JP2018095165A - Cover body for air bag device and air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a case body for an air bag device, which enables weight saving while securing rigidity and which makes air bag expansion performance proper, and the air bag device comprising the case body.SOLUTION: A case body 16 is made of a synthetic resin so as to save weight. A rib 27 is provided along an air bag expansion direction on the air bag side of a side wall part 26 that is erected on the bottom 25 of the case body 16. The side wall part 26 is reinforced with the rib 27 so that rigidity of the case body 16 can be secured even when it is made of the synthetic resin. Since the rib 27 is positioned along the air bag expansion direction, the rib 27 does not hinder expansion of an air bag so that expansion performance of the air bag can be secured.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a cover body for an airbag apparatus that houses a folded airbag and an airbag apparatus including the same.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, there is an airbag device for a passenger on a passenger seat disposed on an instrument panel of an automobile. The airbag device includes a box-shaped case body, a bag-shaped airbag, an inflator, and a cover body. A folded airbag is stored in the case body, and an inflator is attached to the case body. Further, the cover body is provided integrally with the instrument panel. When the automobile collides, the airbag into which gas is blown from the inflator pushes up a part of the cover body that covers the inflation side of the airbag, and the tear line provided on the cover body is broken by the pressure of the inflation. The door flap, that is, the door portion is configured to open.

  In such an airbag device, a case body and a cover body made of a synthetic resin are known in order to reduce the weight. In this configuration, in order to increase the rigidity of the case body, reinforcing ribs are provided on the outside of the side wall portion (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, the above configuration cannot be adopted when ribs cannot be provided outside the side wall portion due to the layout relationship with the peripheral members of the airbag device.

  In addition, a configuration is known in which the case body is divided into two parts, and the upper case body and the lower case body can be slid relative to each other. In this configuration, a plurality of dovetail-shaped concave grooves are provided inside the side wall portion of the upper case body, and are slidably inserted into the respective concave grooves outside the side wall portion of the lower case body. Projections are provided on the projections. And by fitting these concave grooves and protrusions, the side wall portion of the upper case body and the side wall portion of the lower case body which are overlapped are not separated from each other (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .

  However, in such a configuration, the area inside the upper case body increases, and therefore the area inside the upper case body cannot be increased due to the layout with the peripheral members of the airbag device. The above configuration cannot be adopted.

JP 2014-46886 A (Page 5-8, FIGS. 3 to 4) JP 2010-83280 A (page 3-4, FIG. 1 to FIG. 2)

  As described above, there is a demand for a case body that is lightweight as a synthetic resin and that can ensure rigidity while considering the layout with peripheral members.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a cover body of an airbag device that can be reduced in weight while ensuring rigidity and that has good airbag deployment performance, and an airbag device including the same. The purpose is to provide.

  The cover body of the airbag apparatus according to claim 1 is a case body of a synthetic resin airbag apparatus that houses a folded airbag, and is erected on the bottom and on the bottom, and is inflated by introduction of gas. The side wall part which divides the opening which the said airbag expand | deployed, and the rib provided along the deployment direction of the said airbag on the said airbag side of this side wall part are provided.

  The cover body of the airbag device according to claim 2 is provided in the cover body of the airbag device according to claim 1 along a direction intersecting the rib on the airbag side of the side wall portion, and the cover body with respect to the side wall portion. The amount of protrusion to the airbag side is provided with auxiliary ribs that are smaller than the ribs.

  An airbag device according to a third aspect of the present invention covers the airbag, the case body according to the first or second aspect that accommodates the folded airbag, and covers the opening of the case body, and gas from the folded state. A cover body that is partly cleaved by the airbag inflated by introduction and allows the airbag to protrude is provided.

  According to the cover body of the airbag device according to claim 1, the airbag deployment direction is provided on the airbag side of the side wall portion standing on the bottom of the case body while reducing the weight of the case body by being made of synthetic resin. By providing the rib along the side wall, the side wall portion is reinforced by the rib, and the rigidity of the case body can be ensured even if it is made of synthetic resin. Further, since the ribs are along the airbag deployment direction, the ribs do not hinder the airbag deployment, and the airbag deployment performance can be ensured.

  According to the cover body of the airbag device according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the cover body of the airbag device according to claim 1, the auxiliary rib is provided along the direction intersecting the rib on the airbag side of the side wall portion. By providing, the side wall portion can be further reinforced and rigidity can be improved, and the amount of protrusion of the auxiliary rib toward the airbag side with respect to the side wall portion is made smaller than that of the rib, so that the auxiliary rib hardly obstructs the deployment of the airbag. The airbag deployment performance can be secured.

  According to the airbag device according to claim 3, by providing the case body according to claim 1 or 2, the layout with the peripheral members is good, and the deployment performance of the airbag is high strength and light weight. Can provide a good airbag device. Further, when the airbag is incorporated into the case body, the ribs are not easily caught on the airbag, and the productivity of the airbag device is improved.

It is a perspective view which shows the cover body of the airbag apparatus of one embodiment of this invention from the deployment direction side of an airbag. It is a perspective view which shows a case body same as the above from the opposite side to the deployment direction of an airbag. It is sectional drawing which shows a part of case body same as the above. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the airbag apparatus provided with the case body same as the above.

  The configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 10 denotes an airbag device. The airbag device 10 constitutes an airbag device 10 for a passenger on a passenger seat provided at an upper portion of an instrument panel portion 12 of an automobile as an installation portion, for example. is there. The instrument panel portion 12 is provided at the front portion of the passenger compartment over substantially the entire length in the vehicle width direction, and a front window glass (wind shield) is located above the instrument panel portion 12. An airbag device 10 is installed inside the instrument panel 12 so as to face the passenger in the passenger seat. The airbag device 10 includes a bag-shaped airbag 14, an inflator 15, a case body 16, a cover body 17, and the like. When the automobile equipped with the airbag device 10 collides, the airbag 14 is inflated by the gas supplied from the inflator 15, and the inflation pressure causes the cover body 17 to break, and the airbag 14 is inflated. The airbag 14 projects upward as a predetermined direction, and the airbag 14 is inflated and deployed forward of the occupant. In the following description, the deployment direction of the airbag 14, that is, the occupant side, is the upper side (the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 4), the front side or the front side, and the opposite side of the bulge side is the lower side (FIG. 4 etc. The direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. Further, the front-rear direction and the both-side direction in the state where the airbag device 10 is attached to the automobile will be described as the front-rear direction and the both-side direction. However, the attachment state of the airbag device 10 is not limited to this configuration. It can also be attached with the side facing upward or rearward on the rear side.

  The airbag 14 is formed in a bag shape by a single or a plurality of base fabrics, for example. For example, the airbag 14 is attached to the case body 16 while being held by a retainer 21 as a holding member. The airbag 14 is provided with a mounting hole (not shown) through which the mounting bolt 22 of the retainer 21 is inserted. Further, the airbag 14 is provided with a gas inlet (not shown) into which a part of the inflator 15 is inserted.

  As the inflator 15, various inflators 15 such as a combustion type (pyro type), a stored type that compresses and stores gas, and a hybrid type that combines these are used. The inflator 15 is attached to the case body 16 via a retainer 21. Further, the inflator 15 may be fixed to the case body 16 together with a mounting bracket (not shown) by the retainer 21. The mounting bracket is, for example, for fixing the airbag device 10 to a vehicle body member such as a steering member.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the case body 16 is made of a synthetic resin, and is formed in a box shape, for example. The case body 16 includes a bottom portion 25, a side wall portion 26 erected on the bottom portion 25, and a rib 27 provided on the side wall portion 26. Further, the case body 16 includes auxiliary ribs 28 provided on the side wall portion 26. Further, the case body 16 includes a hook 29 as an attached portion provided on the side wall portion 26. The case body 16 (airbag device 10) is attached to the vehicle body with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, for example.

  The bottom portion 25 is formed in a square shape, for example. In the present embodiment, the bottom 25 is formed in a rectangular shape. Therefore, a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides are set on the bottom portion 25. Further, the bottom 25 is provided with a mounting opening 31 into which the inflator 15 is fitted. Further, a bolt insertion hole (not shown) through which the mounting bolt 22 provided on the retainer 21 is inserted is opened in the bottom portion 25. Further, the bottom portion 25 may be provided with reinforcing bottom portion reinforcing ribs 34 on the side opposite to the airbag 14, that is, on the lower portion outside the case body 16.

  The attachment opening 31 is opened in a circular shape at a substantially central portion of the bottom portion 25.

  The bolt insertion hole is provided around the mounting opening 31. For example, the bolt insertion holes are provided at four locations around the mounting opening 31. Then, the nut 36 is fastened to the mounting bolt 22 inserted through the bolt insertion hole, so that the inflator 15 inserted into the case body 16 from the mounting opening 31 is fixed to the case body 16.

  The side wall portion 26 is provided in a plate shape and is raised from the outer edge portion of the bottom portion 25. In the present embodiment, the side wall portion 26 includes a pair of first side wall portions 38 and 38 as one side wall portion rising from the long side of the bottom portion 25, and other side wall portions rising from the short side of the bottom portion 25. A pair of second side wall portions 39, 39 is set. An opening 40 through which the airbag 14 projects is defined at the upper end portion of the side wall portion 26. Therefore, the opening 40 has a quadrangular shape substantially the same shape as the bottom portion 25 in the present embodiment. Further, the side wall portion 26 is provided with a bracket attachment portion 43 that is an attachment member attachment portion for attaching a side bracket 42 (FIG. 2) that is an attachment member for attaching the case body 16 (airbag device 10) to the vehicle body side. It may be done.

  The first side wall 38 is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. These first side wall portions 38 have a larger area than the second side wall portion 39. In a state where the airbag device 10 is attached to the vehicle body, one of the first side wall portions 38 is located on the rear side that is the occupant side, and the other is located on the front side.

  The second side wall portion 39 connects the first side wall portions 38 and 38 back and forth. These second side wall portions 39 may be provided with reinforcing ribs 45 for reinforcement. For example, the reinforcing rib 45 may be provided on the outer side of the case body 16 on the opposite side of the airbag 14 in the second side wall portion 39. A plurality of the reinforcing ribs 45 may be provided apart from each other in the front-rear direction along the vertical direction. Then, with the airbag device 10 attached to the vehicle body, one of the second side wall portions 39 is located on the left side and the other is located on the right side.

  The bracket attachment portion 43 is provided on the outer side of the case body 16 on the opposite side to the airbag 14 in the second side wall portion 39, for example. The bracket attachment portion 43 is provided so as to form a loop with respect to the second side wall portion 39, for example.

  The rib 27 reinforces the side wall portion 26. The rib 27 is provided inside the case body 16 on the side of the airbag 14 on the side wall portion 26. In the present embodiment, the rib 27 is provided on the first side wall portion 38 of the side wall portion 26. Further, the rib 27 is provided along the vertical direction. That is, the rib 27 is a vertical rib along the short side direction of the first side wall portion 38. For this reason, the rib 27 is provided along the deployment direction of the airbag 14. In other words, the rib 27 is provided along the insertion / removal direction of the airbag 14 with respect to the case body 16, that is, the opening direction of the opening 40. A plurality of ribs 27 are provided apart from each other in the left-right direction. The number of ribs 27 can be set arbitrarily. Further, the rib 27 is disposed in the entire left and right direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the first side wall portion 38.

  The auxiliary rib 28 reinforces the side wall portion 26. The auxiliary rib 28 is provided inside the case body 16 on the side of the airbag 14 on the side wall portion 26. In the present embodiment, the auxiliary rib 28 is provided on the first side wall portion 38 of the side wall portion 26. In other words, the auxiliary rib 28 is provided on the same side wall portion 26 as the rib 27. The auxiliary ribs 28 are provided along a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with the ribs 27. Specifically, the auxiliary rib 28 is provided along the left-right direction. That is, the auxiliary rib 28 is a lateral rib along the longitudinal direction of the first side wall portion 38. For this reason, the auxiliary ribs 28 are provided along a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with respect to the deployment direction of the airbag 14. A plurality of auxiliary ribs 28 are provided apart from each other in the vertical direction. The number of the auxiliary ribs 28 can be arbitrarily set. For this reason, the ribs 27 and the auxiliary ribs 28 are arranged in a lattice pattern in the side wall part 26 (first side wall part 38). Further, the auxiliary rib 28 is disposed above a position above the lower portion on the bottom 25 side of the first side wall portion 38.

  Here, the ribs 27 and the auxiliary ribs 28 are different from each other in the amount of protrusion from the side wall part 26 (first side wall part 38). The auxiliary rib 28 is set to have a smaller protrusion amount than the rib 27 from the side wall portion 26 (first side wall portion 38) (FIG. 3). Therefore, the rib 27 is provided so as to protrude from the auxiliary rib 28 toward the airbag 14, that is, toward the inside of the case body 16. In other words, there is a step between the rib 27 and the auxiliary rib 28. Further, the cross-sectional shapes of the ribs 27 and the auxiliary ribs 28 may be quadrangular or semicircular. Furthermore, the ribs 27 and the auxiliary ribs 28 are simultaneously molded using a slide mold when the case body 16 is injection molded, for example.

  The hook 29 connects the case body 16 and the cover body 17. The hook 29 is provided at the upper end portion of the side wall portion 26, for example. In the present embodiment, the hook 29 is provided at the upper end of the first side wall 38 of the side wall 26. A plurality of hooks 29 are provided apart from each other in the left-right direction.

  The cover body 17 is made of synthetic resin, and constitutes an instrument panel integrally with the instrument panel section 12. The cover body 17 can be composed of a single member or a plurality of members. For example, in the present embodiment, the outer member 47 that constitutes the instrument panel, on the back side of the outer member 47, for example, A reinforcing inner member 48 attached integrally is provided. Further, although not shown, the cover body 17 may include a skin portion that covers the surface side of the outer member 47. The cover body 17 includes an attachment piece 50 as a connection portion for connecting the cover body 17 and the case body 16. Further, the cover body 17 includes a thin portion 51 as a fragile portion that is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag 14. The cover body 17 forms a door portion 52 that is an airbag inflating door as a door flap that is broken and deployed from the thin-walled portion 51 due to the inflation of the airbag 14.

  The outer member 47 is also called an outer, a skin panel, an outer panel, a panel body, a lid outer, and the like. For example, the outer member 47 is an injection molded product formed by injecting a predetermined synthetic resin into a mold, and is formed of a so-called hard resin. ing. The outer member 47 integrally exposes the surface side of the instrument panel portion 12 and is exposed to the outside.

  The inner member 48 is also called an inner member, a backing member, a backing member, or a lid inner member. The inner member 48 is made of a soft resin made of a softer material than the material constituting the outer member 47, and is disposed on the back side of the outer member 47. They are joined together. Further, the inner member 48 is provided with a hinge portion 55 that allows the door portion 52 to turn.

  The mounting piece 50 can be called a standing wall or a retainer mounting vertical wall, and is provided on the inner member 48 in the present embodiment. The attachment piece 50 is formed in a square tube shape along the outer side of the thin portion 51 of the outer member 47. An attachment hole 50b is opened in the front and rear surface portions 50a, 50a that are the longitudinal direction of the attachment piece 50. The hooks 29 of the case body 16 are locked in these mounting holes 50b, and the cover body 17 and the case body 16 are connected.

  The thin-walled portion 51 can also be called a tear line, a tear, a tear groove, a planned fracture portion, a planned fracture channel, a planned door line portion or a fracture portion, and is more fragile, breakable, and deformable than other parts of the cover body 17. Easy weak part. The thin portion 51 is provided to face the opening 40 of the case body 16. The thin portion 51 is formed, for example, in an H shape or a “day” shape. In the present embodiment, the thin portion 51 is provided in the outer member 47, and the inner member 48 is provided with, for example, a groove portion 57 at a position facing the lower portion of the thin portion 51.

  The skin portion covers the surface side of the outer member 47 and improves the appearance and feel, and is made of a soft resin. And this skin part is insert-molded integrally with the member which joined the outer member 47 and the inner member 48, for example.

  When assembling the airbag device 10, as a general rule, the airbag 14 and the inflator 15 are attached to the case body 16 formed in advance through the retainer 21, and the case body 16 is separately formed into a cover body 17 It is configured by being integrated into the unit.

  More specifically, first, the retainer 21 is inserted inside the airbag 14, and the airbag 14 is folded into a predetermined shape in a state where the mounting bolt 22 of the retainer 21 is pulled out from the mounting hole of the airbag 14. Further, the folded airbag 14 is assembled into the case body 16 through the opening 40 together with the retainer 21, and the mounting bolt 22 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole.

  At this time, the case body 16 has the rib 27 protruding inward from the auxiliary rib 28 with respect to the side wall portion 26 (first side wall portion 38), whereby the airbag 14 is inserted into the case body 16 from the opening 40. When the airbag 14 is basically guided along the insertion direction (vertical direction) by the rib 27, the airbag 14 extends along a direction intersecting (orthogonal) with respect to the insertion direction. The air bag 14 can be smoothly inserted into the case body 16 without being easily caught by the auxiliary rib 28.

  Next, the inflator 15 is combined from the outside of the case body 16, the inflator 15 is inserted into the inside of the case body 16 from the mounting opening 31 and is inserted into the airbag 14 from the gas inlet, and the mounting bolt 22 is inserted into the inflator 15 Then, the nut 36 is screwed and tightened.

  Then, the side bracket 42 is attached to the bracket attaching portion 43 to the case body 16 to which the airbag 14 and the inflator 15 are fixed, and the hook 29 of the case body 16 is engaged with the attachment hole 50b of the cover body 17, and the side bracket By fixing 42 and the mounting bracket to the vehicle body side, the airbag device 10 is fixed to the vehicle body. Thereafter, the airbag device 10 is installed on the vehicle body by performing electrical wiring.

  Then, the airbag device 10 is operated from the storage state shown in FIG. 4, and the gas injected from the inflator 15 flows into the airbag 14 and the airbag 14 is inflated. At this time, the inside of the case body 16 in which the airbag 14 is inflated is provided with a rib 27 extending along the deployment direction of the airbag 14 so as to protrude from the side wall portion 26 (first side wall portion 38). The airbag 14 is smoothly guided along the deployment direction. In particular, the auxiliary rib 28 extending along the direction intersecting (orthogonal) with respect to the deployment direction of the airbag 14 has a smaller protruding amount with respect to the side wall portion 26 (first side wall portion 38) than the rib 27. It is difficult to hinder 14 deployment. Then, the inflation pressure of the airbag 14 inflating in the case body 16 presses the cover body 17, so that the stress of the airbag 14 is concentrated on the thin portion 51, and the cover body 17 breaks at the position of the thin portion 51. Thus, the door portion 52 is formed, and the door portion 52 rotates, that is, deploys around each hinge portion 55, and the airbag 14 bulges toward the occupant side.

  As described above, according to the embodiment described above, the side wall portion 26 erected on the bottom portion 25 of the case body 16 (inner side) while reducing the weight of the case body 16 by being made of synthetic resin. ), The rib 27 is provided along the deployment direction of the airbag 14, so that the side wall portion 26 is reinforced by the rib 27 and the side wall portion 26 is thinned. Can also ensure rigidity. In addition, since the rib 27 is along the deployment direction of the airbag 14, the rib 27 does not interfere with the deployment of the airbag 14, and acts as a guide rib for guiding the airbag 14 in the deployment direction. Can be secured.

  That is, compared to the metal case body, the synthetic resin case body 16 has to have a large thickness of the side wall portion 26 in order to ensure rigidity, but the rib 27 is not provided as in the present embodiment. By providing the configuration, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the side wall portion 26, and the size and weight can be reduced.

  Further, by providing the auxiliary rib 28 along the direction intersecting the rib 27 on the airbag 14 side (inner side) of the side wall portion 26, the side wall portion 26 can be further reinforced and the rigidity can be improved. By making the protruding amount of the side wall portion 26 toward the airbag 14 side (inner side) smaller than the rib 27, basically only the rib 27 contacts the airbag 14 and the auxiliary rib 28 hardly contacts the airbag 14. Therefore, the auxiliary ribs 28 are unlikely to hinder the deployment of the airbag 14, and the deployment performance of the airbag 14 can be secured.

  Furthermore, since the rib 27 and the reinforcing rib 28 are respectively disposed on the inner side of the side wall portion 26 of the case body 16 on the airbag 14 side, the outer dimensions of the case body 16 are not increased, and layout with peripheral members is possible. Will be better.

  In particular, since the rib 27 and the reinforcing rib 28 are provided on the first side wall 38 positioned on the occupant side and the opposite side, the case body against the deployment pressure of the airbag 14 that is deployed toward the occupant. 16 rigidity can be secured.

  In addition, since the first side wall portion 38 has a larger area than the second side wall portion 39, the rib 27 and the auxiliary rib 28 are provided on the first side wall portion 38, thereby reinforcing the rib 27 and the auxiliary rib 28. A sufficient effect can be obtained.

  Furthermore, in the case of the synthetic resin case body 16, since the mold is punched up and down, the upper side, that is, the opening 40 side has to be increased due to the draft, and the size of the door portion 52 of the cover body 17 also increases. , The rigidity must be increased more. Further, if the size of the upper side of the case body 16 is reduced, the thickness of the side wall portion 26 cannot be maintained, so that it is not easy to increase the height of the side wall portion 26.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the rigidity of the side wall part 26 is ensured by the ribs 27 (and the reinforcing ribs 28), so that the rigidity can be ensured even when the side wall part 26 is raised, and the case body 16 The internal volume of the case body 16 can be increased without increasing the external dimensions.

  By providing the case body 16, it is possible to provide the airbag device 10 that has good layout performance with peripheral members, high strength, light weight, and good deployment performance of the airbag 14. Further, when the airbag 14 is incorporated into the case body 16, the auxiliary rib 28 is not easily caught on the airbag 14, and the productivity of the airbag device 10 is improved.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ribs 27 are provided on both the occupant side and the side facing the occupant side, that is, the first side wall portions 38 and 38 located on the front and rear sides. It may be provided.

  The rib 27 may be provided on at least one of the second side wall portions 39 and 39.

  Similarly, the auxiliary ribs 28 are provided on both of the first side wall portions 38 and 38, but may be provided only on one side where the ribs 27 are provided, or the second side wall portions 39 and 39 may be provided. Of these, the rib 27 may be provided on any one of them.

  Further, depending on the required rigidity of the case body 16, the auxiliary rib 28 may be omitted.

  The airbag device 10 is not limited to the passenger-side airbag device disposed on the instrument panel. For example, the knee airbag device (knee airbag device) or the door airbag device disposed on the door panel ( It can also be applied to side airbag devices).

  The present invention can be suitably used as, for example, a case body and an airbag device of an airbag device for a passenger seat of an automobile.

10 Airbag device
14 Airbag
16 Case body
17 Cover body
25 Bottom
26 Side wall
27 Ribs
28 Auxiliary ribs
40 openings

Claims (3)

A case body of an air bag device made of a synthetic resin for storing a folded air bag,
The bottom,
A side wall portion standing on this bottom portion and defining an opening in which the airbag inflated by the introduction of gas is deployed;
A cover body for an airbag device, comprising: a rib provided on the airbag side of the side wall portion along a deployment direction of the airbag. The auxiliary rib provided in the direction which cross | intersects a rib to the said airbag side of a side wall part was provided with the amount of protrusion to the said airbag side with respect to the said side wall part smaller than the said rib. The cover body of the described airbag apparatus. An airbag,
The case body according to claim 1 or 2, which stores the folded airbag.
An air cover characterized by comprising: a cover body that covers the opening of the case body and is partly cleaved by the airbag inflated by introducing gas from a folded state so that the airbag can protrude. Bag device.

Images