JP5218322B2 - Airbag device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device provided inside an instrument panel.

  There is known an airbag grid structure in which a support frame that covers a hinge portion of a hinge member provided on the inner surface side of an instrument panel is welded to the inner surface of the instrument panel, and an airbag module is fastened and fixed to the support frame (for example, Patent Document 1). Various ideas have been considered for airbag doors or airbag grids (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

JP 2005-145209 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-42998 JP 2004-322773 A

  By the way, in the configuration using the airbag door member in which the curved hinge portion is formed between the flange portion fixed to the inner surface side of the instrument panel and the door portion, the airbag in the deployment process becomes the hinge portion. There is concern about interference.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device that can suppress interference between an airbag in a deployment process and a hinge portion of an airbag door member with a simple structure.

  The airbag apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an airbag that is inflated and deployed from a folded state by receiving a gas supply, a flange portion fixed to an inner surface of the instrument panel, and an inner surface of the instrument panel. A door portion adjacent to the flange portion, and a hinge portion that is curved so as to be convex inward of the instrument panel and connects the flange portion and the door portion. An airbag door member that is rotated about the hinge portion while the door portion is cleaved by the deployment pressure, and is supported by the instrument panel via the airbag door member, and the instrument panel An airbag case containing the airbag in a folded state in a posture opened to the side, and the door portion and Hinge protection provided on at least one of the airbag cases and covering the hinge portion disposed on the outer side of the folded airbag as viewed from the opening end side of the airbag case from the folded airbag side And a member.

  In the airbag device according to claim 1, when the airbag is deployed, the door of the airbag door member fixed to the instrument panel at the flange portion receives the deployment pressure of the airbag, It turns around the hinge while cleaving. Thus, the airbag is deployed on the vehicle compartment side through the opening formed in the instrument panel. Here, the airbag device includes a hinge protection member that covers the hinge portion from the folded airbag side (hereinafter referred to as the airbag deployment region side in the airbag door member), so the airbag in the deployment process Is prevented from interfering with the hinge portion.

  Thus, in the airbag device according to the first aspect, interference between the airbag in the deployment process and the hinge portion of the airbag door member can be suppressed with a simple structure.

  An airbag apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is the airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the hinge protection member protrudes from the door portion toward the bottom side of the airbag case, and It is a hinge protection rib provided so that it may overlap with the side wall surrounding the said airbag in a bag case.

  In the airbag device according to the second aspect, the other end of the hinge protection rib whose one end is provided integrally with the door portion overlaps the side wall of the airbag case. For this reason, even if a large deployment pressure of the airbag in the deployment process acts on the hinge protection rib, this load can be received by two-point support (both ends supported) by the door portion and the side wall. Thereby, for example, the thickness of the hinge protection rib can be reduced.

  The airbag apparatus according to claim 3 is the airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge protection member is fixed to a side wall of the airbag case surrounding the airbag, and the airbag case It is the hinge protection panel protruded toward the opening end side.

  In the airbag device according to claim 3, since one end of the hinge protection panel is fixed to the side wall of the airbag case, there is no gap between the side wall of the airbag case and the hinge protection panel, and the airbag in the deployment process And the hinge portion of the airbag door member can be more effectively suppressed with a simple structure.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the airbag apparatus according to the second or third aspect, wherein the airbag case is provided on the opening end side of the airbag case from the side wall to the outside of the airbag case. A step portion is formed to cover the hinge portion from the protruding end side inward of the instrument panel.

  In the airbag device according to the fourth aspect, the hinge portion is located on the opening side (instrument panel side) with respect to the step portion projecting outside the sidewall of the airbag case. For this reason, the hinge portion is arranged outside the deployment region of the airbag, and is covered with a hinge protection member from the deployment region side. Thereby, in this airbag apparatus, interference with the hinge part of the airbag and airbag door member of an expansion | deployment process can be more effectively suppressed with a simple structure.

  As described above, the airbag device according to the present invention has an excellent effect that interference between the airbag in the deployment process and the hinge portion of the airbag door member can be suppressed with a simple structure.

It is a sectional side view of the airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the airbag apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which expands and shows the principal part of the airbag apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the modification of the airbag apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the airbag apparatus which concerns on the comparative example with embodiment of this invention.

  The airbag apparatus 10 which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. 1-2. It should be noted that an arrow FR and an arrow UP that are appropriately described in each figure indicate the forward direction (traveling direction) and the upward direction of the automobile to which the airbag device 10 is applied.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a schematic overall configuration of the airbag apparatus 10. As shown in this figure, the airbag apparatus 10 has a main portion provided in an instrument panel 12. Specifically, the airbag device 10 includes an airbag door member 14 and an airbag module 18 having an airbag 16 as main parts. The airbag apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is an airbag apparatus for a passenger seat, and inflates and deploys the airbag 16 on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the passenger on the passenger seat in the event of a frontal collision of the applied automobile. It is like that.

  If it supplements about the instrument panel 12, this instrument panel 12 is provided in the front part of the compartment of the motor vehicle by which the airbag apparatus 10 was applied, and includes the dash panel which is not shown in figure and the vehicle air conditioner (a part). Various devices and parts are covered from the passenger compartment side. The front upper end of the instrument panel 12 is substantially coincident with the lower end of a windshield glass (not shown) so as to form an instrument panel upper panel 20 protruding rearward from the portion, and a passenger's foot space below the instrument panel upper panel. And an instrument panel lower panel (not shown).

  The airbag device 10 is provided on the lower side in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 that constitutes the instrument panel 12. The airbag device 10 is provided from the inside of the instrument panel 12 during the frontal collision described above. The airbag 16 is configured to be deployed indoors.

  The airbag door member 14 is joined to the inner surface (lower surface) of the upper wall 20 </ b> A constituting the instrument panel upper panel 20. Specifically, the airbag door member 14 includes a rectangular frame-shaped flange portion 24 joined to the upper wall 20A by vibration welding or the like, and an airbag door as a door portion provided inside the flange portion 24. 26. The airbag door member 14 is fixed to the instrument panel 12 by hooking a claw portion or the like, instead of welding, for the instrument panel 12 configured to include, for example, urethane foam. Also good.

  A pair of front and rear airbag doors 26 are provided, and are respectively connected to the flange portion 24 via hinges 28 as hinge portions. That is, the front airbag door 26 has a front end in the vehicle front-rear direction connected to a front portion 24A in the vehicle front-rear direction of the flange portion 24 via a hinge 28, and the rear airbag door 26 is An end portion on the rear side in the front-rear direction is connected to a rear portion 24 </ b> B in the vehicle front-rear direction in the flange portion 24 via a hinge 28.

  As a result, when the front and rear airbag doors 26 are pressed upward from below the vehicle with a load of a predetermined value or more, the hinges 28 are deformed and rotated around the hinges (axes along the vehicle width direction). It has come to expand. Each hinge 28 is elongated in the vehicle width direction and is curved so as to protrude downward in the vehicle (inward of the instrument panel) in a cross-sectional view orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. It is formed as an easily deformable portion in the door member 14.

  A groove-like tear line 30 is formed on the inner surface side of the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel constituting the instrument panel 12 so that a part of the upper wall 20A is cleaved and deployed together with the airbag door 26. The tear line 30 is substantially H-shaped in a bottom view so as to connect between the front and rear airbag doors and between the left and right side edges of the front and rear airbag doors and the flange portion 24 (not shown). As described above, the upper wall 20A is cleaved along the tear line 30 when the airbag door 26 is pressed upward from the lower side of the vehicle with a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value. (Outside of the instrument panel 12) It is the structure developed. As described above, the front and rear airbag doors 26 are deployed together with a part of the upper wall 20A, so that the airbag 16 is allowed to expand and deploy in the vehicle interior.

  In the airbag door member 14 described above, the flange portion 24, the airbag door 26, and the hinge 28 are integrally formed by resin injection molding. In addition, a plurality of bolts 22 that are fastening parts are embedded in the flange portion 24 of the airbag door member 14 according to this embodiment. Each bolt 22 protrudes toward the vehicle downward (inward of the instrument panel 12).

  The airbag module 18 holds (accommodates) the airbag 16 described above for restraining the upper body of the passenger in the passenger seat, the inflator 36 for supplying gas to the airbag 16, and the airbag 16 and the inflator 36. The airbag case 38 is configured as a main part. A flange 38A projects outward from the opening end of the airbag case 38 that opens toward the vehicle upper side (instrument panel 12 side). The flange 38A is tightened between the flange portion 24 of the airbag door member and the nut 34 screwed to the bolt 22, so that the airbag module 18 is attached to the instrument panel 12 via the airbag door member 14. It is supported. In this embodiment, the airbag case 38 is comprised, for example with metal materials, such as a steel plate. In this embodiment, the airbag module 18 is not coupled (unsupported) to the instrument panel reinforcement 44 that forms the skeleton in the instrument panel 12.

  The inflator 36 is fixedly held by the airbag case 38 in a state where a part including the gas ejection port 36 </ b> A is inserted into the airbag 16. In this embodiment, the inflator 36 is a so-called disk type inflator, and is fixed to the bottom wall 38B of the airbag case. As the inflator, an inflator having a cylindrical shape that is long in a predetermined direction may be used. The inflator 36 is operated by an airbag ECU, which is a control device (not shown), and generates a large amount of gas when a frontal collision (unavoidable) of an automobile to which the airbag device 10 is applied is detected or predicted. It has become.

  In the side wall (peripheral wall) 38C of the airbag case 38, the airbag 16 is accommodated in a folded state. Although illustration is omitted, the side wall 38C is formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape that is rectangular in plan view. The airbag 16 is inflated and deployed in response to the gas supply from the inflator 36, and is configured to press the airbag door 26 (the instrument panel 12 through the airbag panel 26) upward with the deployment pressure. Therefore, the airbag door 26 is configured to cleave the upper wall 20 </ b> A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 along the tear line 30 by the deployment pressure of the airbag 16.

  In the airbag device 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the hinge 28 of the airbag door member 14 in the airbag case 38 is outside the deployment region A of the airbag 16 defined by the side wall 38 </ b> C (that is, The air bag case 38 is disposed on the outer side of the airbag 16 in a folded state when viewed from the opening end of the air bag case 38. Specifically, a hinge accommodating portion 40 for accommodating the hinge 28 is formed between the flange 38A in the airbag case 38 and the upper end 38D of the side wall 38C. The hinge accommodating portion 40 has a stepped bottom wall 40A as a stepped portion projecting outward from the development region A from the upper end 38D of the side wall 38C, and a peripheral wall 40B standing from the periphery of the bottom wall 40A. .

  The hinge accommodating portion 40 is formed in a pair of front and rear so as to accommodate a hinge 28 formed between the front and rear airbag doors 26 and a portion of the flange portion 24 positioned in front of and behind the airbag door 26. In this embodiment, the portion of the flange 38A of the airbag case 38 that projects to both sides in the vehicle front-rear direction projects from the opening edge (the vehicle upper end) of the peripheral wall 40B to the front and rear. The hinge 28 accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 40 is disposed (without contact) such that the lower end 28A, which is a folded end, faces the bottom wall 40A. In this embodiment, the lower end 28A of the hinge 28 on the vehicle rear side (occupant side) is closer to the bottom wall 40A than the lower end 28A of the hinge 28 on the vehicle front side.

  Further, the airbag device 10 includes a hinge protection rib 42 as a hinge protection member that covers the hinge 28 in the hinge accommodating portion 40 from the deployment region A side of the airbag 16. The hinge protection rib 42 protrudes downward from the end of the airbag door 26 on the hinge 28 side (inward of the instrument panel 12). In this embodiment, the tip 42A of the hinge protection rib 42 is close to the upper end 38D of the side wall 38C constituting the airbag case 38.

  In this embodiment, the hinge protection rib 42 is formed by injection molding of a resin material together with the airbag door member 14, that is, the flange portion 24, the airbag door 26, and the hinge 28, so that the flange portion 24 and the airbag door are formed. 26 and the hinge 28 are formed integrally.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the airbag apparatus 10 having the above-described configuration, the airbag ECU that determines that the applied frontal collision of the vehicle has been detected or predicted based on the signal from the front collision sensor activates the inflator 36. Then, a large amount of gas is generated in the inflator 36, and this gas is supplied into the airbag 16. Thereby, the airbag 16 presses the airbag door 26 upward of the vehicle while inflating and deploying. Then, the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 is cleaved at the tear line 30 by the deployment pressure of the airbag 16, and the airbag door 26 is deployed together with the cleaved portion of the upper wall 20A.

  Thus, the airbag 16 is inflated and deployed to a predetermined deployment shape on the vehicle compartment side through the opening formed in the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20. When the passenger in the passenger seat is moved forward by the inertia of the collision, the passenger comes into contact with the deployed airbag 16, and the airbag 16 is deformed to absorb energy and move forward. Is restrained (suppressed). Thereby, in the vehicle to which the airbag device 10 is applied, the passenger in the passenger seat is protected against the frontal collision.

  Here, in the airbag device 10, since the hinge protection rib 42 that covers the hinge 28 from the deployment region A side of the airbag 16 in the airbag case 38 is provided, the airbag 16 in the deployment process is attached to the hinge 28. It contacts the airbag door 26 without interference and presses it upward. As a result, in the airbag device 10, the airbag door 26 is appropriately deployed together with the upper wall 20 </ b> A that has been cleaved while the upper wall 20 </ b> A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 is cleaved at the tear line 30.

  This point will be supplemented while comparing with the airbag apparatus 200 according to the comparative example shown in FIG. Parts similar to those of the airbag device 10 in the airbag device 200 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the airbag device 10 and description thereof is omitted. In the airbag device 200 according to the comparative example, an airbag case 208 of an airbag module 206 is supported on a peripheral wall 204 provided on an airbag door member 202 via a hook 210 inserted into a hook hole 204A of the peripheral wall 204. Has been. The folded airbag 212 protrudes from the airbag case 208 and is accommodated in the peripheral wall 204. In the airbag device 200, when the airbag 212 in the deployment process enters between the hinge 28 and the peripheral wall 204 as shown by an imaginary line, this portion is broken and the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 is teared. There is a concern that it will be cleaved from a portion (hinge portion) that is not the line 30. As a countermeasure against this, in the airbag device 200, the airbag 212 in the deployment process has a gap between the hinge 28 and the peripheral wall 204 by setting the folding shape of the airbag 212 and the distance between the airbag 212 and the hinge 28 and the airbag door 26. Intrusion is prevented. That is, there are restrictions on the airbag 212 and the manner in which the airbag 212 is accommodated.

  On the other hand, since the airbag device 10 is provided with the hinge protection rib 42 as described above, the airbag 16 in the deployment process interferes with the hinge 28 with a simple structure (between the hinge 28 and the flange portion 24). Is effectively suppressed. In particular, in the airbag device 10, the hinge 28 is covered from below by the bottom wall 40 </ b> A projecting outside the deployment region A of the airbag 16, so that the deployment process is performed by the bottom wall 40 </ b> A and the hinge protection rib 42. Interference of the airbag 16 with the hinge 28 is more effectively suppressed or prevented. As a result, in the airbag device 10, the deployment of the airbag door 26 while the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 is cleaved is stabilized, and the inflation and deployment of the airbag 16 are stabilized accordingly.

  Moreover, in the airbag apparatus 10, since the hinge protection rib 42 is integrally formed in the airbag door 26 of the airbag door member 14, the airbag 16 of the expansion | deployment process as above-mentioned without increasing a number of parts. Interference with the hinge 28 is effectively suppressed.

  Further, in the airbag device 10, since the hinge 28 is accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 40, the folded airbag 16 can be disposed close to the airbag door 26. For this reason, while the deployment time of the airbag 16 can be shortened, the installation space of the airbag apparatus 10 (airbag module 18) can be made small.

  Furthermore, in the airbag apparatus 10, since the lower end 28A of the hinge 28 is disposed close to (not in contact with) the bottom wall 40A, the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 receives a load from above the vehicle. The hinge 28 contacts (bottoms) the bottom wall 40A at the lower end 28A. Due to this contact, the upper wall 20A of the instrument panel upper panel 20 is restricted from bending downward in the vehicle, in other words, reinforced (increases rigidity) against bending downward of the vehicle. Therefore, in the vehicle to which the airbag apparatus 10 according to this embodiment is applied, the instrument panel upper panel 20 (instrument panel 12) can be thinned.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that parts and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration, and description thereof is omitted.

(Second Embodiment)
The principal part of the airbag apparatus 50 which concerns on FIG. 3 at the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown with the expanded sectional side view corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the airbag device 50 is provided with a hinge protection rib 52 as a hinge protection member whose tip 52A overlaps the side wall 38C, instead of the hinge protection rib 42. This is different from the airbag device 10 according to the embodiment. This will be specifically described below.

  The airbag device 50 includes a hinge protection rib 52 as a hinge protection member that covers the hinge 28 in the hinge accommodating portion 40 from the deployment region A side of the airbag 16. The hinge protection rib 52 protrudes from the end of the airbag door 26 on the hinge 28 side toward the vehicle downward (inward of the instrument panel 12). In this embodiment, the tip 52A including the tip 52B of the hinge protection rib 52 is located close to or in contact with the inner surface in the vicinity of the upper end 38D of the side wall 38C constituting the airbag case 38.

  That is, the hinge protection rib 52 in this embodiment has a tip 52A that is a part of the hinge protection rib 52 overlapped with the side wall 38C of the airbag case 38 in the vehicle vertical direction. As a result, the hinge protection rib 52 in the present embodiment has a connection portion with the airbag door 26 and an overlap portion (tip portion 52A) with the side wall 38C with respect to the load from the deployment region A side of the airbag 16. It has a two-point support (both-end support) structure. Other configurations of the airbag device 50 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the airbag device 10.

  Therefore, even with the airbag device 50 according to the second embodiment, basically the same effect can be obtained by the same operation as the airbag device 10 according to the first embodiment.

  Further, in the airbag device 50, since the distal end portion 52A of the hinge protection rib 52 overlaps the side wall 38C of the airbag case 38, a large deployment pressure of the airbag during the deployment process acts on the hinge protection rib 52. Also, this load can be received by the two-point support (both-end support) structure described above. Thereby, for example, the plate thickness of the hinge protection rib 52 can be made thinner than the plate thickness of the hinge protection rib 42.

(Third embodiment)
The principal part of the airbag apparatus 60 which concerns on FIG. 4 at the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is shown with the expanded sectional side view corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the airbag device 60 includes a hinge protection panel (plate) 62 as a hinge protection member fixed to the airbag case 38 in place of the hinge protection rib 42 protruding from the airbag door 26. It differs from the airbag apparatus 10 which concerns on 1st Embodiment by the point provided. This will be specifically described below.

  The hinge protection panel 62 is made of, for example, a metal plate such as a steel plate, and the lower end 62A in the vehicle vertical direction is joined to the inner surface of the upper end of the side wall 38C constituting the airbag case 38 by welding or the like. Thereby, the hinge protection panel 62 is configured to cover the hinge 28 accommodated in the hinge accommodating portion 40 from the deployment region A side of the airbag 16. The upper end 62B of the hinge protection panel 62 is located in the vicinity of the end of the airbag door 26 on the hinge 28 side. Other configurations of the airbag device 60 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the airbag device 10.

  Therefore, the airbag apparatus 60 according to the third embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment except for the function and effect of the configuration in which the hinge protection rib 42 is integrally formed with the airbag door member 14. The same effect can be obtained by the same operation as that of the airbag device 10.

  Moreover, in the airbag apparatus 60, since the hinge protection panel 62 is a separate body from the airbag door member 14, the airbag door member 14 can be easily formed. Further, in the airbag device 60, since no gap is formed on the lower end side of the hinge accommodating portion 40 so as to communicate with the deployment area A of the airbag 16, interference between the airbag 16 and the hinge 28 during the deployment process is effectively suppressed. Can do.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the airbag module 18 is supported by the instrument panel 12 via the airbag door member 14 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, FIG. As shown, the airbag module 18 may be supported by the instrument panel reinforcement 44 via the bracket 65. Moreover, although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, for example, the airbag module 18 is a structure which concerns on the modification shown in FIG. 6 in addition to or instead of the support structure (corresponding | compatible structure) to the instrument panel 12 in said each embodiment. A support structure for engaging the hook (210) of the airbag case (208) as described above with the peripheral wall (hook hole 204A of the 204) of the airbag door member (202) (expansion of the airbag door 26 (breaking of the instrument panel upper panel 20) )) May be used in combination.

  Moreover, in each above-mentioned embodiment, although the airbag apparatus which concerns on this invention showed the example applied to the passenger-side airbag apparatus, this invention is not limited to this. Therefore, for example, the airbag device according to the present invention can be applied to a seat in the center in the vehicle width direction among seats in which three passengers can be seated in the vehicle width direction. Further, such a central seat can be regarded as being included in the passenger seat in the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Airbag apparatus 12 Instrument panel 14 Airbag door member 16 Airbag 24 Flange part 26 Airbag door (door part)
28 Hinge (hinge part)
38 Airbag case 38C Side wall 40A Bottom wall (step)
42 Hinge protection rib (hinge protection member)
50/60 Airbag Device 52 Hinge Protection Rib 62 Hinge Protection Panel (Hinge Protection Member)

Claims (4)

An airbag that is inflated and deployed from a folded state by receiving a gas supply;
A flange portion fixed to the inner surface of the instrument panel, a door portion adjacent to the flange portion along the inner surface of the instrument panel, and a curve that protrudes inward of the instrument panel An airbag door member having a hinge portion that connects the flange portion and the door portion, and the door portion is rotated around the hinge portion while the instrument panel is torn by the deployment pressure of the airbag. ,
An airbag case that accommodates the folded airbag in a posture that is supported by the instrument panel via the airbag door member and is open to the instrument panel side;
The hinge portion provided on at least one of the door portion and the airbag case and disposed outside the airbag in a folded shape when viewed from the opening end side of the airbag case is connected to the airbag side in the folded state. A hinge protection member covering from,
An airbag device comprising:   The hinge protection member is a hinge protection rib provided so as to protrude from the door portion toward the bottom side of the airbag case and to overlap with a side wall surrounding the airbag in the airbag case. The airbag device according to claim 1.   2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge protection member is a hinge protection panel that is fixed to a side wall of the airbag case that surrounds the airbag and projects toward an opening end side of the airbag case. .   On the opening end side of the airbag case, there is formed a stepped portion that protrudes outward from the airbag case from the side wall and covers the hinge portion from the protruding end side inward of the instrument panel. The airbag apparatus of Claim 2 or Claim 3.

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