JP3651158B2 - Instrument panel with integrated airbag door - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an instrument panel having an airbag door portion integrally, and more particularly to an instrument panel having an airbag door portion integrally provided in an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an example of a structure in which an airbag door portion of an airbag device for a passenger seat is integrated with an instrument panel is shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-58517.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 6 , in the instrument panel having the airbag door portion integrally, the instrument panel 100 has a three-layer structure of an instrument panel insert 102, a foam layer 104, and a skin 106. An opening 108 is formed at a predetermined portion on the passenger seat side in the instrument panel insert 102. At a position facing the opening 108, an airbag device 112 is disposed for inflating the airbag bag body 110 toward the passenger seat when a predetermined high load is applied.
[0004]
Door inserts 114 and 116 are fixed to the opening 108 of the instrument panel insert 102 by fixing means 118 such as a rivet, whereby the opening 108 is closed. Further, in the vicinity of the boundary between the door inserts 114 and 116 in the outer skin 106, a rupture portion 120 serving as a rupture line at the time of a predetermined high load action is formed. The broken portion 120 is bent in a U-shaped cross section, and breaks and the airbag inserts 114 and 116 are deployed when a predetermined high load is applied.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the instrument panel having such air bag door portion integrally, as shown in FIG. 7, the air bag 110, when the door insert 114 (which are not illustrated for the door insert 116) is pressed expanded Further, since the airbag bag body 110 abuts against the foam layer 104 and the skin 106 and lifts the foam layer 104 and the skin 106 in the deployment direction, the foam layer 104 is from the door inserts 114 and 116, and the skin 106 is the foam layer. Peeling from 104 is also conceivable.
[0006]
In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain an instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion that can prevent the foam layer or the skin from peeling when the airbag bag body is inflated.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention according to claim 1 includes an instrument panel insert provided with an inflating opening for an air bag body that inflates at the time of a predetermined high load action,
A door insert disposed in the bulge opening of the instrument panel insert;
A foam layer disposed on these instrument panel inserts and door inserts;
An epidermis covering the surface of this foam layer,
An instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion including
A groove part having a breaking part formed on the skin and breaking at an inflation pressure of the airbag bag body at the bottom;
An extended portion provided on the outer peripheral edge of the door insert and projecting a predetermined amount from the lower position of the rupture portion toward the outer peripheral side of the airbag door;
A portion that becomes a corner portion in plan view of the door insert and the break portion facing the portion that becomes the corner portion are curved, and the curvature of the portion that becomes the corner portion is curved from the curve of the break portion It is characterized by being gentle .
[0008]
Therefore, when the airbag bag body is deployed, the airbag bag body abuts on the door insert, and the foam layer in the vicinity of the rupture portion passes through the extended portion protruding from the lower position of the rupture portion to the outer peripheral side of the airbag door portion by a predetermined amount. And press the epidermis in the unfolding direction. For this reason, an airbag bag body does not contact | abut directly to a foam layer or skin, and peeling of a foam layer or skin can be prevented. In addition, the foam layer and the skin where the tearing direction changes abruptly when the airbag bag is deployed and the corner of the fractured portion of the skin are gentler than the curved portion of the fractured portion. A rapid change in the tearing direction acting on the foam can be suppressed, and the foamed layer and the skin can be reliably broken along the broken portion.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of an instrument panel having an airbag door portion according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0014]
In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width inside direction.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 3, an airbag door portion 10 </ b> A is formed on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 10 of the present embodiment so as to face the airbag device 12 disposed inside the instrument panel 10. .
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument panel 10 is made of a resin (for example, PVC [vinyl chloride], TPO [olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer], urethane-based thermoplastic elastomer, etc.) disposed on the vehicle interior side. ), An instrument panel insert 18 that is spaced apart from the skin 16 and made of PPG (composite reinforced polypropylene), ASG (composite reinforced acrylonitrile styrene), and the like, and the skin 16 and the instrument panel. And a foamed layer 20 such as thermoplastic urethane filled between the inserts 18. Accordingly, the skin 16 has a relatively low strength, but the instrument panel insert 18 has a relatively high strength.
[0017]
An opening 22 is formed at a predetermined position of the instrument panel insert 18 of the instrument panel 10 described above. The airbag device 12 is disposed at a position where the opening 22 is formed. The airbag device 12 includes a substantially box-shaped airbag case 24, a substantially cylindrical inflator 26 fixed in the airbag case 24, and an airbag disposed in a folded state on the opening 22 side of the inflator 26. And a bag body 28.
[0018]
The airbag door portion 10A includes a skin 30 that is also a part of the skin 16 of the instrument panel 10 described above, and a resin door insert 32 that is spaced apart from the skin 30 and made of the same material as the instrument panel insert 18. And a foam layer 34 which is filled between the skin 30 and the door insert 32 and is also a part of the foam layer 20 of the instrument panel 10.
[0019]
The airbag case 24 has a substantially box shape, and an end portion on the opening side is bent in a direction away from each other to form a flange portion 24A. In the airbag case 24, the flange portion 24A is fixed to the instrument panel insert 18 by a fixture 36 such as a bolt and a nut, so that a stay (not shown) can be used as a vehicle frame member such as a tubular instrument panel reinforcement. It is attached by being fixed. Of these, the flange portion 24A on the vehicle front side is fastened together with the door insert 32 of the airbag door portion 10A. Thus, the airbag door portion 10A is a so-called single-opening type door portion in which the vicinity of the joint portion functions as a hinge portion 38 when the airbag door is deployed.
[0020]
The inflator 26 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a mechanical ignition type air bag sensor (not shown) that detects a sudden deceleration state of the vehicle is disposed on the side of the inflator 26. Further, a detonator (not shown) is disposed on the movement locus of the firing pin of the airbag sensor inside the inflator 26. An enhancer (fire transfer agent) is disposed around the detonator, and a gas generating agent is accommodated on the outer periphery thereof. An electric ignition type airbag sensor may be used instead of the mechanical ignition type airbag sensor described above. In this case, the sensor for detecting the sudden deceleration state of the vehicle is not disposed in the inflator, but is disposed on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle, near the lower portion of the console box, and the like. When the inflator 26 having the above-described structure is activated when a predetermined high load is applied, the airbag bag body 28 accommodated in a folded state in the airbag case 24 is inflated.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, a U-shaped groove 42 is formed at the boundary between the skin 16 and the skin 30. The bottom portion of the groove portion 42 is thinner than the other portions, and is a broken portion 44 that is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag body 28. In the present embodiment, the breaking portion 44 is formed on the entire circumference of the airbag door 14, but may be formed only on a portion excluding the hinge portion 38.
[0022]
Further, an extended portion 46 is formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the door insert 32 except for the hinge portion, and this extended portion 46 is a predetermined amount from the lower position of the breaking portion 44 to the outer peripheral side of the airbag door portion. L protrudes. Therefore, when the airbag bag body is deployed, the airbag bag body 28 presses the foam layer 34 and the skin 30 in the vicinity of the breaking portion 44 through the extending portion 46 in the deployment direction (upward in FIG. 1). Yes.
[0023]
Further, in the present embodiment, the thickness M1 of the extending portion 46 of the door insert 32 is thicker (M1> M2) than the thickness M2 of the main body portion of the door insert 32. A guide surface 48 that is inclined toward the outer skin 16 toward the tip of the extending portion 46 is formed on the back surface. When the airbag bag body is deployed, the airbag bag body 28 guides along the guide surface 48. And is developed in a desired direction.
[0024]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, a portion 32 </ b> A serving as a corner portion on the vehicle rear side in a plan view of the door insert 32 and a corner portion 44 </ b> A of the breaking portion 44 facing the portion 32 </ b> A serving as the corner portion are provided. The curvature (curvature radius R1) of the curved portion 32A is more gradual (R1> R2) than the curvature (curvature radius R2) of the corner portion 44A of the fracture portion 44. For this reason, in the foam layers 20 and 34 and the skins 16 and 30 in the vicinity of the corner portion 44A of the breaking portion 44, a rapid change in the tearing direction when the airbag body is deployed can be suppressed.
[0025]
Further, in the vicinity of the fracture portion 44, a rib 50 provided on the upper surface of the door insert 32 excluding the hinge portion is adjacently disposed, and the foam layer 34 between the top wall portion 50 </ b> A of the rib 50 and the skin 30. Is getting thinner.
[0026]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
When a predetermined high load is applied, that is, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, an air bag sensor (not shown) detects this and ignites the detonator. For this reason, the gas generating agent burns through the enhancer, and a large amount of gas is generated. Therefore, the airbag bag body 28 is inflated, and the airbag door portion 10A is pressed from the back side.
[0027]
At this time, the inflation load (inflation pressure) from the airbag bag body 28 is transmitted to the door insert 32 of the airbag door portion 10A. Further, this load is easily transmitted to the fracture portion 44 by the top wall portion 50 </ b> A of the rib 50.
[0028]
Further, in the present embodiment, the extending portion 46 formed on the outer peripheral edge portion of the door insert 32 protrudes from the lower position of the breakage portion 44 to the outer peripheral side of the airbag door portion by a predetermined amount L, and is shown in FIG. As described above, when the airbag bag body is deployed, the airbag bag body 28 presses the foam layer 34 and the skin 30 in the vicinity of the breaking portion 44 through the extending portion 46 in the deployment direction (upward in FIG. 1). Therefore, the airbag bag body 28 does not directly contact the foam layer 34 or the skin 30, and the foam layer 34 is not accompanied by peeling between the foam layer 34 and the skin 30, and peeling between the foam layer 34 and the door insert 32. The skin 30 is reliably broken as planned along the set breaking portion 44.
[0029]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a portion 32 </ b> A that becomes a corner portion in a plan view of the door insert 32 and a corner portion 44 </ b> A of the fracture portion 44 that faces the portion 32 </ b> A that becomes the corner portion are curved. In addition, the curvature (curvature radius R1) of the portion 32A serving as the corner is gentler than the curvature (curvature radius R2) of the corner 44A of the fracture portion 44 (R1> R2). As a result, in the foam layers 20 and 34 and the skins 16 and 30 in the vicinity of the corner portion 44A of the breaking portion 44, a rapid change in the tearing direction when the airbag bag body is deployed can be suppressed. Also, the foam layer 34 and the skin 30 are surely broken as planned along the set breakage portion 44.
[0030]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a guide surface 48 is formed on the back surface of the extending portion 46 of the door insert 32. As a result, when the airbag bag body is deployed, the airbag bag body 28 is guided along the guide surface 48 and deployed in a desired direction, so that the deployment of the airbag bag body 28 is stabilized.
[0031]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention as set forth in claim 1 includes an instrument panel insert having an inflating opening for an airbag bag body that inflates when a predetermined high load is applied, and a door disposed in the inflating opening of the instrument panel insert. An instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion including an insert, a foam layer disposed on the instrument panel insert and the door insert, and a skin covering a surface of the foam layer. Formed in the bottom part and having a rupture part that is ruptured by the inflation pressure of the airbag bag body, and an extension projecting a predetermined amount from the lower position of the rupture part toward the outer peripheral side of the airbag door part. comprising a part, the break portion facing the portion which becomes the site and the corner portion serving as a corner portion in a plan view of the door insert are curved, and it and the corner portion Since the curved portion is gradual than the curvature of the fracture portion has an excellent effect that it is possible to air bag body to prevent separation of the foam layer or epidermis when inflated. Moreover, it has the outstanding effect that a foaming layer and a skin can be reliably fractured | ruptured along a fracture | rupture part.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged side sectional view showing a part of an instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion according to an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the obliquely rearward side of the vehicle.
FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view showing a part of an instrument panel integrally having an airbag door portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a part of an instrument panel integrally having an airbag door portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing an instrument panel integrally having an airbag door portion according to a conventional embodiment.
FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view showing a part of an instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion according to a conventional embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 10A Airbag door part 12 Airbag apparatus 16 Outer skin 18 Instrument panel insert 20 Foamed layer 28 Airbag bag body 30 Outer skin 32 Door insert 32A The part which becomes a corner | angular part on the vehicle rear side in the planar view of a door insert 34 Foam layer 42 Groove 44 Breaking portion 44A Breaking corner 46 Extension 48 Guide surface

Claims (1)

An instrument panel insert having an opening for inflation of an airbag bag body that bulges when a predetermined high load is applied;
A door insert disposed in the bulge opening of the instrument panel insert;
A foam layer disposed on these instrument panel inserts and door inserts;
An epidermis covering the surface of this foam layer,
An instrument panel integrally including an airbag door portion including
A groove part having a breaking part formed on the skin and breaking at an inflation pressure of the airbag bag body at the bottom;
An extended portion provided on the outer peripheral edge of the door insert and projecting a predetermined amount from the lower position of the rupture portion toward the outer peripheral side of the airbag door;
A portion that becomes a corner portion in plan view of the door insert and the break portion facing the portion that becomes the corner portion are curved, and the curvature of the portion that becomes the corner portion is curved from the curve of the break portion An instrument panel integrally having an air bag door characterized by being loose .

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