JP4478830B2 - Airbag door - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag door, and more particularly to an airbag door in which a door panel provided at a required position of a vehicle interior member is pressed by an inflating airbag and opened outward.

  Most passenger cars produced in recent years are equipped with an air bag device for the driver's seat and an air bag device for the passenger's seat as one of the devices for protecting passengers in the event of a collision with an oncoming vehicle. Has been. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the airbag device 60 for the passenger seat is stored inside the instrument panel 10 that is a vehicle interior member assembled in front of the passenger compartment so as not to be seen from the passenger seat. It is installed. For this reason, the synthetic resin base material 12 constituting the instrument panel 10 is pressed by the airbag 64 that is inflated by the operation of the airbag device 60 at a position corresponding to the inflator case 62 of the airbag device 60. An airbag door AD1 that opens outward is provided.

  The airbag door AD1 illustrated in FIG. 9 is a type (base material separate type) that is formed separately from the base material 12 and assembled to the base material 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. For example, the door is formed on a substantially rectangular door molding member 20 made of a flexible resin material such as an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO), and the door is opened with respect to the opening installation portion 18 opened in the base material 12. By assembling the molding member 20, the molding member 20 is always configured as a part of the substrate 12. Here, the illustrated airbag door AD1 is formed by extending both Y-shaped door break scheduled portions 32 including the center fracture scheduled portion 34 and the side fracture scheduled portions 36, 36 to the door molding member 20, thereby extending 4 The door panels 22, 24, 26, 28, which are divided into four door panels 22, 24, 26, 28, and received the pressing force of the airbag 64 that is inflated by the operation of the airbag device 60, After being separated from each other by the breakage of the door break scheduled portion 32 described above, the instrument panel 10 is opened to the front and rear and to the left and right around each hinge portion 30 provided along one side edge. A rectangular cylindrical body 38 surrounding each door panel 22, 24, 26, 28 is integrally formed on the back side of the door molding member 20, and the door molding member 20 includes the cylindrical body 38. It is connected and supported by the inflator case 62 of the airbag apparatus 60 via the via.

The above-described instrument panel 10 has the above-mentioned base material 12 in which the whole or an upper half of the instrument panel 10 is injection-molded into a required shape in order to improve the texture and touch, and the base material 12. It has a three-layer structure composed of a foam 14 having a required thickness formed in a required region on the outer surface of the, and a skin material 16 that is attached to the outer surface of the foam 14 and covers the foam 14. . In the case where the airbag door AD1 is provided at a portion having this three-layer structure, the foam 14 having a required thickness exists from the base material 12 to the outer surface of the door molding member 20 as illustrated in FIG. Thus, from the outside of the instrument panel 10, the presence of the airbag door AD1 before opening is not recognized. Such an invisible type airbag door is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
JP 2003-182496 A

  By the way, in the airbag door AD1 described above, the rear surface 22A of each door panel 22, 24, 26, 28 is provided in order to appropriately and efficiently break the door break scheduled portion 32 due to the pressing force of the airbag 64. 24A, 26A, and 28A, adjacent to the planned door breakage portion 32, a thick portion 40 protruding from the back surface 22A, 24A, 26A, and 28A and extending along the planned door breakage portion 32 is provided for each door panel 22, 24, 26, and 28 are integrally formed. Accordingly, the airbag 64 that is inflated by the operation of the airbag device 60 first comes into contact with the thick portion 40 so that the pressing force acts only on the thick portion 40. It is considered that an expected breakage of the door breakage planned portion 32 is caused by being efficiently added to the door breakage planned portion 32.

  However, the rigidity of the door panels 22, 24, 26, and 28 in which the thick portion 40 is integrally formed is improved by the presence of the thick portion 40, and is opened by the breakage of the door break planned portion 32. In this case, the hinge part 30 is opened around the center while remaining almost flat without being deformed. For this reason, when the two-stage output type airbag device 60 is operated at a low output, the door panels 22, 24, and 26 are opened at the initial stage of opening the airbag door AD1 due to the weak expansion force of the airbag 64. , 28 may not be sufficiently opened, and as illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the deployment region S through which the airbag 64 passes may be narrowed. In particular, in the case of the airbag door AD1 of the four-way opening type, as is apparent from FIG. 12, if the door panels 22, 24, 26, 28 are not sufficiently opened, the adjacent door panels 22, 24, 26, 28 are provided. There is a possibility that the airbag 64 is sandwiched between the end portions.

  Therefore, the present invention allows the expansion force of the airbag to be increased by causing the door panel that opens upon receiving the pressing force of the airbag to warp due to the inertial force at the time of opening, thereby expanding the deployment region through which the airbag passes. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag door in which the airbag can be appropriately inflated and deployed even when it is weak.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, the present invention provides:
A hinge portion extending to a required position of the vehicle interior member, a central fracture planned portion parallel to the hinge portion at a distance from each other, and each end portion of the hinge portion and each end portion of the central fracture planned portion includes a door panel that is formed by the side breakable portion which are respectively provided continuously, the door panel, the fracture of the central breakable portion and side breakable portion by the pressing of the inflating airbag, around the hinge portion the airbag door you open to the outside of the vehicle interior member as,
At least one of the back and Table surfaces of the door panel, concave cross-sectional shape is semicircular extending across between said hinge portion and parallel to and laterally breakable portion which face each other across the door panel A plurality of grooves are extended from the hinge portion to the central fracture planned portion at intervals .

  According to the airbag door according to the present invention, the door panel that is opened by receiving the pressing force of the airbag is flexibly deformed by the inertia force at the time of opening, and warps in the panel opening direction, so that the passage of the airbag Since the expansion region to be expanded is suitably achieved, there is a beneficial effect that appropriate expansion and deployment of the airbag can be realized even when the expansion force of the airbag is weak.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the airbag door according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  An air bag door according to the present invention is a door panel provided at a required position of a vehicle interior member, pressed by an inflating air bag and opened outward. Various types such as a double-opening type including a door panel and a four-way opening type including four door panels can be implemented. Accordingly, in each embodiment described later, an instrument panel having a three-layer structure is illustrated as a vehicle interior member, and a case where a four-way opening type airbag door including four door panels is provided for the instrument panel will be described. To do. Therefore, the same members / parts as those already described in the section of the prior art described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 will be described with the same reference numerals.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a partial plan view showing an instrument panel 10 provided with an airbag door AD according to the first embodiment, partially broken away at an installation site of the airbag door AD. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. The airbag door AD of the first embodiment is based on the conventional airbag door AD1 illustrated in FIG. 11 and the like, and is an abbreviation made of, for example, a resin material rich in flexibility such as an olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer (TPO). By assembling the door molding member 20 to the opening installation portion 18 formed in the rectangular door molding member 20 and provided in the base material 12 constituting the instrument panel 10 which is a vehicle interior member, it is always the basis. It is configured as a part of the material 12.

  The illustrated airbag door AD has four door panels 22 by extending a Y-shaped door break planned portion 32 composed of a center break planned portion 34 and side break planned portions 36, 36 to the door molding member 20. , 24, 26, and 28, each of the door panels 22, 24, 26, and 28 receiving the pressing force of the airbag 64 that is inflated by the operation of the airbag device 60. 24, 26, and 28, which are separated from each other by the breakage of the aforementioned door breakage scheduled portion 32 (the central breakage scheduled portion 34 and the side breakage scheduled portion 36) extending along the boundary line of Each hinge portion 30 provided along the center is opened to the front and rear and to the left and right. Here, the door panel 22 opened to the passenger seat side and the door panel 24 opened to the front window side have a substantially trapezoidal shape, and the door panels 26 and 28 opened to the left side and the right side have a substantially triangular shape. A rectangular cylindrical body 38 surrounding each door panel 22, 24, 26, 28 is integrally formed on the back side of the door molding member 20, and the door molding member 20 includes the cylindrical body 38. It is connected and supported by the inflator case 62 of the airbag apparatus 60 via the via.

  And in the airbag door AD of 1st Example, compared with the conventional airbag door AD1 illustrated in FIG. 10 etc., the form of the door panels 22 and 24 mentioned above is changed. That is, each door panel 22, 24 is characterized in that a plurality of concave grooves 50 extending in parallel with the hinge portion 30 are provided on the back surfaces 22 A, 24 A of the door panels 22, 24 at a required interval. As a result, the door panels 22 and 24 have a structure in which flexural deformation in the short direction of the door panels 22 and 24, that is, in the panel opening direction of the door panels 22 and 24 is likely to occur. Here, “parallel” as defined in the present application includes not only completely parallel to the hinge part 30 but also includes a case of being substantially parallel (not completely parallel).

  The door panel 22 has a total of five recessed grooves 50 extending, and each recessed groove 50 extends in parallel to the panel opening direction (short direction) of the door panel 22 at equal intervals. The door panel 24 also has a total of five recessed grooves 50 extending, and each recessed groove 50 extends in parallel to the panel opening direction (short direction) of the door panel 24 at equal intervals. Each concave groove 50 has a round groove shape with a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape, a width of about 1 to 2 mm, and a depth of about 1/2 of the thickness of the door panels 22 and 24. . As a result, each door panel 22 and 24 is weakened at the extended portion of each concave groove 50, so that appropriate bending deformation at the portion of each concave groove 50 is allowed. A bending deformation in the panel opening direction (short direction) can be expressed.

  In addition, the back surfaces 22A and 24A of the door panels 22 and 24 described above are provided only on portions where the door panels 22 and 24 are adjacent to each other (portions adjacent to the central breakage planned portion 34 of the door breakage planned portion 32). A thick portion 40 protruding from 22A and 24A is extended. That is, a thick portion is not extended at a portion adjacent to the door panels 22, 24 opened to the left and right (portions adjacent to the side rupture scheduled portions 36, 36 of the door rupture scheduled portion 32). , 24 are configured so that the above-described flexural deformation is hardly obstructed. The thick portion 40 described above has a protruding width of about 10 to 15 mm and a protruding height that is the same as the thickness of the door panels 22 and 24. Therefore, the thickness of the thick portion 40 is equal to that of other portions. It is about twice the thickness.

  The door panels 26 and 28 opened to the left and right are not changed from the door panels 26 and 28 of the conventional airbag door AD1 illustrated in FIG. 12 and the like, except for the portion adjacent to the hinge portion 30 described above. The thickness is set to be approximately the same as the thick portions 40 of 22 and 24. Thereby, it is easy to receive the pressing force on the entire back surface 26A, 28A from the initial stage of inflation of the airbag 64.

  In the airbag door AD of the first embodiment configured as described above, when the airbag 64 starts to be inflated by the operation of the airbag device 60, first, as illustrated in FIG. Since this portion is pressed against the meat portions 40, 40, the central breakage planned portion 34 of the door breakage planned portion 32 is broken, and the door breakage planned portion 32 breaks from the central breakage planned portion 34. Begins, and the rupture progresses to each side rupture scheduled portion 36,36. Then, as the door break scheduled portion 32 breaks, each door panel 22, 24, 26, 28 opens to the outside of the instrument panel 10 with the hinge portion 30 as the center.

  As a result, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the door panel 26 and the door panel 28 are opened to the left side and the right side of the instrument panel 10 while being in a substantially flat state, respectively, while the door panel 22 and the door panel 24 are subjected to an inertial force acting at the time of opening. As a result, the door panels 22 and 24 are warped in the panel opening direction. Accordingly, for example, when the airbag device 60 of the two-stage output type operates at a low output and the inflation force of the airbag 64 is weak, the door panels 22 and 24 are opened at the hinge end side as illustrated in FIG. Even if the angle is about 45 °, since the opening angle is 90 ° or more on the open end side, the deployment region S through which the airbag 64 passes seems to be expanded to a form that is greatly expanded upward. Thus, the inflation and deployment of the airbag 64 proceeds appropriately.

  The door panels 22 and 24 have thick portions 40 and 40 formed so as to protrude from the rear surfaces 22A and 24A along the respective open end sides, so that the inertial force acting at the time of opening increases. Warping in the panel opening direction is more likely to occur. Therefore, even when the inflation force of the airbag 64 is weak, the deployment region S can be suitably and reliably expanded, and the airbag 64 can be appropriately inflated and deployed.

  As described above, in the airbag door AD of the first embodiment, the door panels 22 and 24 that are opened by receiving the pressing force of the airbag 64 are flexibly deformed by the inertia force at the time of opening and warp in the panel opening direction. Thus, since the deployment region S through which the airbag 64 passes is preferably enlarged, the airbag 64 can be appropriately inflated and deployed even when the inflation force of the airbag 64 is weak.

  The concave groove 50 described above is not limited to a round groove having a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape, and may be, for example, a V groove or a square groove. Good.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the airbag door according to the second embodiment. In the airbag door AD of the second embodiment, as in the conventional airbag door AD1 illustrated in FIG. 10 and the like, the thick wall portions 40, 40 formed on the rear surfaces 22A, 24A of the door panels 22, 24 are formed. A plurality of concave grooves 50 extending to the rear surfaces 22A and 24A so as to extend in parallel with the hinge portion 30 and extending to a portion along the side rupture scheduled portion 36 of the door rupture scheduled portion 32 are formed with this thick wall. It has the form extended to the formation part of the part 40. FIG. In the case of such an airbag door AD, when the airbag 64 starts to be inflated, the pressing force of the airbag 64 is applied to the entire door fracture scheduled portion 32 (the central fracture planned portion 34 and the side fracture planned portions 36, 36). While the door panels 22 and 24 are opened, the door panels 22 and 24 are flexibly deformed at the portions of the plurality of grooves 50 by the inertia force acting at this time, and warp in the panel opening direction.

  That is, since each concave groove 50 extends to the thick portion 40, the thick portion 40 does not adversely affect the flexural deformation of the door panels 22 and 24. Accordingly, the same effect as that of the airbag door AD of the first embodiment described above can be obtained, and the door panels 22 and 24 that are opened by the pressing force of the airbag 64 are flexibly deformed by the inertia force at the time of opening. Accordingly, the deployment area S through which the airbag 64 passes is suitably enlarged, so that the airbag 64 can be appropriately inflated and deployed even when the inflation force of the airbag 64 is weak. obtain.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating an airbag door according to the third embodiment with each door panel open. The airbag door AD according to the third embodiment has the same thickness of the door panels 22 and 24 without projecting the thick portion 40 described above, and the rear surfaces 22A of the door panels 22 and 24 are the same. 24A, a plurality of concave grooves 50 extending in parallel with the hinge portion 30 are provided over substantially the entire surface. Even in the case of such an airbag door AD, the door panels 22 and 24 at the time of opening are flexibly deformed at the portions of the plurality of concave grooves 50 by the inertial force acting at this time, and warp in the panel opening direction. become. Therefore, the same effects as those of the airbag doors AD, AD of the first and second embodiments described above can be obtained.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the number of the recessed grooves 50 extending to the back surfaces 22A and 24A of the door panels 22 and 24 is set to five is illustrated. It is not limited to this, It is good also as 4 or less or 6 or more. In addition, since the formation space | interval of each recessed groove 50 will become narrow (small) if the extension number is set large, the flexural deformation | transformation to the panel open | release direction of each door panel 22 and 24 will become easier to express, and the amount of curvature will return. Can be increased.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the concave grooves 50 extending on the back surfaces 22 and 24 of the door panels 22 and 24 are arranged in parallel with the hinge portions 30 of the door panels 22 and 24 at equal intervals. Although the case has been illustrated, the concave grooves 50 may be arranged at unequal intervals in the panel opening direction (short direction) of the door panels 22 and 24. That is, each door panel 22, 24 has a portion where the interval between the concave grooves 50 is narrowed (small), so that flexural deformation in the panel opening direction is likely to occur, and the interval between the concave grooves 50 is widened (large). Since the bent part is less likely to be flexibly deformed in the panel opening direction of the door panels 22 and 24, it is possible to change and adjust the warping mode (shape) at the time of opening. Therefore, for example, if each groove 50 is extended in the panel opening direction of the door panels 22 and 24 (from the hinge end side to the opening end side) so that the distance gradually decreases, the hinge end side warps. It is possible to set the amount of warping on the open end side larger than the amount.

  Further, in each of the embodiments described above, a plurality of concave grooves 50 extending in parallel with the hinge portion 30 are provided at a required interval on the back surface 22A of the door panel 22 that opens to the passenger seat side and the back surface 24A of the door panel 24 that opens to the front window side. The case where the door panels 22 and 24 are extended to be warped when opened is illustrated, but as illustrated in FIG. 8, to the back surface 26 </ b> A of the door panel 26 that opens to the left side of the instrument panel 10 and to the right side. A plurality of concave grooves 50 extending in parallel with the hinge portion 30 may be formed on the back surface 28A of the door panel 28 to be opened at a required interval, and the door panels 26 and 28 may be warped when opened. In this way, if all the door panels 22, 24, 26, 28 are warped in the respective panel opening directions when they are opened, the deployment area S through which the airbag 64 passes can be further expanded. it can.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the plurality of concave grooves 50 are formed on the back surfaces 22A and 24A of the door panels 22 and 24 is illustrated, but the two or three-layered instrument panel 10 is provided. In the case of the invisible type airbag door AD, the illustrated illustration is omitted, but the concave grooves 50 extending in parallel with the hinge portion 30 are formed on the surfaces 22B and 24B (including the door panels 26 and 28) of the door panels 22 and 24. A plurality may be extended at a required interval. Thus, even if each concave groove 50 is extended to the surfaces 22B and 24B of the door panels 22 and 24, the same operational effects as those of the first to third embodiments can be obtained. It is possible to enlarge the deployment region S through which the airbag 64 passes by causing the door panels 22 and 24 to warp in the panel opening direction by the acting inertia force.

  On the other hand, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the airbag door AD is provided on the instrument panel 10 having the three-layer structure including the base material 12, the foam 14 and the skin material 16 is illustrated. Can be applied to an instrument panel having a single-layer structure made of the base material 12, or an instrument panel having a two-layer structure made of the base material 12 and the skin material 16.

  In addition, the airbag door according to the present invention is not limited to the four-way opening type constituted by the four door panels 22, 24, 26, and 28 described above, but also the double opening type consisting of two door panels, The present invention can also be suitably applied to a single-open type composed of a door panel.

  Furthermore, the airbag door according to the present invention is not limited to the one provided in the instrument panel 10, but in addition to this, an airbag door or pillar attached to a side airbag device provided in the door panel or the like. Airbag doors attached to curtain airbag devices provided on garnishes and roof side panels (roof panels) are also targeted.

  An airbag door according to the present invention is an airbag door that presses a door panel provided at a required position of a vehicle interior member with an inflating airbag to open outward, and is applied to various automobiles equipped with an airbag device. It can be suitably implemented.

It is the fragmentary top view which showed the instrument panel which arrange | positioned the airbag door which concerns on 1st Example of this invention partially fractured | ruptured and shown by the installation site | part of this airbag door. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a partially broken rear side of an airbag door, and a plurality of concave grooves are provided on the back surface of the door panel that opens in the front-rear direction of the instrument panel so as to extend in parallel with the hinge portion. It shows that. FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing the state in which each door panel pressed by the airbag is opened outward, with the instrument panel omitted, and the door panel opened in the front-rear direction of the instrument panel warps in the panel opening direction. Shows the state. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4, showing that the deployment region through which the airbag passes is expanded when the door panel warps in the panel opening direction. It is the schematic perspective view which partially fractured and showed the back side of the airbag door which concerns on 2nd Example of this invention, Comprising: On the back surface of the door panel opened to the front-back direction of an instrument panel, along a side fracture plan part It is shown that the groove is extended to the thick part protruding and formed. It is explanatory sectional drawing which showed the airbag door which concerns on 3rd Example of this invention in the state which each door panel opened, Comprising: The expansion | deployment area | region which an airbag passes is expanded when a door panel curves in the panel opening direction. Is shown. It is the schematic perspective view which showed the back side of the airbag door which concerns on the example of a change partially, and was extended in parallel with the hinge part on the back surface of all the door panels opened to the front-back direction and the left-right direction of an instrument panel This shows that a plurality of concave grooves are extended. It is the fragmentary perspective view of the instrument panel which showed the site | part which provided the airbag door partly fractured | ruptured. It is the fragmentary top view which showed the instrument panel which arrange | positioned the conventional airbag door partly fractured | ruptured in the arrangement | positioning site | part of this airbag door. It is the XX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is explanatory perspective view which abbreviate | omitted the instrument panel and has shown the state which each door panel pressed by the airbag opened outward, Comprising: It has shown that each door panel opens in a flat plate state. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line YY of FIG. 12, indicating that a deployment area through which an airbag passes is not sufficiently secured because the opening angle of each door panel is small.

Explanation of symbols

22, 24 Door panel 22A, 24A Back 22B, 24B Front 30 Hinge
34 Center fracture planned part 36 Side fracture planned part (of the door fracture planned part 30)
40 thick portion 50 the groove 64 airbags

Claims (4)

A hinge portion (30) extending to a required position of the vehicle interior member, a central fracture planned portion (34) parallel to the hinge portion (30) at an interval, and each end of the hinge portion (30); comprising a door panel (22, 24) which is formed out with lateral breakable portion which are respectively provided continuously (36, 36) between each end of the central breakable portion (34), said door panel (22, 24 ) Of the vehicle interior member centering on the hinge portion (30) by the breakage of the central fracture planned portion (34) and the lateral fracture planned portion (36, 36) due to the pressure of the inflating airbag (64) . in the air bag door open to the outside,
The back surface of the door panel (22, 24) (22A, 24A) Oyo opposing beauty table surface (22B, 24B) in at least one of, parallel to the hinge portion (30) and across said door panel (22, 24) The groove (50) having a semicircular cross-sectional shape extending between the side rupture portions (36, 36) is spaced from the hinge portion (30) to the central rupture portion (34). A plurality of airbag doors extending at a distance.   The airbag door according to claim 1, wherein each of the concave grooves (50) extends at equal intervals in a panel opening direction of the door panel (22, 24).   The airbag door according to claim 1, wherein each of the concave grooves (50) is extended so that the interval gradually decreases in a panel opening direction of the door panel (22, 24). On the back surface (22A, 24A) of the door panel (22, 24), a meat projecting from the back surface (22A, 24A) and extending along the central fracture planned portion (34) and the lateral fracture planned portion (36) Thick part (40) is formed,
The airbag door according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a portion of the thick portion (40) along the planned side rupture portion (36) is divided by the concave grooves (50). .

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