JPH02306848A - Steering wheel with air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate assembling by protecting the lower part of a gas generator with a protecting cover, inserting the mounting piece of a label into an inserting part provided on the protecting cover to engagingly hold the mounting piece with a holding body, and mounting the label on an air bag device integrally with the protecting cover. CONSTITUTION:A protecting cover 31 for covering the lower part of a gas generator exposed on the lower surface of an air bag device is mounted on the flange of the gas generator and mounted on the air bag device as one body to protect the gas generator from impact. The protecting cover 31 has an inserting part 45 formed thereon, to which the mounting piece 39 of a label 37 displaying handling caution is inserted, and the mounting piece 39 is engaged with the inserting part 45 by the displacement of a holding body 44 provided on the inserting part 45 in such a manner as to be capable of displacing. Thus, fixing of the label 37 is facilitated, and assembling working property is also improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a steering wheel equipped with an airbag device for protecting occupants from impacts such as collisions in automobiles and the like.

(Prior Art) As an airbag device for protecting occupants from impacts such as collisions in automobiles, etc., for example, the
The one shown in Publication No. 54 is known.

This airbag device covers a folded airbag with a cover body, inflates the airbag by injecting gas from a gas generator, and ruptures the cover body during the inflation to cover the airbag. By protruding from the body and deploying, it prevents the driver from colliding with the rim of the steering wheel or the front glass, and
It works to absorb the impact in the event of a collision.

In addition, this type of airbag device is generally manufactured in a steering wheel manufacturing factory by assembling a gas generator, airbag, cover body, etc. into a unit as an airbag device, and then attaching this unit to a separately manufactured steering wheel. The steering wheel body is transported together with the body to an automobile assembly factory, where the steering wheel body is attached to the steering link shaft of the vehicle body, and then attached to the steering wheel body.

As described above, the airbag device is handled by itself, such as transportation and storage, but the gas generator generates explosive gas when activated to instantly inflate and deploy the airbag. Careful handling is required. However, before the airbag device was attached to the steering wheel body, the lower part of the gas generator was exposed to the outside, making it susceptible to shock and injury, making it highly dangerous.

Further, as mentioned above, since the gas generator requires care in handling, it is necessary to attach a label indicating handling precautions etc. to a location visible from the outside of the air bag device. This label is attached to the bottom surface of the steering wheel body, that is, the bottom surface of the gas generator.A standard label is attached to the bottom surface of the gas generator to display the specifications of the gas generator itself. Therefore, it is not possible to attach the label directly to the bottom of the gas generator; instead, the label must be fixed to a base plate that fits around and supports the gas generator using fixing parts such as rivets. I was trying to place it on the bottom side.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) As mentioned above, the airbag device is transported, stored, etc. by itself before being assembled to the steering wheel, but the lower part of the gas generator is exposed to the outside. They are exposed, susceptible to shock and injury,
The risk was high.

In addition, labels displaying precautions for handling the gas generator can be attached to the underside of the gas generator by fixing them using fixed parts such as rivets to a base plate that fits around and supports the gas generator. Since it is placed on the side, a fixed part such as a rivet or a jig to fix the fixed part is required to fix the label, and depending on the assembly structure, the label may be attached to the base plate before the gas generator. Therefore, it was necessary to attach the gas generator to the base plate while rolling up the label, which made assembly work difficult.

The present invention aims to solve this problem by protecting the gas generator exposed from the bottom of the airbag device,
Another object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel equipped with an airbag device in which a label can be attached without using a separate fixing part and which has good assembly workability.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention provides an air bag 14 which is normally kept in a folded state above the gas generator 18 and is inflated by the inflow of gas from the gas generator 18. In a steering wheel equipped with an airbag device in which a cover body 21 made of an elastic material that covers the bag 14 and is broken when inflated is provided, a protective cover 31 that covers the lower part of the gas generator 18 of the airbag device 11 is provided. Label 3 on 31
An insertion portion 45 into which the attachment piece 39 of No. 7 is inserted is provided, and the attachment piece 3 of the label 37 inserted into this insertion portion 45 is provided.
A holder 44 that engages with and holds the holder 9 is displaceably provided integrally.

(Function) In the present invention, the lower part of the gas generator 18 is protected by the protective cover 31, and the mounting piece 39 of the label 37 is inserted into the insertion portion 45 of the protective cover 31 and is engaged and held by the holder 44. Attachment: The label 37 is integrally attached to the airbag device II together with the protective cover 31.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

FIG. 2 shows a steering wheel for an automobile, in which a boss portion 3 is provided at the center of an annular rim portion 1 with a plurality of spoke portions 2 interposed therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 1, this boss portion 3 has a metal cylindrical boss 4 that is fitted and fixed to a steering shaft (not shown), and a boss plate 5 is mounted on the top of this boss 4. Fixed by welding.

An airbag device II is disposed above the boss portion 3. This airbag device 11 includes the boss plate 5
A base plate 12 as a fixing member is attached to the top via an attachment means (not shown), and this base plate 12
The periphery of the circular opening 15 of the airbag 14 is pressed onto the periphery of the circular opening 13 of the airbag 14 with a circular fixing plate 16, and a plurality of bolts (not shown) are inserted into the circular opening 13 of (shown in Figure 3), the tightening is fixed, and
The airbag 14 is normally arranged in a folded state.

Further, a gas generator 18 is disposed in the opening 9 of the base plate 12, and a flange portion 1g on the outer periphery of the gas generator 18 is joined to the lower surface of the base plate 12. A bolt is inserted through 12 and tightened with a nut 17. Note that the airbag 1 of this gas generator 18
The upper circumferential surface of the airbag 1, which fits inside the airbag 4, contains gas.
A plurality of air outlets 2G are provided to blow air into the air. Furthermore, a standard display label is attached to the bottom surface of the gas generator 18 to display the standards of the gas generator itself.

Further, a cover body 21 is fixed to the edge of the base plate 12 so as to cover the air bag 14 .

The cover body 21 is integrally formed of an elastic body, and has a thin portion 22 formed on the upper surface thereof, which is torn as the airbag 14 expands.

The above airbag device! Gas generator 1 exposed on the bottom of 1
A protective cover 31 is attached to cover the lower part of 8.

The protective cover 31 is integrally molded from a transparent synthetic resin, and includes a lower surface part 32 that covers the lower surface of the gas generator 18, a peripheral surface part 33 that covers the peripheral surface of the gas generator 18, and a peripheral surface part 33 that covers the peripheral surface of the gas generator 18. A rectangular flange part 34 at the outer edge of the upper end is provided, and this flange part 34 is connected to the 7-run part 1 of the gas generator 1g.
9, the fixing plate 16 and the air bag 14
, base plate 12, flange portion 1 of gas generator 18
9 are inserted into the through holes 35 at the four corners of the flange portion 34, as shown in FIG. 14, the gas generator 18, etc., are tightened and fixed integrally.

Note that the gas generator 1 is mounted on the lower surface portion 32 and the peripheral surface portion 33.
Cover 3 protects the electrical wiring pulled out from the center of the bottom surface of 8.
A wiring lead-out portion 36 is provided for drawing out the wire to the outside of the wire.

In addition, the protective cover 31 has a first protective cover as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.
A label attachment part 41 is integrally provided to which a label 37 indicating precautions for handling the air bag device 11 having the gas generator 18 is attached.

This label attachment part 41 has a mounting frame 42 provided on the peripheral surface part 33, and a hinge part 3 on this mounting frame 42.
A holder 44 enters and is rotatably connected to the inside of the protective cover 31 via the holder 44 .

The mounting frame 42 has a horizontally elongated groove-shaped insertion portion 45 formed vertically penetrating inside the mounting frame 42, and a plurality of circular projections 46 are arranged horizontally on the inner wall surface of the mounting frame 42 within the insertion portion 45. A pair of protrusions 47 are protruded from the lower surface portion 32 on both sides of the open end surface of the insertion portion 4S, and a fitting groove 48 is provided between the protrusions 47.

Further, the holding body 44 is formed with a width that allows it to enter into the insertion portion 45 of the mounting frame 42, and a horizontal portion 49 is connected to the mounting frame 42 via a hinge portion 43. A vertical portion 5o and a horizontal portion 51 are arranged in a substantially L-shape. This vertical portion 50 is provided with a plurality of fitting slots 52 that can be fitted to the outside of each projection 46 of the mounting frame 42, and reinforcing ribs 53 are provided on both sides.
In addition, the protrusion 4 of the mounting frame 42 is located at the center of the tip of the horizontal portion 51.
Mating between 7? A locking pawl 54 that fits into R48 and locks onto the lower surface portion 32 is provided. Then, during molding, the third
It is integrally molded in the state shown in the figure and the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

Note that the hinge portion 43 allows the holding body 44 to be bent at a thin portion 55 formed over the entire width direction.

The label 37 has a mounting piece 39 that can be inserted into the insertion portion 45 from the main body 38 and is bent into an approximately L shape, and a plurality of mounting pieces 39 that can be fitted onto the outside of each projection 46 on the mounting piece 39. A fitting hole 391 is provided. Note that the inner edge of the fitting hole 391 is provided in a wave shape so as to bite into the outer peripheral surface of the projection 46.

To attach the label 37 to the protective cover, first insert the attachment piece 39 of the label 37 into the insertion part 45 of the label attachment part 41 of the protective cover 31, and then insert each fitting hole 391 of the attachment piece 39 into each fitting hole 391 of the attachment piece 39. It is press-fitted to the outside of the protrusion 46.

Next, as shown by arrows in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder 44 is rotated around the hinge part 43 to the inside of the protective cover 31, and the holder 44 is fitted inside the mounting frame 42. By doing so, each fitting groove 52 of the holder 44 is fitted to the outside of each protrusion 46, and the horizontal portion 51 of the holder 44 is abutted and fitted to the lower surface of the protrusion 47 of the mounting frame 42, Horizontal part 51
The engagement mold 54 at the tip of the mounting frame 42 is fitted into the fitting groove 48 between the protrusions 4 and is engaged with the lower surface part 32, and the holder 44 is attached to the fourth
Fix it in the rotational state shown in the figure.

As a result, the mounting piece 39 of the label 37 is held between the inner wall surface of the mounting frame 42 and the vertical part 50 of the holder 44, and the main body part 38 of the label 37 is spaced apart and facing the lower surface part 32 of the protective cover 31. Supported by

Note that the holding body 44 fitted inside the protective cover 31 is
It is outside the fitting area of the gas generator 18.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the protective cover 31 with the label 37 attached is fitted over the lower part of the gas generator 18,
The airbag device 11 is assembled by integrally tightening and fixing the airbag 14, gas generator 18, etc. with a plurality of bolts and nuts 17.

Therefore, the airbag device 1 having the gas generator 18
By attaching the label 37 indicating the handling precautions described in 1 to the protective cover 31 without using any fixed parts such as rivets or screws, and attaching this protective cover 31 to cover the gas generator 18, the air bag device can be installed. 11, and has good workability.

In addition, since the lower part of the gas generator 18 fits inside the protective cover 31, the rotation of the holding body 44 in the holding release direction can be restricted and the label 37 can be prevented from falling off.

In addition, a 1. By flipping over the main body 38 of the label 37 supported by the gas generator 18 through the lower surface 32 of the transparent protective cover 31
You can check the standards display label affixed to the bottom of the.

The airbag device 11 is unitized at a steering wheel manufacturing factory and transported to an automobile assembly factory together with a separately manufactured steering wheel body. After installing the
It is attached to this steering wheel body.

Therefore, the air bag device 11 is handled by itself, such as transportation and storage. The lower part is the protective cover 31
Since the gas generator 18 is protected by the gas generator 18, there is no fear that the gas generator 18 will be shocked or damaged, making it highly safe.

In the steering wheel airbag device 11 installed in a car, gas is suddenly generated from the gas generator 18 due to impact during a car collision, etc., and this gas is released from the air outlet 20 into the airbag 14. As a result, the airbag 14 is rapidly deployed, and during the deployment of the airbag 14, the expansion pressure causes the cover body 2 to expand.
1 is broken, the airbag 14 deploys toward the driver, and prevents the driver from colliding with the rim portion 1 of the steering wheel or the glass in front of the driver.
Absorbs shock in the event of a collision.

Further, the label attaching portion 41 of the protective cover 31 may have the structure shown in FIGS. 15 and 6. That is, the mounting frame 42 is made to protrude beyond the lower surface portion 32 of the protective cover 31, and a plurality of approximately L-shaped holding pieces 61 are provided to protrude from the protruding edge of the mounting frame 42 onto the open end of the insertion portion 45. And label 3
7 is inserted into the insertion part 45 from between the holding piece 61 and the lower surface part 32, the holder 44 is rotatably fitted inside the mounting frame 42, and the engagement mold 54 at the tip of the holder 44 is inserted. The lower surface part 32
It attaches to and stops. As a result, the mounting piece 3 of the label 37
9 is held between the inner wall surface of the mounting frame 42 and the vertical portion 5G of the holder 44, and the mounting piece 39 of the label 37 is attached to the mounting frame 4.
2 and the horizontal part 51 of the holder 44, and supports the main body part 38 of the label 37 so as to face the lower surface part 32 of the protective cover 31 at a distance.

In this case, the main body portion 38 of the label 37 and the three attachment pieces may remain parallel, and the process of folding the label 37 can be reduced. Although it is necessary to provide an opening 62 in which the engagement mold 54 fits, the opening 62 can be punched out at the same time as the fitting hole 39+, etc., so the number of manufacturing steps is not increased.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, since the lower part of the gas generator is protected by the protective cover, safety is high.Also, since the label attachment piece can be attached by the holder provided integrally with the protective cover, separate adhesion is required. There is no need to use any parts, and the label and the protective cover can be integrally attached to the airbag device, improving assembly work efficiency.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a perspective view seen from the back side of the protective cover, and Fig. 1 is a part of the steering wheel. cross section,
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a protective cover showing another embodiment of the present invention, seen from the back side, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion thereof. 11... Air bag device, 14... Air bag, 18...
・Gas generator, 21.. Cover body, 31.. Protective cover, 37.. Label, 39.. Mounting piece, 44.. Holding body,
45...Insertion part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An airbag that is normally folded and expands when gas flows in from the gas generator is installed above the gas generator, and a cover made of an elastic material that covers the airbag and breaks when it expands. In a steering wheel equipped with an airbag device, a protective cover is provided to cover the lower part of the gas generator of the airbag device, and an insertion portion into which a label attachment piece is inserted is provided in the protective cover, and 1. A steering wheel with an airbag device, characterized in that a holder that engages and holds a mounting piece of a label inserted in the steering wheel is displaceably provided integrally with the holder.