,
The airbag chute moves the projections to the occupant side while inserting the cylindrical portion into the airbag discharge opening from above so that the passenger side flange portion does not interfere with the edge of the airbag discharge opening. The cylindrical portion is moved to the occupant side so that the occupant-side flange portion overlaps the lower surface of the airbag discharge opening edge of the base material from this state, and the projections are inserted into the holes. The anti-occupant side flange portion and the flap portion are pressed from above, and the anti-occupant side flange portion overlaps the upper surface of each projection portion, and each claw portion engages with the lower surface of each projection portion. In addition, the airbag door structure is configured such that the protrusions are sandwiched between the anti-occupant side flange portion and the claw portions from above and below.

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