JP2023046850A - Airbag device for front passenger seat - Google Patents

Abstract

To hold an open state of an airbag door part even when a force in a closing direction is added to an opened airbag door part.SOLUTION: An airbag device 20 for a front passenger seat includes a storage case 21, an airbag module ABM, an airbag door part 36, an opening regulating members 41, and a return regulating part 45. The airbag door part 36 is composed of a part of an instrument panel 13, has a rib 51 on a reverse surface 39, is pushed by the airbag 31, and is tilted upper forward from a closed position to an open position. When the opening regulating members 41 moves upward in linkage with the airbag door part 36, and the airbag door part 36 is tilted to the open position, it engages an engaged part 29 of the storage case 21 and regulates tilt of the airbag door part 36 to an open side with respect to an open position. The return regulating part 45 strongly regulates movements in a disengaging direction more than the direction engaging the engaged part 29 with respect to the movement of the opening regulating members 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

The present invention relates to a front passenger seat airbag device which is installed in an automobile and deploys and inflates the airbag when the automobile is hit from the front due to a frontal collision or the like to protect the front passenger seat occupant from the impact.

When an impact is applied to a vehicle from the front due to a frontal collision or the like, the upper half of the body of an occupant sitting in the front passenger seat (passenger seat occupant) tends to fall forward due to inertia. A passenger-side airbag device having an airbag module is effective against this problem. The airbag module includes an inflator that generates inflation gas and an airbag that is deployed and inflated by the inflation gas.

The airbag module is compactly stored by folding the airbag, and is stored in the rear upper portion of the interior of the instrument panel and in front of the front passenger seat. In addition to the above-mentioned airbag module, the airbag device for passenger's seat is provided with an airbag door portion that opens forward and upward with the front end portion as a fulcrum, above the airbag module in the instrument panel.

Inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the airbag in response to a frontal impact on the automobile. The airbag door is pushed open by the deploying and inflating airbag. During the process of deploying and inflating, the airbag comes into contact with the windshield and the rear wall surface of the instrument panel, and is sandwiched from above and below, and its forward movement is restricted. The upper body of the front passenger seat occupant who is about to fall forward is received by the airbag and protected from impact.

On the other hand, in the field of automobiles, there is a demand to reduce the vertical dimension of the instrument panel (to make it thinner). Therefore, if the upper surface of the instrument panel is lowered, the following problems arise. That is, the airbag module in the form for storage interferes with the instrument panel reinforcement that is originally arranged inside the instrument panel. In order to avoid interference, the airbag module in the storage configuration needs to be thinned in the vertical direction. However, the reduction in thickness is accompanied by an increase in the dimension of the airbag module in the vehicle width direction. If the dimension in the vehicle width direction is increased, the rigidity of the airbag door portion is reduced, and there is a risk that the ease of opening the airbag door portion will differ in the vehicle width direction.

Further, when the upper surface of the instrument panel is lowered, the space between the upper surface and the windshield becomes wider. A large volume airbag is required to bring the deployed and inflated airbag into contact with the windshield. A large inflator is also required.

Thus, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes an airbag device for a front passenger's seat, which includes an opening degree regulating member that regulates the maximum degree of opening of the airbag door portion, and in which ribs are formed on the rear surface of the airbag door portion. there is According to this passenger-side airbag device, the opening of the airbag door beyond the maximum opening is restricted. This airbag door portion functions to receive the deploying and inflating airbag from the front in place of the windshield. Therefore, it becomes unnecessary to increase the capacity of the airbag and to increase the size of the inflator. In addition, the rib increases the rigidity of the airbag door portion, thereby suppressing the difference in ease of opening of the airbag door portion in the vehicle width direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-114055

However, when protecting the front passenger seat passenger, a force directed downward and forward from the front passenger seat passenger's upper body is applied to the airbag. This force is transmitted from above to the airbag door portion via the airbag, and there is a risk that the airbag door portion will be pushed in the closing direction by the airbag.

In the airbag device for the passenger seat described in Patent Document 1, when the force is applied, the airbag door portion moves in a closing direction, and the performance of the airbag to receive the upper body of the passenger seat occupant and protect it from impact deteriorates. I have concerns.

A front passenger seat airbag device for solving the above-mentioned problems is a storage case which is arranged in a rear upper portion of an automobile instrument panel and in front of a front passenger seat, and which has an opening at least at the upper end of the automobile. An inflator that generates inflation gas in response to an impact from the front of the vehicle, and an airbag that is deployed and inflated by the inflation gas. An airbag module that is housed in a case and a part of the instrument panel, and has ribs on the back surface. an airbag door portion that tilts forward and upward from a closed position that closes the opening toward an open position that opens the opening; When tilted to the open position, the airbag door portion is engaged with the storage case or a locked portion provided in the peripheral portion of the storage case in the vehicle body, and the airbag door portion is moved toward the opening side from the open position. an opening regulating member that regulates tilting; and a return regulating portion that more strongly regulates the movement of the opening regulating member in the direction of releasing the locking than the movement in the direction of locking the locked portion. Prepare.

According to the above configuration, when inflation gas is generated by the inflator in response to a frontal impact on the vehicle, the airbag is unfolded (deployed) and inflated. The airbag door portion pushed by the airbag tilts forward and upward with the front end as a fulcrum, thereby opening the opening.

Here, the rigidity of the airbag door portion is increased by the ribs. Therefore, differences in ease of opening are less likely to occur depending on the location of the airbag door portion. Therefore, the air bag door portion can be opened uniformly regardless of the location.

When the airbag door is opened, the airbag passes through the opening and is deployed and inflated rearward while remaining partially inside the storage case. Further, the opening control member moves upward in conjunction with the airbag door portion. When the airbag door portion is tilted to the open position, the opening regulating member is locked to the locked portion, and tilting of the airbag door portion toward the opening side from the open position is regulated.

The airbag door portion, together with the rear wall surface of the instrument panel, functions to receive the airbag from the front. Therefore, there is no need to increase the capacity of the airbag or change the inflator to a larger one.

Further, forward movement of the airbag is restricted by the above-described reception of the airbag door portion and the instrument panel. The passenger's upper body, which is about to fall forward due to inertia, is received by the airbag and protected from impact.

By the way, when protecting an occupant in the front passenger seat, a force directed downward and forward from the occupant in the front passenger seat is applied to the airbag. This force is transmitted to the airbag door portion via the airbag, and there is a risk that the airbag door portion will be pushed downward in the closing direction.

However, the return restricting portion more strongly restricts the movement of the opening restricting member in the unlocking direction (downward) than in the locking direction (upward). By this regulation, the airbag door portion is restrained from tilting in the closing direction and is held in an open state. As a result, the performance of the airbag to receive the passenger's upper body and protect it from impact is less likely to deteriorate.

In the passenger seat airbag device described above, the locked portion has a hole penetrating the storage case or the peripheral portion of the vehicle body in the moving direction of the opening degree restricting member. comprises a main body portion extending downward from the airbag door portion and inserted into the hole, and a stopper fixed to the main body below the hole and configured to be impermeable to the hole. and is preferably provided.

According to the above configuration, when the airbag door portion pushed by the airbag tilts forward and upward with the front end portion as a fulcrum, the opening regulating member moves upward in conjunction with the airbag door portion. Along with this movement, the stopper comes into contact with the storage case or a member having a hole in the periphery of the storage case in the vehicle body from below. Then, since the stopper cannot be inserted through the hole, the opening control member is restricted from moving upward any further. Due to this restriction, the opening degree restricting member is locked to the locked portion, and tilting of the airbag door portion toward the opening side from the open position is restricted.

In the passenger-side airbag device described above, when a direction intersecting with the moving direction is defined as an intersecting direction, the return restricting portion has a protruding portion projecting from the main body portion in at least one direction in the intersecting direction. It is preferable that a total dimension obtained by adding the dimension of the bottom surface of the projecting portion to the dimension of the main body in the cross direction is set larger than the dimension of the hole in the cross direction.

According to the above configuration, when the opening regulating member that moves in conjunction with the airbag attempts to move downward, which is the direction in which the lock is released, it is above the hole and is closest to the hole. The protruding portion that is close to the opening restricts the downward movement of the opening restricting member as follows. Since the hole, the main body, and the protruding portion satisfy the above-described dimensional relationships, the bottom surface of the protruding portion is positioned in the storage case or in the peripheral portion of the storage case in the vehicle body during the downward movement. It contacts the upper surface of the member having the hole. This contact restricts the opening regulation member from further moving in the unlocking direction (downward). By this regulation, the airbag door portion is restrained from tilting in the closing direction and is held in an open state.

In the passenger-side airbag device described above, it is preferable that the dimension of the projecting portion in the crossing direction is set to be maximum at the bottom surface and to decrease as the distance increases upward from the bottom surface.

If the dimension of the projecting portion in the cross direction satisfies the above conditions for the movement direction, the dimension in the cross direction becomes smaller at the upper end of the projecting portion. Therefore, the projecting portion is more likely to enter the hole from below at any location in the movement direction, compared to the case where the dimension is the same as that of the bottom surface. The elastic deformation of the protruding portion enables it to pass through the hole from below to above. The projecting portion is less likely to hinder the upward movement of the opening regulation member.

In the airbag device for a front passenger's seat, the bottom surface of the projecting portion is formed of a plane parallel to the cross direction or a plane inclined to the cross direction so as to increase in height as the main body is approached. preferably.

If the bottom surface of the protruding portion is inclined with respect to the intersecting direction so as to become lower as it approaches the main body portion, the following concern arises. This is because the dimension in the crossing direction is small at the lower portion of the bottom surface, so when the opening regulating member moves downward in the unlocking direction, the projecting portion tends to enter the hole from above. The projecting portion may be elastically deformed and pass through the hole, causing the opening degree regulating member to move downward.

On the other hand, if the bottom surface of the protruding portion is formed of a flat surface that satisfies the above conditions, the following advantages are obtained. This is because the bottom surface does not have a portion with a small dimension in the crossing direction, so the phenomenon that the projecting portion enters the hole is less likely to occur. Therefore, the performance of restricting the movement of the opening restricting member in the unlocking direction (downward) is further enhanced.

In the passenger-side airbag device described above, the degree-of-opening restricting members are located on both sides of the airbag door portion in the vehicle width direction, and extend from the front portion to the rear portion of the airbag door portion. It preferably extends planarly downward from the portion.

By providing the two opening degree regulating members so as to satisfy the above conditions, when and after the airbag door portion is opened, the airbag is positioned outside the two opening degree regulating members in the vehicle width direction. regulated to deploy and inflate. Due to the restriction, the airbag can be deployed and inflated more rearward.

In the passenger-side airbag device, the length of protrusion of the rib from the airbag door portion contacts the upper surface of the airbag in the airbag module stored in the storage case in the storage configuration. It is preferably set to a length that

According to the above configuration, the upper surface of the airbag contacts the rib when the airbag module is stored in the storage case in the storage mode. Therefore, rattling caused by contact and separation of the airbag from the rib is suppressed.

Further, when the airbag starts to deploy and inflate, the load associated with the inflation of the airbag acts on the airbag door portion substantially uniformly in all directions including the left-right direction via the ribs.

According to the airbag device for the front passenger's seat, even if a force is applied to the opened airbag door in a closing direction, the airbag door can be kept open.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment, and is a schematic side cross-sectional view showing a front passenger's seat airbag device before the airbag deploys and inflates, together with its peripheral portion. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front passenger seat airbag device of FIG. 1 together with its peripheral portion; FIG. 2 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, and is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing the passenger-side airbag device together with its peripheral portion when the airbag is deployed and inflated. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a part of the airbag device for a passenger's seat in FIG. 3 , which is different from the airbag module, viewed from the rear upper side; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the airbag device for passenger's seat in FIG. 3 , which is different from the airbag module, viewed from the rear lower side; FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2, and is a partial cross-sectional view showing the front passenger seat airbag device of FIG. 3 together with its peripheral portion. FIG. 5 is a view showing a modified example of the opening degree restricting member and the return restricting portion, and is a partial perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4; FIG. 4 is a view showing a modified example of the hole in the locked portion, and is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2; FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example of a projecting portion in the return restricting portion; FIG. 3 is a view showing a modified example of the airbag door portion and ribs, and is a partial cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2;

An embodiment of a passenger airbag device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG.
In the description below, the forward direction of the automobile is defined as the front, and the backward direction is defined as the rear. Further, the vertical direction means the vertical direction of the automobile, and the horizontal direction is the width direction of the vehicle, which coincides with the horizontal direction when the automobile moves forward. In the front passenger seat, an occupant having the same physique as a crash test dummy (hereinafter referred to as "passenger seat occupant") is seated in a predetermined regular posture and restrained by a seat belt device. and

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , an instrument panel 13 is arranged below a windshield 12 in a cabin 11 of an automobile 10 . An instrument panel reinforcement 14 extending in the left-right direction is arranged in the upper part of the instrument panel 13 . Both ends of the instrument panel reinforcement 14 are fixed to a front fender (not shown) of the automobile 10 or the like.

A front passenger's seat airbag device 20 is arranged at a position which is the rear upper portion of the instrument panel 13 and in front of the front passenger's seat 15 . The rear upper portion is a portion located rearward and upward with respect to the instrument panel reinforcement 14 . The passenger seat airbag device 20 includes a storage case 21 , an airbag module ABM, an airbag door portion 36 , an opening regulation member 41 , a return regulation portion 45 and ribs 51 . Next, each part will be described.

<Storage case 21>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , the storage case 21 has a bottom wall portion 22 , a pair of side wall portions 23 , a front wall portion 24 and a rear wall portion 25 . The storage case 21 has an opening 26 in a region extending over the entire upper end portion of itself and the upper portion of the rear end portion.

The bottom wall portion 22 has a rectangular flat plate shape that is elongated in the left-right direction than in the front-rear direction, and is arranged so as to have the same height at least in the left-right direction. The bottom wall portion 22 has a mounting hole portion 27 for mounting an inflator. The bottom wall portion 22 has holes 28 penetrating therethrough in the vertical direction, which is the moving direction of an opening degree regulating member 41, which will be described later, at locations slightly spaced inward in the left-right direction from both side edges of the bottom wall portion 22. ing. Each hole 28 has a shape elongated in the front-rear direction rather than in the left-right direction. In the bottom wall portion 22 , each hole portion 28 and the portion around the hole portion 28 constitute a locked portion 29 .

Each side wall portion 23 extends upward from each of the left and right side edges of the bottom wall portion 22 . The front wall portion 24 extends upward from the front edge of the bottom wall portion 22 , and the rear wall portion 25 extends upward from the rear edge portion of the bottom wall portion 22 . The rear wall portion 25 is formed lower than the front wall portion 24 .

The storage case 21 is fastened to a high-strength member on the vehicle body side, for example, the instrument panel reinforcement 14 via a bracket (not shown) or the like.
<Airbag module ABM>
As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module ABM has an airbag 31 and an inflator 32 . The airbag 31 is made of a highly strong, flexible, and easily foldable material, such as a woven fabric made of polyester thread, polyamide thread, or the like. As indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the airbag 31 has a size that allows it to be deployed and inflated between the instrument panel 13 and the upper body of the passenger P1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inflator 32 has a low columnar shape and has a gas ejection portion 33 at its upper portion. The gas ejection portion 33 is inserted through the attachment hole portion 27 from below and is arranged inside the airbag 31 . A portion 34 of the inflator 32 below the gas ejection portion 33 is exposed downward from the bottom wall portion 22 . The inflator 32 is fastened together with the airbag 31 to the bottom wall portion 22 by fasteners (not shown). A portion of the airbag 31 above the inflator 32 is folded.

The form of the airbag module ABM, which is made compact by folding the airbag 31 as described above, will be referred to as the "storage form". The airbag module ABM is stored in a storage case 21 in a storage configuration.

It should be noted that illustration of the airbag module ABM is omitted in FIG. This point also applies to FIGS. 5 and 7, which will be described later.
<Airbag door portion 36>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 , the airbag door portion 36 is formed by a portion of the instrument panel 13 , more specifically, a portion above the opening 26 of the storage case 21 . The airbag door portion 36 has a body portion 37 and a curved portion 38 . The body portion 37 constitutes most of the airbag door portion 36 except for the rear portion thereof, and extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in parallel with the bottom wall portion 22 . The curved portion 38 constitutes the rear portion of the airbag door portion 36 and is curved so as to bulge obliquely rearward and upward.

A hinge portion (not shown) is provided on the back surface of the instrument panel 13 and at a portion that serves as the front edge portion of the peripheral edge portion of the airbag door portion 36, and a hinge portion (not shown) is provided at a location different from the front edge portion. A tear line is formed.

The strength of the tear line is reduced by, for example, being thinner than other portions of the airbag door portion 36 . The tear line becomes a starting point of breakage when the airbag door portion 36 is pushed by the airbag 31 that deploys and inflates. Starting from the tear line, the airbag door portion 36 is broken along the tear line. The airbag door portion 36, which is broken along the tear line, has a closed position shown in FIGS. It is tiltable between the open position shown.

With such a configuration, the airbag door portion 36 is a so-called single-opening type door portion that tilts about the hinge portion.
As shown in FIG. 2, when the airbag door portion 36 is in the closed position, the rear surface 39 thereof and the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 in the airbag module ABM which is stored in the storage case 21 in the storage configuration. is substantially the same regardless of the location of the airbag door portion 36 .

<Opening Regulating Member 41>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the opening regulation member 41 moves upward in conjunction with the airbag door portion 36 to prevent the airbag door portion 36 from tilting toward the opening side from the open position. In other words, it is for regulating the maximum opening degree of the air bag door portion 36 . The opening regulating member 41 is provided in a region of the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36 that satisfies Condition 1 below. Further, the opening degree regulating member 41 has a form that satisfies Condition 2 below.

Condition 1: Both the left and right sides of the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36 and the area extending from the front portion to the rear portion of the airbag door portion 36 .
Condition 2: It must extend downward from the opening regulation member 41 in a planar shape.

As a location that satisfies Condition 1, each opening degree regulating member 41 is located between the airbag 31 in the airbag module ABM in the storage mode and the side wall portion 23 located on the side of the airbag 31 in the storage case 21. are placed in

Each opening regulation member 41 has a body portion 42 and a stopper 43 . Each body portion 42 has a flat plate shape in which the dimension (thickness) in the left-right direction is smaller than each dimension in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The lateral dimension (thickness) of each opening regulation member 41 is set smaller than the lateral width of the hole 28 . Each main body portion 42 is formed such that its vertical dimension increases toward the rear. Each main body portion 42 extends downward from the opening degree regulating member 41 and is inserted into the corresponding hole portion 28 , and is movable in the vertical direction in conjunction with the airbag door portion 36 .

A stopper 43 for each opening regulation member 41 has a plate shape elongated in the front-rear direction rather than in the left-right direction, and is fixed to the main body 42 below the corresponding hole 28 . In the present embodiment, each stopper 43 is formed integrally with the lower end portion of the body portion 42, but may be configured by a member separate from the body portion 42. FIG. Each stopper 43 is configured such that it cannot be inserted through the hole 28 . In this configuration, the size of each stopper 43 in the left-right direction is set larger than the width of the hole 28 in the left-right direction.

<Return regulation part 45>
The return restricting portion 45 restricts the movement of the opening restricting member 41 more strongly in the direction of releasing the engagement (downward) than in the direction of engaging the engaged portion 29 (upward). It is. The return restricting portion 45 is integrally formed in a region including at least the lower portion in the vertical direction of the main body portion 42 with an elastically deformable material such as a resin material.

Here, the direction intersecting with the moving direction is defined as the intersecting direction. The return restricting portion 45 has a projecting portion 46 projecting from the body portion 37 in at least one direction in the cross direction.
In this embodiment, the left-right direction is the crossing direction. In addition, the projecting portion 46 protrudes in both directions in the intersecting direction. Furthermore, the protruding portions 46 are formed at a plurality of locations in the vertical direction, which is the moving direction. Each projecting portion 46 extends substantially in the front-rear direction over the entire region from the front end face to the rear end face of the body portion 42 . The plurality of protrusions 46 have the same cross-sectional shape. Each projecting portion 46 is inclined in the front-rear direction with respect to the adjacent projecting portion 46 so as to satisfy the following conditions. The condition is that the interval between the adjacent protruding portions 46 is the smallest at the front end and widens toward the rear.

A bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 is formed by a plane parallel to the cross direction.
The dimension of the opening regulation member 41 in the cross direction satisfies Condition 3 below.
Condition 3: The total dimension obtained by adding the dimension of the bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 to the dimension of the body portion 42 in the cross direction is larger than the dimension of the hole portion 28 in the same cross direction.

The dimension of the projecting portion 46 in the cross direction is set so as to satisfy the following condition 4 in the moving direction.
Condition 4: The dimension of the projecting portion 46 in the intersecting direction is maximized at the bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 and becomes smaller as the distance from the bottom surface 47 increases.

Both side surfaces 48 of the projecting portion 46 in the left-right direction are inclined with respect to the moving direction (up-down direction) so as to move away from the main body portion 42 toward the bottom.
Note that the return restricting portion 45 is not provided on the upper portion of the main body portion 42 .

<Rib 51>
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the rib 51 is provided on the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36. As shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the rib 51 is formed integrally with the airbag door portion 36 in the area of the rear surface 39 sandwiched between the left and right opening degree regulating members 41 .

In this embodiment, the ribs 51 are composed of a plurality of vertical rib portions 52 extending in the front-rear direction while being spaced parallel to each other in the left-right direction, and a plurality of horizontal rib portions extending in the left-right direction while being spaced apart in parallel with each other in the front-rear direction. 53. The plurality of vertical rib portions 52 are formed at regular intervals in the left-right direction, but they do not have to be formed. Similarly, the plurality of lateral rib portions 53 are formed at regular intervals in the front-rear direction, but they do not have to be. Moreover, the plurality of vertical rib portions 52 and the plurality of horizontal rib portions 53 intersect, and the ribs 51 form a grid pattern. However, the ribs 51 may be formed in a shape different from the lattice shape. Moreover, the plurality of vertical rib portions 52 and the plurality of horizontal rib portions 53 may extend in directions that are inclined with respect to both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

The downward projection length of the ribs 51 from the airbag door portion 36 is set to a length that contacts the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 in the airbag module ABM stored in the storage case 21 in the storage mode. ing.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. In addition, effects caused by the action will also be described.
<(1) Installability of airbag module ABM>
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the airbag module ABM and the storage case 21 in the form for storage are elongated in the left-right direction, thereby thinning the airbag module ABM and the storage case 21 in the vertical direction. ing. This reduction in thickness improves the mountability of the airbag module ABM and the storage case 21 on the instrument panel 13 .

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, even if the height of the instrument panel 13 is low, it is possible to arrange the passenger seat airbag device 20 while avoiding interference with the instrument panel reinforcement 14 .

<(2) When passenger airbag device 20 is not activated>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the passenger airbag device 20 does not operate when the vehicle 10 is not impacted from the front. That is, the inflation gas is not ejected from the inflator 32 . The airbag module ABM continues to be stored in the storage case 21 in the storage configuration. The opening 26 remains blocked by the airbag door portion 36 .

(2-1) At this time, among the plurality of vertical rib portions 52 and the plurality of horizontal rib portions 53, those positioned above the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 in the airbag module ABM in the storage mode are are in contact with Therefore, rattling caused by contact and separation of the airbag 31 from the rib 51 can be suppressed.

At this time, in the body portion 42 of each opening regulation member 41 , the portion between the uppermost projecting portion 46 and the adjacent projecting portion 46 below is inserted through the hole portion 28 . Of the plurality of protrusions 46 , most of the protrusions 46 and the stoppers 43 excluding the uppermost one are positioned below the bottom wall portion 22 .

<(3) When the passenger airbag device 20 is activated>
When the vehicle 10 receives a frontal impact due to a frontal collision or the like, the passenger P1's upper body tends to fall forward due to inertia.

[(3A) Tilting of airbag door portion 36]
On the other hand, in response to the impact, inflation gas is generated by the inflator 32 and supplied to the airbag 31 . The airbag 31 supplied with the inflation gas is inflated while unfolding (deploying).

(3A-1) As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 31 is in contact with the ribs 51 before starting to deploy and inflate. Therefore, when the airbag 31 starts to deploy and inflate, the load associated with the inflation of the airbag 31 is applied to the airbag door portion 36 through the ribs 51 substantially uniformly in all directions including the left and right directions. can be made

A portion of the instrument panel 13 that closes the opening 26 is pushed by the airbag 31 . A portion of the peripheral edge of the airbag door portion 36 that is different from the front edge is broken along the tear line.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the airbag door portion 36 begins to tilt forward and upward from the closed position toward the open position with the hinge portion as a fulcrum. This tilting causes the opening 26 to begin to open.
In conjunction with the start of tilting of the airbag door portion 36, the opening degree regulating member 41 begins to move upward.

[(3B) Deformation Suppression of Airbag Door Portion 36]
Here, since the airbag door portion 36 has an elongated shape in the left-right direction as described above, the rigidity of the airbag door portion 36 tends to be lower than when the airbag door portion 36 is not elongated in the same direction. The easiness of breakage of the airbag door portion 36 at the tear line, and thus the easiness of opening the airbag door portion 36, differs in the left-right direction.

(3B-1) In this regard, in the present embodiment, ribs 51 are formed on the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36 to increase the rigidity of the airbag door portion 36 . Therefore, it is difficult for the airbag door portion 36 to open easily. Therefore, the airbag door portion 36 can be uniformly opened regardless of the position in the left-right direction. In addition, even if there is a difference in deployment and inflation of the airbag 31 in the left-right direction, partial deformation of the airbag door portion 36 can be suppressed.

[(3C) Regulation of opening of airbag door 36]
When the airbag door portion 36 is opened, as shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 31 passes through the opening portion 26 while partially remaining inside the storage case 21, and deploys and inflates rearward. In addition, as the airbag door portion 36 tilts forward and upward, the opening degree regulating member 41 moves upward.

(3C-1) Here, the dimension of the projecting portion 46 in the cross direction (horizontal direction) satisfies the above condition 4 in the vertical direction. At the upper end of the protrusion 46, the dimension in the cross direction is small, so that the protrusion 46 is positioned downwardly relative to the hole 28 anywhere in the movement direction compared to the case where the dimension at the bottom surface 47 is the same. Easy to enter from Furthermore, it is possible to pass through the hole 28 from below to above by elastically deforming the projecting portion 46 . The projecting portion 46 is less likely to hinder the upward movement of the opening regulation member 41 .

(3C-2) Then, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, when the airbag door portion 36 is tilted to the open position, the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 22 and the portion around the hole portion 28 are The stopper 43 contacts from below. Then, since the stopper 43 cannot be inserted into the hole 28, the opening control member 41 is restricted from moving further upward. Due to this restriction, the opening degree restricting member 41 is locked to the locked portion 29 . By this locking, tilting of the airbag door portion 36 toward the opening side from the open position can be restricted.

(3C-3) In particular, when the projecting portion 46 passes through the hole 28, the inclined side surface 48 of the projecting portion 46 contacts the inner wall surface of the hole 28, and the projecting portion 46 and the hole 28 friction occurs. This friction acts as a resistance when the projecting portion 46 passes through the hole portion 28 and decelerates the movement of the opening degree regulating member 41 . When the stopper 43 is on the lower surface of the bottom wall portion 22 and contacts the portion around the hole 28, it is possible to prevent an excessive load from being applied to the stopper 43.

[Protection of front passenger P1 by (3D) airbag 31]
(3D-1) As shown in FIG. 3, the airbag door portion 36 whose upward tilting is restricted functions together with the rear wall surface 13r of the instrument panel 13 to receive the airbag 31 from the front. Therefore, the airbag 31 does not have to be received by the windshield 12 . This eliminates the need to increase the capacity of the airbag 31 and eliminates the need to use a large inflator 32. - 特許庁

(3D-2) Forward movement of the airbag 31 is restricted by the reception by the airbag door portion 36 and the rear wall surface 13r. The airbag 31 can receive the upper body of the front passenger seat occupant P1 who is about to fall forward due to inertia and protect it from impact.

(3D-3) Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, when the airbag door portion 36 is opened and after it is opened, the airbag 31 is positioned further than the both opening degree restricting members 41 in the left-right direction. Deploying and expanding by protruding outward is regulated. Due to the restriction, the airbag 31 is deployed and inflated more rearward, and the performance of the airbag 31 to receive the upper half of the passenger's seat passenger P1 can be enhanced.

[(3E) Regulation of return of airbag door portion 36]
By the way, when protecting the passenger P1, a force directed forward and downward is applied to the airbag 31 from the passenger P1. This force is transmitted from above to the airbag door portion 36 via the deployed and inflated airbag 31 , and the airbag door portion 36 may be pushed downward in the closing direction by the airbag 31 .

(3E-1) In this regard, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. Although the shape portion 46 generates friction with the hole portion 28 and resists movement, it can pass through the hole portion 28 . The return restricting portion 45 restricts the upward movement of the opening degree restricting member 41, but the restricting force is not as strong as the force restricting the downward movement.

On the other hand, when the opening degree regulating member 41 attempts to move in the unlocking direction (downward), the projecting portion 46 above the hole portion 28 and closest to the hole portion 28 will move as follows. to regulate movement. Since the hole portion 28, the main body portion 42, and the projecting portion 46 have a dimensional relationship that satisfies the condition 3, during the downward movement, the bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 becomes the bottom wall portion 22. contacting the surrounding portion of the hole 28 . This contact restricts the opening regulation member 41 from moving further in the unlocking direction (downward).

In this manner, the movement of the opening regulation member 41 in the direction of releasing the locking (downward) is more strongly restricted than the movement in the direction of locking the locked portion 29 (upward).
By the above regulation, tilting of the airbag door portion 36 in the closing direction is regulated, and the airbag door portion 36 can be held in an open state.

(3E-2) In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, each projecting portion 46 is formed over the entire area from the front end face to the rear end face of the main body portion 37 of the opening regulation member 41. , the area of the bottom surface 47 becomes the maximum or substantially maximum possible area. Since the bottom surface 47 comes into contact with the top surface of the bottom wall portion 22 over a wide area, the downward movement of the opening degree restricting member 41 can be more strongly restricted.

(3E-3) If the bottom surface 47 of the protruding portion 46 is inclined with respect to the cross direction (horizontal direction) so as to become lower as it approaches the main body portion 42, the following concern arises. This is because the dimension in the crossing direction is small at the lower portion of the bottom surface 47, so when the opening degree regulating member 41 moves in the direction of releasing the engagement (downward), the projecting shape portion 46 moves toward the hole portion 28 from above. Easy to get into. There is a risk that the projecting portion 46 will be elastically deformed and pass through the hole portion 28, causing the opening degree regulating member 41 to move downward.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 is formed by a plane parallel to the intersecting direction. Therefore, the bottom surface 47 does not have a portion with a small dimension in the cross direction. Therefore, a phenomenon in which the projecting portion 46 enters the hole portion 28 is less likely to occur. It is possible to further improve the performance of restricting the opening degree restricting member 41 from moving in the unlocking direction (downward).

The above (3E-1) to (3E-3) keep the airbag 31 in the opened state, so that the performance of receiving the upper body of the front passenger seat occupant P1 and protecting it from impact can be suppressed from deteriorating.
According to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained in addition to the above.

(4-1) The rigidity can be increased by increasing the thickness of the airbag door portion 36, but this is accompanied by an increase in weight. In this regard, in this embodiment, since the rigidity is increased by the ribs 51, an increase in the weight of the airbag door portion 36 due to the increased rigidity can be suppressed.

(4-2) In this embodiment, the ribs 51 are formed in a grid pattern. Therefore, an increase in the weight of the airbag door portion 36 due to the addition of the ribs 51 can be efficiently suppressed.
It should be noted that the above-described embodiment can also be implemented as a modified example in which this is changed as follows. The above embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other within a technically consistent range.

<Storage case 21>
- In the above-described embodiment, the opening 26 is formed by the upper end portion of the storage case 21 and the upper portion of the rear end portion, but the opening portion 26 may be formed by only the upper end portion. In this case, the airbag door portion 36 is composed only of the flat body portion 37 .

<Locked portion 29>
- The locked portion 29 may be provided on the peripheral portion 62 of the storage case 21 in the vehicle body 63 as shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the peripheral portion 62 may be provided at a location outside the side wall portion 23 in the left-right direction.

Along with the change in the position of the hole 28, the position of the opening regulation member 41 is also changed. Each opening regulation member 41 is arranged on the outer side of the side wall portion 23 in the left-right direction.
<Airbag door portion 36>
- Side plate portions 61 as shown in FIG. By doing so, the rigidity of the airbag door portion 36 can be increased as compared with the one without the side plate portion 61 .

In addition, if the side plate portion 61 is not provided, the airbag 31 that deploys and inflates may be caught on the left and right side edges of the airbag door portion 36 . However, by providing the side plate portion 61, an effect of suppressing this catching can be expected.

<Opening Regulating Member 41>
As shown in FIG. 7, a shaft-shaped member may be used as the body portion 42 of the opening regulation member 41 . In this case, the projecting portion 46 may be formed over the entire circumference of the body portion 42 . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 7, the projecting portion 46 may have a truncated cone shape, and the side surface 48 may have a tapered shape whose diameter increases downward.

Moreover, although not shown, the projecting portion 46 may be formed only partially in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 42 .
- The structure of at least a part of the region where the projecting portion 46 is not provided in the opening degree regulating member 41 shown in FIG. For example, at least part of the region of the opening regulation member 41 may be formed in a grid pattern. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain the effect of restricting the protrusion of the airbag 31 in the left-right direction by the opening restriction member 41 .

<Protruding portion 46>
The protruding portion 46 may be formed only in a part of the region of the opening regulating member 41 extending from the front end surface to the rear end surface of the body portion 42 .

- The number of protruding portions 46 forming the return restricting portion 45 may be changed. The minimum value is one.
- As shown in FIG. 9 , the bottom surface 47 of the protruding portion 46 may be configured by a flat surface that is inclined with respect to the cross direction (horizontal direction) so as to become higher as it approaches the main body portion 42 . With this configuration, when the opening degree regulating member 41 moves in a direction (downward) in which the engagement with the engaged portion 29 is released, the projecting portion 46 is more difficult to enter the hole portion 28 than in the above-described embodiment. As a result, the performance of restricting the downward movement of the projecting portion 46 is further improved.

- Although not shown, the protruding portion 46 may protrude from the body portion 42 only in one direction in the cross direction. Also in this case, as in the above-described embodiment, the total dimension obtained by adding the dimension of the bottom surface 47 of the projecting portion 46 to the dimension of the main body portion 42 in the cross direction is larger than the dimension of the hole portion 28 in the cross direction. is also set large.

<Rib 51>
- The rib 51 may be formed on the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36 in a region different from that in the above embodiment. For example, the rib 51 may be formed in an area sandwiched between the two opening degree regulating members 41 as well as an area outside the two opening degree regulating members 41 in the left-right direction.

- The rib 51 may be provided on both the body portion 37 and the curved portion 38 of the airbag door portion 36, or may be provided on only one of them.
- The rib 51 may be configured by a member separate from the airbag door portion 36 .

- The rib 51 may be composed of only one of the horizontal rib portion 53 and the vertical rib portion 52 .
When the airbag door portion 36 is inclined to have different heights in the horizontal direction, the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 and the airbag in the airbag module ABM stored in the storage case 21 in the form for storage. The distance between the door portion 36 and the rear surface 39 differs in the left-right direction. If the projection length of the rib 51 from the airbag door portion 36 is the same in the left-right direction, there is the following concern. When the airbag 31 deploys and inflates, the lower portion of the airbag door portion 36 is pushed up by the airbag 31 more strongly than the higher portion. Therefore, the lower portion of the airbag door portion 36 is easier to open than the higher portion.

This can be dealt with by changing the projection length of the rib 51 from the airbag door portion 36 to a length that contacts the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 .
FIG. 10 shows a modification in which the airbag door portion 36 is inclined with respect to the bottom wall portion 22 so as to become lower toward the right. In this case, the distance between the rear surface 39 of the airbag door portion 36 and the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31 becomes smaller toward the right. The projection length of the rib 51 from the airbag door portion 36 is set to be the longest at the left end so that the rib 51 contacts the upper surface 35 of the airbag 31, and is set to decrease toward the right.

By doing so, the load applied from the airbag 31 to the airbag door portion 36 via the ribs 51 when the airbag 31 is deployed and inflated becomes approximately the same in the left-right direction. The easiness of opening the airbag door portion 36 (the easiness of breaking the tear line) is approximately the same in the left-right direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Automobile 13... Instrument panel 15... Passenger seat 20... Passenger seat airbag device 21... Storage case 26... Opening part 28... Hole part 29... To-be-latched part 31... Airbag 32... Inflator 35... Upper surface 36... Airbag door portion 37 Main body portion 39 Back surface 41 Opening control member 43 Stopper 45 Return control portion 46 Protruding portion 47 Bottom surface 51 Rib 62 Peripheral portion 63 Vehicle body ABM Airbag module

Claims (7)

a storage case that is arranged at the rear upper part of the instrument panel of the automobile and in front of the front passenger seat and has an opening at least at the upper end;
The vehicle includes an inflator that generates inflation gas in response to an impact from the front of the vehicle, and an airbag that is deployed and inflated by the inflation gas, and the airbag is folded and configured for storage. an airbag module stored in the storage case;
The airbag consists of a part of the instrument panel and has ribs on the back, and is pushed by the deploying and inflating airbag to open from the closed position that closes the opening with its front end as a fulcrum. an airbag door portion that tilts forward and upward toward the open position;
When the airbag door portion moves upward in conjunction with the airbag door portion, and the airbag door portion is tilted to the open position, the locked portion provided in the storage case or a peripheral portion of the storage case in the vehicle body is locked. an opening degree restricting member that engages with the portion and restricts tilting of the airbag door portion toward the opening side from the open position;
An airbag device for a front passenger's seat, comprising: a return restricting portion that restricts movement of the opening degree restricting member in a direction of releasing engagement more strongly than movement in a direction of engaging with the portion to be engaged. The locked portion has a hole that penetrates the storage case or the peripheral portion of the vehicle body in the moving direction of the opening degree regulating member,
The opening regulating member includes a main body extending downward from the airbag door portion and inserted into the hole, and a main body fixed to the main body below the hole and unable to be inserted through the hole. 2. The front passenger seat airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper configured to: When a direction that intersects the moving direction is defined as the intersecting direction, the return restricting portion has a projecting portion projecting from the main body portion in at least one direction in the intersecting direction,
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a total dimension obtained by adding the dimension of the bottom surface of the projecting portion to the dimension of the main body in the intersecting direction is set larger than the dimension of the hole in the intersecting direction. Passenger seat airbag system. 4. The front passenger seat airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the dimension of the projecting portion in the crossing direction is set to be maximum at the bottom surface and decrease with increasing distance from the bottom surface. 5. The bottom surface of the protruding portion according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the bottom surface of the projecting portion is configured by a plane parallel to the cross direction or a plane inclined to the cross direction so as to become higher as the main body portion is approached. Passenger seat airbag system. The opening regulation member extends planarly downward from the airbag door portion in a region extending from the front portion to the rear portion of the airbag door portion on both side portions of the airbag door portion in the vehicle width direction. The passenger seat airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A projection length of the rib from the airbag door portion is set to a length that contacts an upper surface of the airbag in the airbag module stored in the storage case in the storage configuration. 7. The front passenger seat airbag device according to any one of items 1 to 6.

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