JP5149708B2 - Instrument panel with airbag door - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an instrument panel having an airbag door that is opened by the operation of an airbag device in the event of a vehicle collision.

  As an instrument panel with an airbag door, an airbag chute is welded to the back of the instrument panel main body, and the instrument panel main body is formed with a planned fracture portion corresponding to the shooting port of the airbag chute. The airbag door is defined by the planned breakage portion, and the airbag device housed in the airbag chute is activated when the vehicle collides to break the planned breakage portion so that the airbag door is opened. A configured instrument panel is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In Patent Document 1, a substantially rectangular cylindrical frame having a shooting port, a flap integrally formed via a hinge so as to cover the shooting port at the upper end of the frame, and an outer side at the upper end of the frame. An air bag chute is formed with a flange integrally formed so as to overhang, and the flap is welded to the back surface of the air bag door, and the flange chute is welded to the outer periphery of the air bag door. It is attached to the back of the instrument panel body.
JP 2006-76509 A (paragraph 0046 column, FIG. 6)

  By the way, the instrument panel is configured by arranging three surface panels, a front surface panel, an intermediate surface panel, and a rear surface panel, on the front side of the instrument panel frame that forms the main body, and an airbag door is disposed on the intermediate surface panel. There may be a case in which a section is formed at the planned fracture portion.

  In this case, the intermediate surface panel extends in the vehicle width direction while curving toward the rear of the vehicle, and so on, so that a part of the airbag door is respectively connected to the vehicle rear end of the front surface panel and the vehicle front end of the rear surface panel. When approaching, the flange of the airbag chute is shortened at the approaching location, so that the welding area of the flange to the intermediate surface panel cannot be sufficiently secured, and the mounting strength of the airbag chute is reduced. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the object of the invention is to firmly fix the airbag chute to the intermediate surface panel even when the welding area of the flange of the airbag chute cannot be secured sufficiently. It was to fix.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the lack of welding of the flange of the air bag chute is compensated for by other fixing means, and specifically, the following solving means have been taken.

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is an instrument panel frame that is a main body of an instrument panel, and is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction on the front side of the instrument panel frame. A horizontally long resin intermediate surface panel having attachment terminal portions to the instrument panel frame at both front and rear ends and covering the airbag chute insertion opening, and attachment terminal portions at both front and rear ends of the intermediate surface panel on the front side of the instrument panel frame A front surface panel and a rear surface panel arranged so as to cover the vehicle, and the intermediate surface panel has an airbag door corresponding to the airbag chute insertion opening and the vehicle of the front surface panel. A rectangular section is formed at the planned breaking portion so as to approach each of the vehicle front end of the rear end and the rear surface panel. A frame having a shooting port on the back surface thereof, in which an airbag device is housed, a flap integrally formed via a hinge at the upper end of the frame so as to cover the shooting port, and the frame A resin air bag chute comprising a flange integrally formed so as to project outward on the upper end of the body welds the flap to the back surface of the air bag door and welds the flange to the outer periphery of the air bag door. The attachment terminal portions on the vehicle front and rear sides corresponding to the front surface panel and the rear surface panel of the intermediate surface panel are fastened with the flange of the airbag chute interposed between the instrument panel frame, The front end of the front surface panel and the rear end of the rear surface panel are attached to the instrument panel frame, and the front side Rear and front end of the rear surface panel surface panel, characterized in that it is attached to the intermediate surface panel.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the airbag chute is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material, and corresponds to a location where the intermediate surface panel approaches the front surface panel and the rear surface panel. Through-holes are formed coaxially at the overlapping portions of the mounting terminal portions on the front and rear sides of the vehicle, the flange of the airbag chute, and the instrument panel frame, and these three members are fastened by fasteners inserted through the respective through-holes. The intermediate surface panel or instrument panel frame is overlapped with an annular projection so that an annular projection is continuous with the through-hole, and the annular projection is fitted into the through-hole of the flange, and the tip thereof is the instrument panel frame or It is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole of the intermediate surface panel.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the flange of the airbag chute is short and the welding area of the flange with respect to the intermediate surface panel is sufficiently ensured at the location near the front surface panel and the rear surface panel of the intermediate surface panel. Even if it is not possible, since the attachment terminal portions on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle corresponding to the approaching portion of the intermediate surface panel are fastened to the instrument panel frame with the flange of the airbag chute, the welding of the flange is insufficient. Complemented by the fastening, the airbag chute is firmly fixed to the intermediate surface panel, and the attachment strength is improved. Moreover, since the attachment terminal part of the vehicle front and rear ends of the intermediate surface panel including the fastening portion is covered with the front surface panel and the rear surface panel, it cannot be seen from the outside, and the appearance appearance is not impaired.

  According to the invention of claim 2, when the airbag door is opened, the opening operation is transmitted to the flange of the airbag chute and the flange is pulled, and the tensile force acts on the fastener. Has an annular protrusion, and the tensile force acts on the fastener through the annular protrusion. In other words, since the annular protrusion is inserted in the through hole of the flange, the diameter is larger than that in the case where there is no annular protrusion and the fastener is directly inserted into the through hole of the flange. Is smaller than when the fastener is inserted directly into the through hole of the flange, and damage from the through hole of the flange is prevented. Further, since the tip of the annular protrusion is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole of the instrument panel frame or the intermediate surface panel, the tightening force of the fastener does not act excessively on the flange, and the flange sticking and the fastener over time Is prevented. Furthermore, since the airbag chute is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material, the air bag chute has high toughness due to its characteristics, and the effect of preventing breakage and settling from the through hole of the flange and the effect of preventing loosening of the fastener over time are increased.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
1, 2 and 5 show a left side portion of a vehicle of an instrument panel 1 with an airbag door according to an embodiment of the present invention. The instrument panel 1 includes a resin instrument panel frame 3 that is a main body of the instrument panel 1. The instrument panel frame 3 is supported by a metal instrument panel reinforcement 5 that extends horizontally in the vehicle width direction and is bridged to a side body. An air bag chute insertion opening 7 is formed in the instrument panel frame 3 in a rectangular shape. A horizontally long resin intermediate surface panel 9 is arranged on the front side of the instrument panel frame 3 in the front and rear direction of the vehicle so as to extend in the vehicle width direction while curving toward the rear of the vehicle, and covers the airbag chute insertion opening 7. Yes. Further, the intermediate surface panel 9 has attachment terminal portions 11 to the instrument panel frame 3 at both front and rear ends of the vehicle.

  Further, on the front side of the instrument panel frame 3, a resin front surface panel 13 constituting the exterior surface of the instrument panel 1 is disposed so as to cover the attachment terminal portion 11 at the vehicle front end of the intermediate surface panel 9. Similarly, a resin rear surface panel 15 constituting the exterior surface of the instrument panel 1 is disposed so as to cover the attachment terminal portion 11 at the vehicle rear end of the intermediate surface panel 9, and the rear surface panel 15 at the vehicle left end. The instrument panel frame 3 is exposed around the glove box 17 disposed on the rear side without a surface panel. The instrument panel frame 3, the intermediate surface panel 9, the front surface panel 13, and the rear surface panel 15 are all formed of a general-purpose resin material such as polypropylene (PP).

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 19 denotes meter instruments, and a meter hood 21 constituted by a part of the instrument panel frame 3 and the front surface panel 13 is covered above. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 17a is a housing part of the glove box 17, and 17b is a lid of the glove box 17, and the engaging claw 23 protrudes on the back side of the opening side of the housing part 17a as shown in FIG. The glove box 17 is attached to the instrument panel frame 3 by inserting and locking the locking claws 23 into the locking holes 25 formed in the instrument panel frame 3.

  On the back surface of the intermediate surface panel 9, a V-shaped groove 27 is formed in a substantially letter shape so as to correspond to the airbag chute insertion opening 7, and a panel portion corresponding to the groove 27 is formed thin. Thus, the planned fracture portion 29 is formed in a rectangular shape. The airbag door 31 is partitioned and formed in a rectangular shape by the planned breaking portion 29 so as to correspond to the airbag chute insertion opening 7. The airbag door 31 is a so-called seamless type in which the front door portion 31a and the rear door portion 31b are configured to open in a front-and-back direction in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the expected break portion 29 cannot be identified from the front side of the intermediate surface panel 9. It is configured. A part of the airbag door 31 (near the upper right corner and the lower left corner in FIG. 5) extends in the vehicle width direction while the intermediate surface panel 9 curves toward the rear of the vehicle. Each of the front and rear surface panels 15 is approaching the front end of the vehicle.

  A resin airbag chute 33 made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material represented by a thermoplastic plastic olefin (TPO) having higher toughness than the instrument panel frame 3 or the like is attached to the back surface of the intermediate surface panel 9. Yes. The airbag chute 33 includes a rectangular tubular frame 39 that has a rectangular shooting port 35 and in which an airbag device 37 is accommodated. At the upper end of the frame 39, two backup flaps 41 are integrally formed via a U-shaped hinge 43 at the front and rear of the vehicle body so as to cover the shooting port 35 with an H-shaped gap. In addition, a flange 45 is integrally formed at the upper end of the frame 39 so as to project outward. A plurality of retaining holes 39a are formed on the front wall and the rear wall of the frame body 39 at intervals in the vehicle width direction.

  One end of the first bracket 51 is fixed to the bottom surface of the airbag device 37, while one end of the second bracket 53 is fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 5, and the other end of the first bracket 51 is By fastening the other end of the second bracket 53 with a bolt 55 and a nut 57, the airbag device 37 is supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 5 and stored in the frame 39.

  A plurality of hooks 47 are attached to the front and rear sides of the vehicle body of the airbag device 37, and these hooks 47 are inserted into the respective retaining holes 39 a of the frame body 39. These hooks 47 are hooked to the lower ends of the hooking holes 39a when the air bag device 37 is operated to prevent the air bag chute 33 from jumping out.

  A large number of welding ribs 59 are integrally projected on the surfaces of the flap 41 and the flange 45, and the flap 41 is vibration welded to the back surface of the airbag door 31 through the welding ribs 59, and the flange 45 is connected to the airbag door. The airbag chute 33 is attached to the back side of the intermediate surface panel 9 by vibration welding around the outer periphery of 31.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of locking claws 60 project from the front and rear ends of each of the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15. In FIG. 2, one locking claw 60 appears at each of the rear end of the front surface panel 13 and the front end of the rear surface panel 15. These locking claws 60 are inserted and locked in locking holes 62 formed in the attachment terminal portions 11 on the vehicle front and rear sides of the intermediate surface panel 9, so that the front end and the rear surface panel 15 of the front surface panel 13 are inserted. A rear end is attached to the instrument panel frame 3, and a rear end of the front surface panel 13 and a front end of the rear surface panel 15 are attached to the intermediate surface panel 9.

  The attachment terminal portions 11 on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle corresponding to the approach positions of the intermediate surface panel 9 to the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15 (near the upper right corner and the lower left corner in FIG. 5) are connected to the instrument panel frame 3. The air bag chute 33 is fastened with a flange 45 interposed therebetween.

  Specifically, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 3, a circular through hole 61 is formed at the overlapping portion of the attachment terminal portion 11, and the circular annular protrusion 63 is formed on the back surface of the overlapping portion of the attachment terminal portion 11. It is integrally provided so as to be continuous with the through hole 61. In addition, a circular through hole 65 is formed in the overlapping portion of the flange 45 of the airbag chute 33 with a larger diameter than the through hole 61 of the attachment terminal portion 11. Further, a rectangular mounting hole 67 is formed at the overlapping position of the instrument panel frame 3, and a spring nut 69 is mounted in the mounting hole 67.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, the spring nut 69 includes a rectangular flat portion 73 having a circular through hole 71 formed in the center, and a pair of engagements are provided at both ends of the long side of the flat portion 73. The pieces 75 are integrally protruded inward so as to approach each other on the back side of the flat portion 73, and the front end edges of the respective engagement pieces 75 are folded back to be thick, and the respective engagement pieces In the middle of the portion 75, two locking claws 77 are integrally projected outwardly. Further, on both short sides of the flat surface portion 73, protruding pieces 79 are integrally projected outward.

  The spring nut 69 is inserted into the mounting hole 67 and the protruding piece 79 is placed on a receiving shelf (not shown) around the mounting hole 67 so that the spring nut 69 is mounted in the mounting hole 67. ing. Thus, the through hole 71 of the spring nut 69 is used as the through hole of the instrument panel frame 3. These through holes 61, 65, 71 are formed coaxially in a state in which the mounting terminal portion 11, the flange 45 of the airbag chute 33 and the instrument panel frame 3 are overlapped. It is fastened by a tapping screw 81 as a fastener inserted through 71. In this fastened state, the annular protrusion 63 is fitted into the through hole 65 of the flange 45 and the tip is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole 71 of the instrument panel frame 3 (spring nut 69). Here, the tightening force of the tapping screw 81 is obtained by screwing the threaded portion 81 a of the tapping screw 81 into the periphery of the through hole 71 of the spring nut 69. Further, the engaging claw 77 is attached to the back surface of the instrument frame 3 by the screw portions 81a of the tapping screw 81 engaging with the pair of engaging piece portions 75 and pushing the engaging piece portions 75 away from each other. The spring nut 69 is fixed in pressure contact with the 67 periphery.

  In the instrument panel 1 configured as described above, when the vehicle collides, the airbag of the airbag device 37 is inflated by the operation of the inflator, and the airbag door 31 and the flap 41 are pressed upward by the inflation pressure. Thus, the planned breakage portion 29 is broken, and the front door portion 31a and the rear door portion 31b are rotated with the hinge 43 as an opening operation fulcrum, and are opened to the front and rear of the vehicle body in an open direction.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the attachment terminal portions on both the front and rear sides of the vehicle corresponding to the locations of the intermediate surface panel 9 approaching the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15 (upper right corner and lower left corner in FIG. 5). 11 is superposed on the instrument panel frame 3 with the flange 45 of the airbag chute 33 interposed therebetween, and the tapping screw 81 is inserted into the through holes 61, 65, 71 formed coaxially at the respective superposition positions. I tried to conclude.

  Accordingly, the flange 45 of the air bag chute 33 is short at the proximity of the intermediate surface panel 9 to the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15 (near the upper right corner and the lower left corner in FIG. 4). Although the welding area of the flange 45 cannot be secured sufficiently, the lack of welding of the flange 45 is supplemented by fastening with the tapping screw 81, so that the airbag chute 33 is firmly fixed to the intermediate surface panel 9. The mounting strength can be improved.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the annular projection 63 is integrally projected at the overlapping position of the intermediate surface panel 9 so as to be continuous with the through holes 61, 65, 71, and the annular projection 63 is further provided on the flange 45. The front end of the instrument panel frame 3 (spring nut 69) is brought into contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole 71 by being fitted into the through hole 65.

  Therefore, when the airbag door 31 is opened and the opening operation is transmitted to the flange 45 of the airbag chute 33, the flange 45 is pulled and a tensile force acts on the tapping screw 81. The through hole 65 of the flange 45 has a larger diameter than the case where the tapping screw 81 is directly inserted into the through hole 65 without the annular protrusion 63, and thus the through hole 65. The shearing force acting on the periphery of the 65 is small, and breakage of the flange 45 from the through hole 65 can be prevented.

  In the first embodiment, the tip of the annular protrusion 63 is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole 71 of the instrument panel frame 3 (spring nut 69), so that the tightening force of the tapping screw 81 acts excessively on the flange 45. Can be prevented, and the looseness of the flange 45 and the tapping screw 81 over time can be eliminated.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, since the airbag chute 33 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material having high toughness, it is possible to prevent damage from the through hole 65 of the flange 45 and settling, and to prevent the tapping screw 81 from loosening with time. Can be increased.

  In addition, in the first embodiment, the attachment terminal portions 11 at the vehicle front and rear ends of the intermediate surface panel 9 including the fastening part are covered with the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15 so as not to be visible from the outside. Deterioration of appearance can be prevented.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of the instrument panel 1 with an airbag door according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the fastening structure of the attachment terminal portions 11 on the vehicle front and rear sides of the intermediate surface panel 9 is different from that of the first embodiment, but the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. The detailed description will be omitted by substituting FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, and only different points will be described below.

  That is, in the overlapping positions of the attachment terminal portions 11 on both sides of the vehicle front and rear corresponding to the approaching positions (near the upper right corner and the lower left corner in FIG. 5) of the intermediate surface panel 9 to the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15, Although a circular through hole 61 is formed, unlike the first embodiment, there is no circular annular protrusion 63. In addition, a circular through hole 65 is formed in the overlapping portion of the flange 45 of the airbag chute 33 with a larger diameter than the through hole 61 of the attachment terminal portion 11. This is the same as in the first embodiment. Further, a circular boss portion 85 having a through hole 83 is integrally projected on the back surface of the overlapping position of the instrument panel frame 3, and a circular annular protrusion 87 is continuous with the through hole 83 on the surface of the overlapping position of the instrument panel frame 3. It is projected so as to be integrated.

  And the attachment terminal part 11 of the vehicle front and back both sides corresponding to the front surface panel 13 and the rear surface panel 15 approaching the intermediate surface panel 9 and the rear surface panel 15 (near the upper right corner and the lower left corner in FIG. 5) of the airbag chute 33 In a state where the flange 45 and the instrument panel frame 3 are superposed, the through holes 61, 65, 83 are coaxially communicated with the superposed position, and the annular protrusion 87 is fitted into the through hole 65 of the upper flange 45 to Is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole 61 on the back surface of the intermediate surface panel 9 and the above three members are fastened by a tapping screw 81 inserted through the respective through holes 61, 65, 83.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be achieved.

  The present invention is useful for an instrument panel having an airbag door that is opened by the operation of an airbag device in the event of a vehicle collision.

It is sectional drawing in the II line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing in the II-II line of FIG. It is the A section enlarged view of FIG. It is a top view of a spring nut. It is a top view which shows the airbag door formation location of the instrument panel which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 3 Instrument panel frame 7 Airbag chute insertion opening part 9 Middle surface panel 11 Attachment terminal part 13 Front surface panel 15 Rear surface panel 29 Planned fracture part 31 Airbag door 33 Airbag chute 35 Shooting port 37 Airbag apparatus 39 Frame 43 Hinge 41 Flap 45 Flange 61, 65, 71, 83 Through-hole 63, 87 Annular projection 81 Tapping screw (fastener)

Claims (2)

An instrument panel frame that is the main body of the instrument panel and in which an airbag chute insertion opening is formed,
A horizontally long resin intermediate surface panel that is disposed on the front side of the instrument panel frame so as to extend in the vehicle width direction and has terminal portions for attachment to the instrument panel frame at both front and rear ends of the vehicle and covers the airbag chute insertion opening,
A front surface panel and a rear surface panel arranged on the front side of the instrument panel frame so as to cover attachment terminal portions at both front and rear ends of the intermediate surface panel;
The intermediate surface panel is scheduled to break so that the airbag door corresponds to the airbag chute insertion opening and approaches the vehicle rear end of the front surface panel and the vehicle front end of the rear surface panel. The section is formed in a rectangular shape,
On the back surface of the intermediate surface panel, there is a frame body that has a shooting port and an airbag device is housed therein, and a flap that is integrally formed on the upper end of the frame body via a hinge so as to cover the shooting port. A resin air bag chute comprising a flange integrally formed so as to project outward from the upper end of the frame body welds the flap to the back surface of the air bag door and the flange around the outer periphery of the air bag door. It is attached by welding,
The attachment terminal portions on the vehicle front and rear sides corresponding to the front surface panel and the rear surface panel of the intermediate surface panel are fastened with the flange of the airbag chute interposed between the instrument panel frames,
The front end of the front surface panel and the rear end of the rear surface panel are attached to the instrument panel frame, and the rear end of the front surface panel and the front end of the rear surface panel are attached to the intermediate surface panel. An instrument panel with an air bag door. In the instrument panel with an airbag door according to claim 1,
The airbag chute is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material,
A through hole is coaxially formed at each of the overlapping positions of the attachment terminal portions on the front and rear sides of the vehicle, the flange of the airbag chute, and the instrument panel frame corresponding to the front surface panel and the rear surface panel of the intermediate surface panel. Formed, these three parties are fastened by fasteners inserted through the respective through holes,
At the overlapping position of the intermediate surface panel or instrument panel frame, an annular protrusion is integrally projected so as to be continuous with the through hole,
The instrument panel with an airbag door, wherein the annular protrusion is fitted into the through hole of the flange, and the tip is in contact with the outer peripheral edge of the through hole of the instrument panel frame or the intermediate surface panel.

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