JP4155870B2 - Instrument panel with airbag door - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an instrument panel having an airbag door that is opened by the operation of an airbag in the event of a vehicle collision, and more particularly to measures for protecting passengers when the airbag does not operate in the event of a vehicle collision.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, an instrument panel with an airbag door is configured such that a substantially rectangular frame body in a plan view for housing an airbag module is fixed to the back surface of the instrument panel body, and the instrument panel body has a back surface corresponding to the frame body. A configuration is provided in which an airbag door is formed in an inner region surrounded by the planned fracture portion and the planned fracture portion is broken by the operation of the airbag to open the airbag door at the time of a vehicle collision. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003]
In Patent Document 1, reinforcing ribs are provided on the front frame wall and the rear frame wall of the frame body so as to project in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the frame body.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
US 6,318,752 B1 (column 4, FIG.1)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in Patent Document 1 described above, since the front frame wall and the rear frame wall of the frame body are merely reinforced by the reinforcing ribs, the rigidity of the frame body can be ensured, but the airbag is not used in the event of a vehicle collision. Should it not work for some reason, the passenger sitting in the passenger seat will turn forward due to the reaction caused by the collision, and the head will collide near the rear side of the airbag door which is the passenger side of the airbag door of the instrument panel body. When a so-called head impact occurs, damage to the occupant increases and is extremely dangerous.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and the object of the present invention is that the head of the occupant collides with the vicinity of the rear side of the airbag door of the instrument panel body without the airbag being activated when the vehicle collides. In some cases, the damage to the occupant is reduced to increase the protective safety performance of the occupant.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the rigidity in the vicinity of the rear side of the airbag door of the instrument panel body is made lower than the rigidity in the vicinity of the front side.
[0008]
Specifically, the present invention is substantially rectangular so that the front and rear frame walls extending in the vehicle width direction and the left and right frame walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body have a rectangular shooting port at the upper end. A substantially rectangular shape in plan view, which is integrally formed with a frame portion that is formed in a cylindrical shape and accommodates an airbag module therein, and a flange portion that is fixed to the back surface of the resin instrument panel main body and extends outward from the upper end of the frame portion. The resin frame is disposed on the back side of the instrument panel body, and an airbag door is formed on the instrument panel body so as to correspond to the shooting port. When the vehicle collides, the airbag door is activated by the operation of the airbag. Assuming an instrument panel with an airbag door configured to open the door, the following solutions were taken.
[0009]
That is, in the first aspect of the present invention, the instrument panel body is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer resin material, and the frame body is molded from a resin resin containing fiber having a rigidity higher than that of the instrument panel body. the outer surface of the over the bottom near the upper end of the front frame wall, together are integrally formed to protrude forward of the vehicle body is the front reinforcing Li Bed integral with respect to the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the front side frame walls, the On the outer surface from the upper end of the rear frame wall to the vicinity of the lower end, an integrated rear reinforcing rib protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the rear frame wall and is integrally formed. The front frame wall, the rear frame wall, and the flange portions corresponding to the frame walls are reinforced by the front reinforcing rib and the rear reinforcing rib, and a plurality of the front reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. , Serial rear reinforcing ribs, characterized in that it a small number provided from the front reinforcing rib.
[0010]
With the above-described configuration, the invention described in claim 1, but the rigidity of the air bag door front and around the vicinity of the rear side of the instrument panel main body is secured by the frame itself and the front-side reinforcing ribs and a rear reinforcing rib Because the number of rear reinforcing ribs is less than the number of front reinforcing ribs, the rigidity of the instrument panel body near the rear side of the airbag door is moderately lower than the vicinity of the front side, and the airbag does not operate in the event of a vehicle collision. Even if the head of the occupant collides with the vicinity of the rear side of the airbag door of the instrument panel body, that is, at the time of head impact, the collision energy is efficiently absorbed and the occupant is not significantly damaged, and the occupant's protective safety performance is improved. Rise.
[0011]
The invention according to claim 2 is based on the premise as described above, wherein the instrument panel body is formed of a thermoplastic elastomer resin material, and the frame body is made of a fiber-containing resin material having higher rigidity than the instrument panel body. molded, only the outer surface of the over the bottom near the upper end of the front frame wall of the front frame wall and the rear frame wall, integral reinforcing rib against the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the front side frame wall vehicle width The front frame wall and the flange portion corresponding to the front frame wall are reinforced by the reinforcing ribs .
[0012]
With the above configuration, in the invention according to claim 2, since the rigidity of the frame body is higher than that of the instrument panel main body due to its material, the airbag door of the instrument panel main body is provided without the rear reinforcing rib. Rigidity in the vicinity of the rear side is appropriately secured, and even at the time of head impact, the collision energy is efficiently absorbed and damage to the occupant is not so great, and the protective safety performance of the occupant is enhanced .
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 3 shows the front part of the passenger seat of the instrument panel 1 with an airbag door according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. The instrument panel 1 includes a resin base material 3 formed of a thermoplastic elastomer resin material such as a thermoplastic olefin (TPO) resin, and polypropylene (PP) integrally coated on the surface side of the base material 3. The instrument panel body 7 having a two-layer structure composed of the resin skin 5 is provided.
[0015]
A substantially rectangular groove 9 in plan view extending in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body front-rear direction is formed on the back surface of the base material 3 of the instrument panel main body 7, and the instrument panel main body 7 corresponding to the groove 9 is formed thin. As a result, a breakable portion 11 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is formed. And the airbag door 13 which fractures | ruptures and opens the said fracture | rupture planned part 11 by the action | operation of an airbag at the time of a vehicle collision is formed by the area | region enclosed by this planned fracture | rupture part 11. FIG. The airbag door 13 is configured as a so-called seamless type in which the planned fracture portion 11 cannot be identified from the surface side of the instrument panel body 7.
[0016]
On the back surface of the airbag door 13 and the surrounding instrument panel body 7, a resin frame 15 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is fixed by vibration welding. The frame body 15 is formed of a fiber-containing resin material mixed with fibers such as glass fibers, and the rigidity thereof is set higher than the rigidity of the instrument panel body 7.
[0017]
The frame body 15 includes a frame portion 17 formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame portion 17 includes a front frame wall 17a extending in the vehicle width direction, and a front frame wall 17a. A rear frame wall 17b that is disposed opposite to the rear side and extends in the vehicle width direction; a left frame wall 17c that extends in the vehicle body front-rear direction so as to connect the left edges of the front frame wall 17a and the rear frame wall 17b; The right frame wall 17d extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body so as to connect the right edges. In addition, a rectangular shooting port 19 through which the airbag bulges is formed at the upper end inside the frame portion 17, and a flange portion 21 that extends outward is integrally formed at the upper end outside the frame portion 17. Further, a flap portion 23 is integrally formed on one side of the shooting port 19 on the front side of the vehicle body via a hinge portion 25 formed of a concave curved portion, and the flap portion 23 is connected to the frame portion 17 in plan view. The shooting port 19 is covered with a slight gap in the shape of the letter. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 27 denotes a vibration welding protrusion formed on the flange portion 21 and the flap portion 23, and the flange portion 21 and the flap portion 23 are attached to the back surface of the instrument panel body 7 through vibration welding through the protrusion 27. The frame 15 is fixed and arranged on the back side of the instrument panel main body 7. As an alternative means of vibration welding, other welding means such as ultrasonic welding and heat caulking welding may be used.
[0018]
An air bag module 29 including an air bag and an inflator for protecting a passenger in the front passenger seat from an impact from the front and rear direction of the vehicle body is housed in the frame portion 17, and the air bag module 29 is spaced in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of hooks 31 fixed with a gap are hooked into a plurality of engaging holes 17e formed in the frame portion 17 at intervals in the vehicle width direction when the airbag is operated. Here, a case for storing the airbag module 29 is not shown.
[0019]
A screw member 33 protrudes downward from the lower end of the airbag module 29. The screw member 33 is inserted into a through hole 35a formed on one end side of the metal bracket 35, and a nut 37 is attached to the screw member 33. The bracket 35 is fastened to the lower end of the airbag module 29 by screwing. The other end of the bracket 35 is fixed by welding to a metal instrument panel reinforcement 39 that extends in the vehicle width direction and supports the instrument panel body 7. Thereby, the lower end of the airbag module 29 is connected and supported to the instrument panel reinforcement 39 via the bracket 35.
[0020]
As a feature of the first embodiment, on the outer surface of the over the bottom near the upper end of the front frame wall 17a, said front frame wall 17 front the back side with respect to the form of integral right-angled triangle of the flange portion 21 corresponding to a Reinforcing ribs 41 are integrally formed so as to protrude forward of the vehicle body. In addition, on the outer surface from the upper end of the rear frame wall 17b to the vicinity of the lower end, an integrated rear reinforcing rib 43 projects rearward of the rear surface of the flange portion 21 corresponding to the rear frame wall 17b. It is integrally formed. These front reinforcing rib 41 and the rear-side reinforcing ribs 43 are both arranged side by side spaced placed vehicle width direction between the engaging hole 17e adjacent the front casing wall 17a and the rear frame wall 17b, the front casing wall 17a The rear frame wall 17b and the flange portion 21 corresponding to the frame walls 17a and 17b are reinforced by the front reinforcing rib 41 and the rear reinforcing rib 43 . In this example, the number of the front side reinforcing ribs 41 is seven, whereas the number of the rear side reinforcing ribs 43 is two, and the number of the rear side reinforcing ribs 43 is smaller than that of the front side reinforcing ribs 41. ing. Thereby, the rigidity in the vicinity of the rear frame wall 17b of the instrument panel body 7 is set to be appropriately lower than the rigidity in the vicinity of the front frame wall 17a.
[0021]
In the instrument panel 1 configured as described above, when the vehicle collides, the airbag of the airbag module 29 is inflated by the operation of the inflator, and the expected breakage portion 11 is broken by the inflation pressure, whereby the airbag door 13 is integrated with the flap portion 23 and is rotated with the hinge portion 25 as an opening operation fulcrum, and is opened upward in the front of the vehicle body.
[0022]
When the vehicle crashes, the airbag does not operate, and the head of the occupant collides with the vicinity of the rear side of the airbag door 13 of the instrument panel body 7, that is, the number of the rear reinforcing ribs 43 is the front reinforcing ribs at the head impact. The rear side of the airbag door 13 of the instrument panel body 7 whose rigidity is reasonably low because it is less than the number of 41 bends and absorbs collision energy efficiently, resulting in reduced damage to passengers. The protective safety performance of the passenger can be improved.
[0023]
(Embodiment 2)
4 shows an instrument panel 1 with an airbag door according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Here, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted, and only different components will be described.
[0024]
That is, in the second embodiment, the airbag door 13 is a so-called double door opening type in which the airbag door 13 is divided into two in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and each opens upward.
[0025]
Specifically, a groove portion 9 extending in the vehicle width direction is further added to the rear surface of the instrument panel main body 7 at a vehicle body longitudinal direction intermediate position of the substantially rectangular groove portion 9 extending in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle body longitudinal direction. The instrument panel main body 7 corresponding to the groove portions 9 is formed thin to form a fracture portion 11 having a substantially sun-shaped plan view. The front side of the vehicle body is a front door portion 13a, the rear side of the vehicle body is a rear door portion 13b, and the airbag door 13 is constituted by the front door portion 13a and the rear door portion 13b. ing.
[0026]
A front flap portion 23a, which is substantially the same shape as the front door portion 13a, is integrally formed on the front edge of the shooting port 19 of the frame portion 17 via a front hinge portion 25a. A rear flap portion 23b having substantially the same shape as the rear door portion 13b is formed integrally with the rear hinge portion 5b, and the shooting port 19 is covered by the front flap portion 23a and the rear flap portion 23b. It has been broken.
[0027]
In the case of the second embodiment, when the airbag is activated at the time of a vehicle collision, the inflation pressure of the airbag is changed to the front and rear flap portions 23a and 23b of the frame 15 and the front and rear of the instrument panel body 7. The side door portions 13a and 13b are received, the planned fracture portion 11 of the instrument panel main body 71 is broken, and the front flap portion 23a and the front door portion 13a are united to move upward with the front hinge portion 25a as an opening operation fulcrum. While rotating and opening, the rear flap portion 23b and the rear door portion 13b are united to rotate with the rear hinge portion 25b as an opening operation fulcrum and open upward in the vehicle body and upward in the vehicle body. Yes.
[0028]
When the airbag does not operate at the time of a vehicle collision and the head of the occupant collides with the vicinity of the rear side of the rear door portion 13b of the instrument panel body 7, the number of the rear reinforcing ribs 43 is greater than the number of the front reinforcing ribs 41. The rear side of the rear door portion 13b of the instrument panel main body 7 whose rigidity is moderately low due to the small amount is bent to absorb the collision energy efficiently, and as a result, damage to the occupant is reduced to protect the occupant it is possible to improve the performance in the same manner as in the first implementation.
[0029]
In the first and second embodiments, the reinforcing ribs 41 and 43 are integrally formed on both the front frame wall 17a and the rear frame wall 17b. However, the front frame wall 17a and the rear frame wall 17b are only the outer toward the lower end near the upper end of the front frame wall 17a, spaced reinforcing ribs 41 integrally with the rear surface of the flange portion 21 corresponding to the front side frame wall 17a in the vehicle width direction and projecting the front of the vehicle body A plurality of them may be integrally formed, and the flange portion 21 corresponding to the front frame wall 17a and the front frame wall 17b may be reinforced by the reinforcing rib 41 .
[0030]
In this case, since the rigidity of the frame body 15 is higher than that of the instrument panel body 7 due to its material, the airbag door 13 (rear side door) of the instrument panel body 7 is provided without the rear side reinforcing rib 43. Part 13b) The rigidity in the vicinity of the rear side can be ensured moderately, and the head of the occupant is behind the airbag door 13 (rear side door part 13b) of the instrument panel body 7 without the airbag being activated in the event of a vehicle collision. Even when the vehicle collides near the side, the collision energy can be efficiently absorbed to reduce damage to the occupant and improve the occupant protection performance.
[0031]
Further, in the first embodiment, to open upward by rotating the breakable portion 11 of the air bag door 13 extends in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body front side as an open operation fulcrum, also in the second embodiment, the front and The rear door portions 13a and 13b are rotated about the two break planned portions 11 extending in the vehicle width direction on the front side and the rear side of the vehicle body as opening operation fulcrums and opened upward, respectively. 11 may be formed so as to be broken when the airbag door is opened.
[0032]
Further, in the first and second embodiments, an opening is formed in the instrument panel body 7, and a panel material as another member constituting a part of the instrument panel body 7 is fitted into the opening, and the back surface of the panel material The frame 15 may be fixed to the frame.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the instrument panel main body is molded from the thermoplastic elastomer resin material, and the frame body is molded from the resin resin material containing fibers higher in rigidity than the instrument panel main body. and a front reinforcing rib on the outer surface of the over the bottom near the upper end of the front wall frame of the frame member, thereby forming a rear reinforcing rib integrally respectively on the outer surface of toward near the lower end from an upper end of the rear casing wall, rear Since the number of reinforcing ribs is smaller than that of the front reinforcing ribs, the rigidity of the instrument panel body near the airbag door front side and the rear side of the instrument panel body is secured while the rigidity of the instrument panel body near the airbag door rear side is appropriately It can be lowered to reduce the damage to the occupant during a head impact due to a vehicle collision and improve the occupant's protective safety performance. .
[0034]
According to the invention according to claim 2, since the rigidity of the frame is made higher than that of the instrument panel main body due to its material, the rear of the airbag door of the instrument panel main body is provided even if there is no rear reinforcing rib. It is possible to appropriately secure the rigidity in the vicinity of the side, and even at the time of head impact, the collision energy can be efficiently absorbed to reduce the damage to the occupant and improve the occupant's protective safety performance .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a frame body as viewed from the back side in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front portion of the passenger seat of the instrument panel with an airbag door according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of an instrument panel with an airbag door according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 7 Instrument panel main body 13 Airbag door 15 Frame 17 Frame part 17a Front side frame wall 17b Rear side frame wall 17c Left side frame wall 17d Right side frame wall 19 Shooting port 21 Flange part 29 Airbag module 41 Front side reinforcement rib 43 Rear reinforcement rib

Claims (2)

A front frame wall and a rear frame wall extending in the vehicle width direction, and a left frame wall and a right frame wall extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape so as to have a rectangular shooting port inside the upper end, and an airbag inside The instrument is a substantially rectangular resin frame having a frame part for housing the module and a flange part fixed to the back surface of the resin instrument panel main body and extending outward from the upper end of the frame part. An airbag that is arranged on the back side of the panel body, has an airbag door formed in the instrument panel body so as to correspond to the shooting port, and is configured to open the airbag door by the operation of the airbag in the event of a vehicle collision An instrument panel with a door,
The instrument panel body is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer resin material,
The frame body is molded from a resin material containing fibers having higher rigidity than the instrument panel body,
The outer surface of the over the bottom near the upper end of the front frame wall, together are integrally formed to protrude forward of the vehicle body is the front reinforcing Li Bed integral with respect to the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the front side frame wall, On the outer surface from the upper end of the rear frame wall to the vicinity of the lower end, an integrated rear reinforcing rib protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the rear frame wall and is integrally formed. The front frame wall, the rear frame wall, and the flange portion corresponding to these frame walls are reinforced by the front reinforcing rib and the rear reinforcing rib,
A plurality of the front reinforcing ribs are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction,
An instrument panel with an airbag door, wherein a smaller number of the rear reinforcing ribs are provided than the front reinforcing ribs. A front frame wall and a rear frame wall extending in the vehicle width direction, and a left frame wall and a right frame wall extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape so as to have a rectangular shooting port inside the upper end, and an airbag inside The instrument is a substantially rectangular resin frame having a frame part for housing the module and a flange part fixed to the back surface of the resin instrument panel main body and extending outward from the upper end of the frame part. An airbag that is disposed on the back side of the panel body, has an airbag door formed on the instrument panel body so as to correspond to the shooting port, and is configured to open the airbag door by the operation of the airbag in the event of a vehicle collision An instrument panel with a door,
The instrument panel body is molded from a thermoplastic elastomer resin material,
The frame body is molded from a resin material containing fibers having higher rigidity than the instrument panel body,
Of the front frame wall and the rear frame wall , only on the outer surface from the upper end of the front frame wall to the vicinity of the lower end , an integral reinforcing rib is separated from the rear surface of the flange portion corresponding to the front frame wall in the vehicle width direction. An instrument with an airbag door, wherein the front frame wall and the flange portion corresponding to the front frame wall are reinforced with the reinforcing rib . Panel .

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