JP5915340B2 - Fitting structure between air bag grid and its adjacent members - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fitting structure between an air bag grid and its adjacent members.

  In automobiles, seat belts are provided to ensure the safety of passengers, and airbags are provided as auxiliary protection devices that assist the role of the seat belts. There are various types of airbags corresponding to various parts of the human body in order to reduce damage to the human body due to impacts such as automobile accidents by restraining the human body as an occupant together with the seat belt. .

  For example, as an airbag for protecting an occupant's knee from an impact such as an accident, there is a knee air unit (hereinafter referred to as a KAB unit). The KAB unit includes an ignition device, a gas generating agent, and a knee airbag (hereinafter referred to as KAB).

  The KAB unit is installed at the lower part of the column cover in the driver's seat and the lower part of the glove box at the passenger's seat. Hereinafter referred to as KAB lid). The KAB lid is assembled by mechanical fastening with adjacent members such as a column cover, console panel and under cover.

The operation of the KAB unit is as follows.
When the impact detection sensor detects a large impact due to a vehicle accident or the like, the igniter is ignited by the ignition device. The gas generating agent is heated by the ignited ignition agent, and a large amount of gas is generated. The generated gas is injected into the bag-shaped KAB, and the KAB rapidly expands. The KAB bulges and pushes and splits the KAB lid that covers the deployment side of the KAB, and deploys to the vehicle rear side (occupant side) so as to restrain the occupant's knee.

JP 2004-98870 A JP-A-9-123863

  Various studies have been made on the peripheral structure of the KAB unit, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  Patent Document 1 relates to a technique that can secure a good appearance and reduce the number of parts by setting a fastening position between a KAB lid and a knee panel that is an adjacent member thereof in an opening area of a column cover.

  Patent Document 2 relates to a technique that can reduce damage to a human body of an occupant by fixing a KAB unit to a frame via a bending member and absorbing an impact received by the accident also on the bending member.

  In the conventional vehicle including the structure according to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 as the structure around the KAB unit, the mechanical fastening between the KAB lid and the adjacent member is not removed when the KAB is deployed to the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the fastening force between the KAB lid and the adjacent member. The details are as follows.

  When the KAB lid breaks due to the expansion of the KAB, the KAB expands from the crack of the KAB lid to the vehicle rear side. Since the KAB further expands on the rear side of the KAB lid, the KAB comes into contact with the surface of the KAB lid (occupant side) and pushes the KAB lid toward the front side of the vehicle. In the case where the KAB lid is positioned and fastened to the vehicle rear side relative to the adjacent member, the KAB lid and the adjacent member are not disengaged even if the KAB lid is pushed to the vehicle front side.

  Conversely, when the KAB lid is positioned and fastened to the front side of the vehicle relative to the adjacent member, if the KAB lid is pushed to the front side of the vehicle, a force is applied in a direction in which the KAB lid and the adjacent member are separated. , KAB lid and the adjacent member may be disengaged. When the mechanical fastening between the KAB lid and the adjacent member is released, a gap is generated between the KAB lid and the adjacent member. There is a possibility that KAB enters a gap generated at the time of deployment and expands to the front side of the vehicle.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the fastening force by increasing the strength of a fastening member such as a clip so that the fastening between the KAB lid and the adjacent member is not released. However, simply increasing the strength of the fastening member makes it difficult to fasten the KAB lid and the adjacent member at the same time, and makes it difficult to fasten the KAB lid and the adjacent member. It will be.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and strengthens the fastening force between the KAB lid and the adjacent member so that the fastening between the airbag grid and the adjacent member is not removed when the airbag is deployed. And it aims at making assembly work easy.

The fitting structure of the airbag grid and its adjacent member according to the first invention for solving the above problems is an airbag member covering the airbag deployment side of the airbag unit and an adjacent member to which the airbag grid is assembled. The air bag grid is formed at the end of the sliding groove, which is a curved portion curved toward the adjacent member, a sliding groove formed in a slit shape, and the curved portion. A fitting portion having an insertion hole larger than a width of the sliding groove, and the adjacent member is formed at a neck portion slidable by engaging with the sliding groove and a tip of the neck portion. A fitting protrusion having a head having a width larger than the width of the sliding groove and smaller than the insertion hole is provided .

  The fitting structure of the air bag grid and the adjacent member thereof according to the second invention for solving the above problem is such that the tip of the fitting portion is adjacent to the adjacent portion in a state where the air bag grid and the adjacent member are combined. It contacts the member.

According to the fitting structure between the airbag grid and the adjacent member according to the first invention, even when a force is applied in a direction away from the fastening of the airbag grid and the adjacent member when the airbag is deployed, the fitting provided on the adjacent member is provided. Since the heads of the mating projections are caught by the fitting portions provided on the airbag grid, the airbag grid and the adjacent member cannot be disconnected. In addition, when the head portion of the fitting protrusion provided on the adjacent member is enlarged in order to strengthen the fitting between the airbag grid and the adjacent member, both insertion portions of the fitting holes in the fitting portion provided on the airbag grid are enlarged. By doing so, it is possible to insert the head of the fitting protrusion provided in the adjacent member into the insertion portion of the fitting hole in the fitting portion provided in the airbag grid without interference, so that the assembly work requires labor Must not. Of course, even when the strength of the fitting projection provided on the adjacent member and the strength of the fitting portion provided on the airbag grid is increased, the head of the fitting projection provided on the adjacent member is fitted in the fitting portion provided on the airbag grid. Since it can be inserted into the insertion portion of the hole without interference, the assembling work does not require labor.
Moreover, a curved part is formed in the fitting part provided in the airbag grid, and the adjacent member is fitted in the airbag grid by forming the insertion hole of the fitting hole in the fitting part provided in the airbag grid in the curved part. At this time, the adjacent member is inclined with respect to the airbag grid and the fitting protrusion is inserted into the insertion hole, so that the assembly space can be reduced. Further, when the neck of the fitting protrusion provided on the adjacent member is slid according to the sliding groove of the fitting hole in the fitting portion provided on the airbag grid, the bending at the bending portion of the fitting portion provided on the airbag grid is caused. As a result, the assembly workability is improved.

  According to the fitting structure between the airbag grid and the adjacent member according to the second invention, the contact point between the airbag grid and the adjacent member is brought into contact with the adjacent member by the tip of the fitting portion provided in the airbag grid. Since it increases, the fitting of an air bag grid and its adjacent member is stabilized. Further, since the steps on the surfaces of the airbag grid and the adjacent member are determined by the plate thickness of the member that is unlikely to cause manufacturing errors, it is easy to set and adjust the steps on the surfaces of the airbag grid and the adjacent member.

It is a perspective view which shows the KAB lid and undercover which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows the structural example ahead of the driver's seat which assembled | attached the KAB lid and under cover which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly | attachment procedure 1 of the KAB lid and undercover which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly | attachment procedure 2 of the KAB lid and undercover which concern on Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the assembly | attachment procedure 3 of the KAB lid and undercover which concern on Example 1 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, the fitting structure of the present invention is used for fastening a KAB lid in a KAB unit installed in front of a driver's seat and an under cover which is an adjacent member of the KAB lid. Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the following examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIGS. 3A to 3C.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a column cover 1, a console panel 2, a lower panel 3, a KAB lid 4 and an under cover 5 are attached so as to face the driver's seat side in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle. The column cover 1 is installed so as to cover a handle shaft (not shown) of the handle 6 and is assembled to a cross member (not shown) by mechanical fastening. The console panel 2 is installed adjacent to the column cover 1 and is assembled to the column cover 1 and a front pillar (not shown) by mechanical fastening. The lower panel 3 is installed adjacent to the console panel 2 and is assembled to the console panel 2 and a floor panel (not shown) by mechanical fastening. The KAB lid 4 is installed adjacent to the column cover 1, the console panel 2, and the lower panel 3, and is assembled to the column cover 1, the console panel 2, and the lower panel 3 by mechanical fastening. The under cover 5 is installed adjacent to the column cover 1, the lower panel 3, and the KAB lid 4, and is assembled to the column cover 1, the lower panel 3, the KAB lid 4, an instrument panel (not shown), and the like by mechanical fastening.

  A KAB unit 7 is assembled to a cross member (not shown) by mechanical fastening on the vehicle front side of the KAB lid 4 (the back side with respect to the paper surface in FIG. 2). The KAB unit 7 is an auxiliary protection device including an ignition device, a gas generating agent, and KAB. When the vehicle receives an impact due to an accident or the like, an impact detection sensor (not shown) detects the impact, and the ignition agent of the KAB unit 7 ignites the ignition agent. The gas generating agent heated by the ignited ignition agent generates gas, and the generated gas expands KAB. As the KAB expands, the KAB lid 4 is pushed, and the KAB expands toward the vehicle rear side (occupant side; front side with respect to the paper surface in FIG. 2) from the crack.

  When the KAB lid 4 breaks due to the expansion of the KAB and the KAB expands toward the vehicle rear side, the surface of the KAB lid 4 on the vehicle rear side comes into contact with the expanding KAB, and the KAB lid 4 is pushed toward the vehicle front side. In the fastening of the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 according to this embodiment, the KAB lid 4 is located on the vehicle front side with respect to the under cover 5. When the KAB lid 4 is pushed to the front side of the vehicle, a force is applied in a direction in which the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 are separated from each other, and the fastening between the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 may be released. Therefore, in this embodiment, the fitting structure of the present invention is adopted for fastening the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5.

  The KAB lid 4 faces the driver's seat when installed in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle, and is installed so as to cover the KAB deployment side of the KAB unit 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the side where the under cover 5 of the KAB lid 4 is assembled (the left end in FIG. 1) is assembled via a connecting portion 10 that extends substantially perpendicular to the vehicle front side with respect to the KAB lid 4. A fitting portion 20 that extends substantially perpendicular to the connecting portion 10 in the vehicle width direction is provided so as to overlap the rear under cover 5 in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The fitting portion 20 is such that the tip portion 23 comes into contact with the straight portion 21 extending substantially perpendicular to the connecting portion 10 in the vehicle width direction from one end side of the connecting portion 10 on the front side of the vehicle, and the assembled undercover 5. And a curved portion 22 that curves toward the under cover 5 (vehicle rear side).

  The fitting portion 20 is provided with two fitting holes 30a and 30b for fitting with the under cover 5 at the top and bottom. The fitting holes 30a and 30b are formed in slit-like slide grooves 31a and 31b extending from the straight portion 21 to the curved portion 22, and the curved portion 22 that is one end side of the slide grooves 31a and 31b. The insertion holes 32a and 32b have a width larger than the slit width of 31a and 31b.

  The connection part 10 and the fitting part 20 are not limited to the above-mentioned shape and structure. For example, the connecting portion 10 is formed by smoothly curving from one end side where the under cover 5 of the KAB lid 4 is assembled, and the fitting portion 20 extends linearly from the curving portion 22 to the tip portion 23 toward the under cover 5. Various shapes and structures formed by providing the second straight portion, forming the fitting portion 20 by forming the straight portion 21 and the second straight portion by bending substantially at right angles without providing the curved portion 22. Can be considered. However, considering the workability of assembling the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5, it is preferable to provide the bending portion 22 in the fitting portion 20.

  The fitting holes 30a and 30b are not limited to the shape and structure described above. For example, cross-shaped fitting holes 30a and 30b in which insertion holes 32a and 32b are formed in the middle of the sliding grooves 31a and 31b may be used, and both the sliding grooves 31a and 31b and the insertion holes 32a and 32b are formed in the linear portion 21. It is good also as the formed fitting holes 32a and 32b. In addition, when the second straight portion is provided in the fitting portion 20 of the above-described modification, the sliding grooves 31a and 31b are formed in a slit shape extending from the straight portion 21 to the second straight portion, and the insertion hole Various shapes and structures are conceivable, such as forming 32a, 32b in the second straight line portion on one end side of the sliding grooves 31a, 31b.

  The KAB lid 4 has an H-shaped dividing groove 50 formed on the back surface 40 thereof. When the KAB unit 7 (FIG. 2) operates, the KAB lid 4 breaks along the dividing groove 50 due to the expansion of KAB, and the KAB expands toward the vehicle rear side.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, two fitting protrusions 60a and 60b are vertically arranged on one end side (the right end side in FIG. 1) to be assembled with the KAB lid 4 in the under cover 5 which is an adjacent member of the KAB lid 4. Is provided. The fitting protrusions 60a and 60b are neck portions 61a and 61b protruding from the back surface 70 of the under cover 5 toward the vehicle front side, and umbrella-shaped head portions 62a formed at the tips of the neck portions 61a and 61b and larger than the neck portions 61a and 61b. 62b.

  The fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided in the above-described KAB lid 4 and the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided in the under cover 5 are formed in the following relationship so that they can be fitted to each other.

  The fitting protrusions 60 a and 60 b provided on the under cover 5 correspond to the fitting holes 30 a and 30 b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4. Therefore, the interval between the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b is the same as the interval between the fitting holes 30a and 30b. The numbers of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b and the fitting holes 30a and 30b are not limited to the present embodiment, and they may be the same number and one or more.

  The neck portions 61a and 61b of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 are engaged with the sliding grooves 31a and 31b of the fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4 to slide. The grooves 31a and 31b are slidable in the slit longitudinal direction.

  The heads 62a and 62b of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 have a size that can be inserted into the insertion holes 32a and 32b of the fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4. ing. Further, the heads 62 a and 62 b of the fitting protrusions 60 a and 60 b provided on the under cover 5 slide in the fitting holes 30 a and 30 b provided on the KAB lid 4 after the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 are fitted. The size is large enough not to come out of the grooves 31a and 31b.

  Next, the fitting procedure for assembling the under cover 5 to the KAB lid 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A to 3C.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 can be inserted into the insertion holes 32a and 32b of the fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4. Then, the under cover 5 is tilted with respect to the KAB lid 4. The heads 62a and 62b of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b of the under cover 5 are passed through the fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting part 20 of the KAB lid 4 (in the direction of arrow a in the figure).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3B, the neck portions 61a and 61b of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 are replaced with the sliding grooves 31a of the fitting holes 30a and 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4. , 31b, and the under cover 5 is slid with respect to the KAB lid 4 (in the direction of arrow b in the figure). Until the fitting protrusions 60 a and 60 b provided on the under cover 5 reach the other end side where the insertion holes 32 a and 32 b are not provided in the fitting holes 30 a and 30 b provided on the KAB lid 4, the under cover 5 is placed on the KAB lid 4. As shown in FIG. 3C, the back surface 70 of the under cover 5 is brought into contact with the distal end portion 23 of the fitting portion 20 of the KAB lid 4. Thus, the fastening of the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 is completed.

  Next, the other end (not shown) of the under cover 5 is fixed to an adjacent member such as an instrument panel (not shown) by mechanical fastening.

  Since the contact between the under cover 5 and the KAB lid 4 is increased by applying the back surface 70 of the under cover 5 to the tip 23 of the fitting portion 20 of the KAB lid 4, the under cover 5 and the KAB lid 4 are fitted. Is stable.

  Further, the position of the surface 71 of the under cover 5 relative to the surface 41 of the KAB lid 4 is determined by the back surface 70 of the under cover 5 hitting the tip 23 of the fitting portion 20 of the KAB lid 4. Therefore, the step D between the surface 71 of the under cover 5 and the surface 41 of the KAB lid 4 is adjusted by appropriately setting the position of the tip 23 of the fitting portion 20 of the KAB lid 4 and the plate thickness T of the under cover 5. can do.

  The behavior of the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 of this embodiment at the time of KAB deployment will be described.

  When the vehicle receives an impact due to an accident or the like, the KAB unit 7 (FIG. 2) operates. An impact detection sensor (not shown) detects the impact, the ignition device of the KAB unit 7 is ignited, the gas generating agent reacts to generate gas, the generated gas is injected into KAB, and KAB is expanded. The KAB lid 4 installed so as to cover the KAB expansion side of the KAB unit 7 is pushed and split by the dividing groove 50 by the force with which the KAB swells, and the KAB is rearward of the vehicle (occupant side; in FIG. Expand to the near side.

  Since KAB expands on the rear side of the KAB lid 4, the KAB contacts the surface 41 of the KAB lid 4, and pushes the KAB lid 4 toward the front side of the vehicle (the vehicle body side; in FIG. 2, the back side with respect to the paper surface). . Since the KAB lid 4 is located in front of the vehicle with respect to the under cover 5 that is the adjacent member, a force is applied in a direction in which the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 are separated.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the heads of the fitting protrusions 60 a and 60 b provided on the under cover 5 with respect to the sliding grooves 31 a and 31 b of the fitting holes 30 a and 30 b in the fitting portion 20 provided on the KAB lid 4. Since 62a and 62b are formed large, the heads 62a and 62b are caught by the fitting portion 20 in the vicinity of the sliding grooves 31a and 31b, and the fitting between the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 is not released.

  Further, since the fitting portion 20 and the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b have sufficient strength, the fitting between the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 is caused by deformation or damage of the fitting portion 20 and the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b. Will not come off.

  Therefore, there is no gap between the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5, and the KAB does not expand toward the front side of the vehicle.

  In addition, when the strength of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 is further increased, or the head portions 62a of the fitting protrusions 60a and 60b provided on the under cover 5 are provided. , 62b is made larger than the sliding grooves 31a, 31b of the fitting holes 30a, 30b in the fitting portion 20 provided in the KAB lid 4, the insertion holes 32a, 32b of the fitting portion 20 are formed in the under cover 5. By forming the side fitting protrusions 60a, 60b with a sufficient size with respect to the heads 62a, 62b, the heads 62a, 62b can be inserted into the insertion holes 32a, 32b without interference. There is no need for time and effort for attaching.

  Since the fitting structure of the airbag grid according to the present invention is an improved structure for a member that may come off due to a strong force such as an airbag, it is not limited to the fastening of the KAB lid 4 and the under cover 5 of this embodiment. For example, it may be used for fastening between the KAB lid 4 and another adjacent member such as the console panel 2, or may be used for fastening the airbag grid and its adjacent member in another airbag unit.

1 Column cover 2 Console panel 3 Lower panel 4 KAB lid (knee airbag grid)
5 Under cover 6 Handle 7 KAB unit (Knee airbag unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Connection part 20 Fitting part 21 Fitting part linear part 22 Fitting part curved part 23 Fitting part tip part 30 Fitting hole 31 Fitting hole sliding groove 32 Fitting hole insertion hole 40 KAB lid Back surface 41 KAB lid surface 50 Dividing groove 60 Fitting projection 61 Fitting projection neck 62 Fitting projection head 70 Undercover back surface 71 Undercover surface T Undercover thickness D Undercover surface and KAB lid Level difference from the surface

Claims (2)

A fitting structure of an airbag grid covering the airbag deployment side of the airbag unit and an adjacent member to which the airbag grid is assembled,
The airbag grid includes a curved portion that curves toward the adjacent member, a sliding groove that is formed in a slit shape, and the curved portion that is larger than the width of the sliding groove that is formed at an end of the sliding groove. Comprising a fitting portion having an insertion hole,
The adjacent member has a neck portion that is slidable by engaging with the sliding groove, and a head portion that is formed at the tip of the neck portion and has a width that is larger than the width of the sliding groove and smaller than the insertion hole. A fitting structure between an air bag grid and an adjacent member, comprising a fitting protrusion .   The fitting structure between the airbag grid and the adjacent member according to claim 1, wherein a tip end of the fitting portion is in contact with the adjacent member in a state where the airbag grid and the adjacent member are coupled.

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