JP2008230425A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To more easily provide an airbag device capable of wiping uncomfortable feeling relative to an occupant approaching to an instrument panel without impairing protection performance of the occupant at vehicle collision. <P>SOLUTION: In the airbag device, an airbag module 2 having a vessel-like retainer for storing an inflator 7 and an airbag 6 and a door part 10 for closing an upper opening 3 of the retainer 4 is provided on the instrument panel 1, at the vehicle collision, the door part 10 is opened by the airbag 6 fed with a gas from the inflator 7 and inflated, and the airbag 6 is deployed to an inside of a cabin to protect the occupant. A central part in a vehicle width direction at a vehicle rear side of the door part 10, a recession part 10c recessed to a vehicle front side than both ends is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device.

  Conventionally, as an airbag module installed in an instrument panel located in front of a passenger seat of an automobile, an inflator and an airbag are stored in a container-like retainer, and an upper opening thereof is closed by a door portion. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In the event of a vehicle collision, the door is opened by the inflated airbag supplied with the gas from the inflator, and the airbag is deployed toward the passenger compartment side to protect the occupant.

  In Patent Document 1, the shape of the upper opening and the door portion of the retainer is a large rectangular shape that is long in the vehicle width direction, so that the airbag can be deployed in a wide area in front of the occupant's head.

Thus, by deploying the airbag over a wide area in front of the occupant's head, both large and small occupants are reliably protected.
JP 2001-30862 A

  However, in the above prior art, the shape of the upper opening and the door portion of the retainer is set to be large, so in the case where the occupant takes a posture approaching the instrument panel, the airbag is deployed at an early stage of deployment. Contact the passenger.

  In general, airbags are deployed in a short time to protect the occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, so it is quite uncomfortable for the occupant to contact the airbag at the initial stage of deployment. There is not preferable.

  Therefore, the seating position of the occupant is detected by a sensor installed in the seat, a camera installed on the instrument panel, etc., and it is determined whether the occupant is approaching the instrument panel, and the occupant approaches the instrument panel. In such a case, attempts have been made to reduce discomfort felt by the occupant by stopping the inflator or delaying activation of some of the plurality of inflators.

  However, providing such a complicated and large-scale device has a problem of increasing the weight of the device and increasing the cost.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to more easily obtain an airbag device that can wipe away discomfort for an occupant who has approached an instrument panel without impairing the protection performance of the occupant at the time of a vehicle collision.

  In the invention of claim 1, an airbag module having a container-like retainer that houses an inflator and an airbag and a door portion that closes an upper opening of the retainer is provided on the instrument panel, and at the time of a vehicle collision, An airbag device that opens the door by the airbag inflated by supplying gas from the inflator and that is deployed on the vehicle interior side to protect an occupant, the vehicle being located on the vehicle rear side of the door The vehicle width direction center part is provided with a recessed part that is recessed toward the front side of the vehicle from both ends thereof.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the vehicle width direction center portion of the vehicle rear side edge portion of the door portion is close to the instrument panel. The head of the vehicle collision test dummy is provided with the recess so as to be positioned in front of the vehicle with respect to the head of the vehicle collision test dummy placed and the door portion being placed close to the instrument panel. It is characterized by avoiding the part.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle rear side edge portion of the door portion is broken when the airbag is deployed. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle width direction central portion on the vehicle rear side of the door portion, the concave portion recessed toward the vehicle front side rather than the both end portions is provided. The airbag can be deployed to avoid it.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the door portion is recessed in the vehicle width direction central portion on the vehicle rear side of the door portion so as to avoid the head of the vehicle collision test dummy placed close to the instrument panel. By providing the airbag, the airbag can be deployed so as to avoid the head of the vehicle collision experiment dummy placed in the vicinity of the instrument panel at the initial stage of deployment of the airbag.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the vehicle rear side edge portion of the door portion is broken when the airbag is deployed, the door portion can be prevented from opening rearward of the vehicle.

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

  1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel in which an airbag module according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the instrument panel, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the airbag module. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag module, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the head of the AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy is placed close to the instrument panel, and FIG. 6 is a deployment of the airbag. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an entire state of the airbag. In FIG. 1, F is the front in the vehicle front-rear direction and R is the rear. Further, in the figure, an occupant equivalent to a 6-year-old American is shown by an AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy m. The width dimension of the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m is set to 135 mm.

  The airbag apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an airbag module 2 installed on an upper portion of an instrument panel 1 on the passenger seat side of an automobile.

  The airbag module 2 includes an upper opening 3 formed in an upper portion thereof, and includes a metal container-like retainer 4 that houses the inflator 7 and the airbag 6, and an open / close lid 8 that closes the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4. .

  In the present embodiment, the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4 has a shape in which the center portion 5 at the center in the vehicle width direction of the rear edge portion (vehicle rear side opening edge portion) is displaced to the front F side from both sides thereof. . Further, the shape of the retainer 4 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper opening 3. That is, the upper opening 3 and the retainer 4 have a shape in which both sides in the vehicle width direction are bent obliquely rearward in plan view, and as a whole, a concave shape in which a central portion on the rear R side is recessed toward the front F side. I am doing.

  Further, as described above, the retainer 4 accommodates the inflator 7 and the airbag 6, and the airbag 6 is accommodated in the retainer 4 in a state of being folded into a shape corresponding to the retainer 4. In addition, a substantially cylindrical inflator 7 for inflating the airbag 6 is housed. The retainer 4 has a bottom fixed to a steering member (not shown) in the instrument panel 1.

  And the airbag module 2 is installed in the upper part of the instrument panel 1 by closing the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4 with the resin-made opening / closing lid 8. FIG. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the surface of the opening / closing lid 8 and the surface of the instrument panel 1 are flush with each other with the airbag module 2 attached to the upper portion of the instrument panel 1.

  In the present embodiment, the opening / closing lid 8 has a shape that is slightly larger than the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4. That is, the opening / closing lid 8 has a concave shape in which the central portion on the rear R side is recessed toward the front F side as shown in FIG. 1, and the central portion in the vehicle width direction on the rear R side of the opening / closing lid 8 is shown in FIG. A recess 8a is formed which becomes narrower as it goes to the front F side.

  And the door part 10 is formed by forming the thin-shaped cleavage groove 9 in the site | part corresponding to the outer periphery of the upper opening 3 of the back surface side of the opening-and-closing lid 8 in the state which block | closed the upper opening 3. FIG. That is, in the present embodiment, the shape of the door portion 10 is a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper opening 3.

  And as shown in FIG. 1, the recessed part 10c dented in the front F side rather than the both ends is provided in the vehicle width direction center part of the back R side of the door part 10. As shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the recessed part 10c becomes narrow as it goes to the front F side like the recessed part 8a.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, by forming two thin-shaped cleavage grooves 10e and 10e extending diagonally forward from both ends of the bottom 10d of the recess 10c on the back surface side of the door portion 10, the door portion 10 is It is divided into three in the vehicle width direction. That is, the door portion 10 includes one center door portion 10a formed at a position corresponding to the center portion 5 and two side door portions 10b and 10b formed on both sides thereof.

  As described above, the door portion 10 has the same shape as that of the upper opening 3, and includes a cleavage groove 9 surrounding the center door portion 10a and the side door portion 10b, and two linear cleavage grooves 10e. However, in this embodiment, the thickness of the front side edge (vehicle front side edge) 9a of the cleavage groove 9 is equal to the other part of the cleavage groove 9 and the two linear cleavages. The grooves 10e and 10e are thicker than the wall thickness. In this way, by increasing the thickness of the front end edge portion 9a, the strength of the front end edge portion 9a can be changed to other portions (the other portion of the cleavage groove 9 and the two linear cleavage grooves 10e, 10e). ). As a result, the front end edge portion 9a is less likely to break than the other portions, so that the center door portion 10a and the side door portion 10b are opened using the front end edge portion 9a as a hinge. That is, when the airbag 6 is deployed, the rear edge (the vehicle rear edge) 9b of the door 10 is broken.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment in which the position of the bottom side 10d of the recess 10c (the position of the vehicle width direction center portion 9c of the vehicle rear side end edge portion 9b) is placed close to the instrument panel 1. A concave portion 10c is provided so as to be positioned on the front F side with respect to the head h of the dummy dummy m. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the position of the bottom 8b of the recess 8a is also positioned on the front F side with respect to the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m placed close to the instrument panel 1. Yes.

  The dimension of the bottom side 8b of the recess 8a (the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the recess 8a) is made substantially the same as the width dimension of the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m (135 mm in this embodiment). . The dimension of the bottom 10d of the recess 10c may be substantially the same as the width dimension of the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m.

  Thus, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the door 10 avoids the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy m placed close to the instrument panel 1 and opens and closes the lid. 8 also avoids the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy m.

  Next, the deployment behavior of the airbag 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, when a vehicle collision occurs, a sensor (not shown) detects the vehicle collision, and gas is ejected from the inflator 7 to the airbag 6.

  And the airbag 6 accommodated in the state folded in the retainer 4 expand | swells in the airbag module 2, The front side edge part among the cleavage grooves 9 formed in the opening-and-closing lid 8 by the expansion | swelling force The portion other than 9a and the two linear cleavage grooves 10e, 10e are cleaved.

  In this way, as shown in FIG. 6, the open / close lid 8 is divided into one center door portion 10a and two side door portions 10b, and opens radially around the front end edge portion 9a. That is, the center door portion 10a opens forward about the front end edge portion 9a, and the two side door portions 10b and 10b open obliquely forward. And the airbag 6 expand | deploys to the vehicle interior side.

  At this time, the inflation shape of the airbag in the initial stage of the deployment operation is regulated by the shape of the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4 and the shape of the door portion 10. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the airbag in the initial stage has a shape of the door portion 10 (a shape formed by one center door portion 10a and two side door portions 10b), In addition, it develops along the shape of the upper opening 3.

  Thereafter, the airbag 6 is further inflated so that the airbag 6 in the portion corresponding to the side door portion 10b on both sides of the center portion 5 and the airbag 6 in the portion corresponding to the center door portion 10a both cover the recess 10c side. Enter. And the recessed part 10c of the door part 10 is gradually covered with the inflated airbag 6, and finally comes to function as a normal airbag.

  According to the present embodiment described above, the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m in which the door portion 10 is placed in the vicinity of the instrument panel 1 can be avoided. Even if a vehicle collision occurs and the airbag 6 is deployed with the dummy m placed close to the instrument panel 1, the shape of the door 10 (the shape of the upper opening 3) is the initial stage when the airbag 6 is deployed. Therefore, the airbag 6 can be deployed so as to avoid the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the airbag 6 is further inflated, the portion of the airbag 6 corresponding to the side door portion 10b on both sides of the center portion 5 and the portion of the airbag 6 corresponding to the center door portion 10a. However, it enters the lower side of the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m and restrains the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy m. Therefore, the head h of the AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy m can be restrained without applying a large load from the airbag 6 to the AC06 type vehicle collision test dummy m.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the normal posture, the airbag 6 can function as a normal airbag. That is, since the airbag 6 can be deployed in a wide area, the head of the AM50 type vehicle collision test dummy can be restrained when the AM50 type vehicle collision test dummy equivalent to a general occupant is seated. In addition, even when a small AC06-type vehicle collision test dummy m is seated, the head h of the AC06-type vehicle collision test dummy m can be constrained by the airbag 6 fully inflated by the vehicle collision.

  Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, when the airbag 6 is deployed, the rear edge 9b of the center door 10a and the side door 10b is broken, and the center door 10a and the side door 10b are respectively connected to the front end. The center door portion 10a and the side door portion 10b can be prevented from being opened rearward because the edge portion 9a is radially opened forward and obliquely forward about the edge portion 9a.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to more easily obtain an airbag device that can dispel discomfort for an occupant approaching the instrument panel without impairing the occupant protection performance at the time of a vehicle collision. .

  Moreover, according to the present embodiment, such an airbag device can be obtained simply by changing the shape of the portion (upper opening 3 and door portion 10) related to the shape of the upper opening 3 of the retainer 4. And can be easily implemented.

  Next, modifications of the shapes of the upper opening and the opening / closing lid will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an upper opening and an open / close lid according to a first modification of the present embodiment.

  The upper opening 11 and the opening / closing lid 12 according to this modification have a substantially U-shape in which both sides in the vehicle width direction are bent toward the rear R side, and as a whole, the central portion on the rear R side is recessed toward the front F side. It has a concave shape. A door portion 14 is formed on the back surface of the opening / closing lid 12 by a cleavage groove 13 provided along the shape of the upper opening 11. A recessed portion 14c that is recessed toward the front F side from both ends thereof is provided at the vehicle width direction central portion on the rear R side of the door portion 14. Furthermore, in this modification, the door part 14 is divided into three by the cleavage groove 14e into the center door part 14a and the two side door parts 14b. And the rear side edge part (vehicle rear side edge part) 15b of the door part 14 is fractured | ruptured, and the center door part 14a opens to the front F side centering on the front side edge part (vehicle front side edge part) 15a. The side door portion 14b is set to open to the left and right sides around the front end edge portion 15a.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an upper opening and an open / close lid according to a second modification of the present embodiment.

  The upper opening 16 and the opening / closing lid 17 according to this modification each have an arch shape in which both sides in the vehicle width direction are curved toward the rear R side, and the central portion on the rear R side is curved toward the front F side as a whole. It has a shape. A door portion 19 is formed on the back surface of the opening / closing lid 17 by a cleaving groove 18 provided along the shape of the upper opening 16. A concave portion 19c that is recessed toward the front F side from both ends thereof is provided at the vehicle width direction central portion on the rear R side of the door portion 19. Furthermore, in this modification, the door part 19 is divided into three by the cleavage groove 19e into the center door part 19a and the two side door parts 19b. Then, the rear end edge portion (vehicle rear side edge portion) 20b of the door portion 19 is broken, and the center door portion 19a opens to the front F side centering on the front end edge portion (vehicle front side edge portion) 20a. The side door portion 19b is set to open obliquely forward about the front end edge portion 20a.

  FIG. 10 is a plan view showing an upper opening and an open / close lid according to a third modification of the present embodiment.

  The upper opening 21 and the opening / closing lid 22 according to this modification are substantially H-shaped in plan view. A door portion 24 is formed on the back surface of the opening / closing lid 22 by a cleaving groove 23 provided along the shape of the upper opening 21. A recessed portion 24c that is recessed toward the front F side from both ends thereof is provided at the vehicle width direction central portion on the rear R side of the door portion 24. Furthermore, in this modification, the door part 24 is divided into three by the tear groove 24e into the center door part 24a and the two side door parts 24b. Then, the rear edge (vehicle rear edge) 25b of the door 24 is broken, and the center door 24a opens to the front F side with the front edge (vehicle front edge) 25a as a center. The side door portion 24b is set to open to the left and right sides around the front end edge portion 25a.

  FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an upper opening and an open / close lid according to a fourth modification of the present embodiment.

  The upper opening 26 and the opening / closing lid 27 according to this modification have a glasses-like curved shape. A door portion 29 is formed on the back surface of the opening / closing lid 27 by a cleavage groove 28 provided along the shape of the upper opening 26. A concave portion 29c is provided at the center in the vehicle width direction on the rear R side of the door portion 29. The concave portion 29c is recessed toward the front F side from both end portions. Furthermore, in this modification, the door part 29 is divided into three by the tear groove 29e into the center door part 29a and the two side door parts 29b. Then, the rear edge portion (vehicle rear side edge portion) 30b of the door portion 29 is broken, and the center door portion 29a opens to the front F side centering on the front edge portion (vehicle front side edge portion) 30a. The side door portion 29b is set so as to open obliquely forward about the front end edge portion 30a.

  Also by these first to fourth modifications, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

  The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the open / close lid is divided into three, but it may be divided into two, or may be divided into four or more. Further, the opening / closing lid may be used without being divided.

  In the above embodiment, the recess is provided not only in the door portion but also in the opening / closing lid. For example, the opening / closing lid is not provided with a recess by forming a rectangular shape in the opening / closing lid. May be provided.

  In addition, the shapes of the opening / closing lid, the door portion, and the concave portion provided in them are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be various shapes.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the door is formed on the opening / closing lid, and the upper opening of the retainer is blocked by the opening / closing lid, but the door is formed directly on the instrument panel without using the opening / closing lid. Also good.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the recessed part was provided in the said door part so that the door part may avoid the head of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy which adjoined the instrument panel, the AM50 type vehicle collision experiment dummy of You may provide a recessed part so that a head may be avoided.

The perspective view which shows the instrument panel which installed the airbag module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the instrument panel concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the airbag module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the airbag module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the state by which the head of the AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy concerning one Embodiment of this invention was put close to the instrument panel. The perspective view which shows the deployment initial state of the airbag concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The perspective view which shows the whole inflation state of the airbag concerning one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the upper opening and opening-and-closing lid concerning the 1st modification of one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the upper opening and opening-and-closing lid concerning the 2nd modification of one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the upper opening and opening-and-closing lid concerning the 3rd modification of one Embodiment of this invention. The top view which shows the upper opening and opening-and-closing lid concerning the 4th modification of one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 2 Airbag module 3,11,16,21,26 Upper opening 4 Retainer 6 Airbag 7 Inflator 9a, 15a, 20a, 25a, 30a Front side edge part (vehicle front side edge part)
9b, 15b, 20b, 25b, 30b Rear edge (vehicle rear edge)
9c Vehicle width direction center portion of vehicle rear side edge portion 10, 14, 19, 24, 29 Door portion 10c, 14c, 19c, 24c, 29c Recess F Front R Rear m AC06 type vehicle collision experiment dummy h AC06 type vehicle Crash experiment dummy head

Claims (3)

An airbag module having a container-like retainer that stores an inflator and an airbag and a door portion that closes the upper opening of the retainer is provided on the instrument panel, and gas is supplied from the inflator to bulge at the time of a vehicle collision The airbag unit is configured to protect the passenger by opening the door by the airbag and deploying the airbag on the vehicle interior side.
The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion that is recessed toward the front side of the vehicle from both ends thereof is provided at a vehicle width direction central portion of the door portion on the vehicle rear side.   The position of the vehicle width direction center portion of the vehicle rear side edge portion of the door portion is positioned on the vehicle front side with respect to the head of the vehicle collision experiment dummy placed close to the instrument panel. 2. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a recess is provided to avoid the head of the vehicle collision experiment dummy placed close to the instrument panel.   The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a vehicle rear side edge portion of the door portion is broken when the airbag is deployed.

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