JPH0616102A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To install a cover body installing wall part firmly on a base plate with excellent working efficiency by means of reinforcing plates by providing fixing means being inserted into/fixed to through holes arranged so as to communicate with fixing wall parts, an installing wall part and the reinforcing plates. CONSTITUTION:After rivets 57 are inserted respectively into respective through holes 15a, 16a, 17a, 45a, 46a, 47a, and 51a into which stud pins 53 are not inserted or not forcibly inserted in an air bag unit 61, a cover body 41 and respective reinforcing plates 51, they are fixed by calking, and respective wall parts 15, 16 and 17 of a base plate 12, a cover body 41 installing wall part 44 and the respective reinforcing plates 51 are connected/fixed to each other. Since the stud pins 53 arranged protrusively from the respective reinforcing plates 51 are inserted into front and rear wall parts 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and the through holes 16a, 17a, 45a and 46a of front and rear installing wall parts 45 and 46, the cover body 41 and the respective reinforcing plate 51 can be positioned and can be fixed temporarily, so that labour effectiveness in assembly can improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device for protecting an occupant from a collision such as a collision in an automobile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an airbag device for protecting an occupant from an impact such as a collision in an automobile or the like, for example, a structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 16553/1993 is known.

In this airbag device, a cover body covers an airbag attached to a base plate in a folded state, gas is introduced into the airbag to inflate, and the cover body is broken during the inflation, By projecting and deploying the airbag from the cover body, the occupant is prevented from colliding with the rim portion of the steering wheel or the front glass, and the impact applied to the occupant during the collision is absorbed.

The cover body is formed with a thin breaking line (tear line) which is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag, and a plate-like shape having through holes for rivets formed at a plurality of positions. The mounting wall portion of is projected from a plurality of places on the back surface side. Further, a fixed wall portion that abuts the inside of each mounting wall portion is provided in the peripheral portion of the base plate, and a rivet through hole that communicates with a through hole of each mounting wall portion is formed in this fixed wall portion. . Further, a plate-shaped reinforcing plate is brought into contact with the outside of each mounting wall portion, and these reinforcing plates also have through holes for rivets that communicate with the through holes of each mounting wall portion.

The cover body is fixed to the base plate by inserting the rivets into the through holes and then caulking them while the mounting wall portions of the cover body are held by the base plate and the reinforcing plates.
Even when the cover body is broken due to the inflation of the airbag, the cover body does not fall off or scatter.

[0006]

In the air bag device having the above-mentioned conventional structure, it is necessary to insert a plurality of rivets into each mounting wall portion of the cover body and then caulk and fix them. It is necessary to prepare and crimp a large number of rivets, which causes a problem of poor manufacturing efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device in which a mounting wall portion of a cover body can be firmly and efficiently attached to a base plate by using a reinforcing plate. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An air bag device of the present invention includes a base plate having an air bag which is inflated by the inflow of gas, a base plate attached to the base plate and covering the air bag, and the air bag is broken when the air bag is inflated. In an airbag device provided with a cover body that is expanded and deployed, a mounting wall portion provided in the cover body and having a plurality of through holes formed therein, and abutting against one side surface of the mounting wall portion provided in the base plate. A fixed wall portion having a through hole communicating with each of the through holes of the mounting wall portion is provided in contact with the other side surface of the mounting wall portion so as to communicate with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion. A projecting portion for inserting at least one of the plurality of through holes is provided in a protruding manner, and the number of the plurality of through holes provided in communication with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion is small. A reinforcing plate having at least one communicating hole formed therein, and a fixing means fixedly inserted through the fixing wall portion, the mounting wall portion, and the communicating hole provided in communication with the reinforcing plate. It is equipped with.

[0009]

In the airbag apparatus of the present invention, the cover body attached to the base plate always covers and protects the airbag. When the airbag is inflated, the pressure of this inflation causes the cover body to rupture at the rupture portion, and the airbag projects toward the occupant. Further, by inserting the protrusion protruding from the reinforcing plate into at least one of the plurality of through holes provided so as to communicate with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion, the cover body and the reinforcing plate are positioned and The cover body is supported. The fixing wall is fixed to the fixing wall portion of the base plate and the reinforcing plate by inserting and fixing the fixing means into the through holes provided in communication with the fixing wall portion, the mounting wall portion, and the reinforcing plate. It is fixed while being held, and the cover body is attached to the base plate. The reinforcing plate protects the mounting wall portion of the cover body when the cover body is broken.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The construction of an embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4, reference numeral 11 denotes an airbag device, which is attached to an upper portion of a boss portion located at a central portion of a steering wheel main body (not shown) of an automobile or the like. . Further, the steering wheel body includes a central boss portion connected to the steering shaft, an annular rim portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connecting the boss portion and the rim portion.

The airbag device 11 has a substantially box-shaped base plate 12 having an opened lower surface, and the base plate 12 has a rectangular substrate portion 14 and both end portions of the substrate portion 14 downward. A pair of side walls 15 are formed on both sides, and a front wall 16 and a rear wall 17 that form a fixed wall formed by bending the front and rear ends of the substrate 14 downward are formed. ing.

The side walls 15 on both sides are formed with through holes 15a at two places, for example, at predetermined intervals, and the front and rear walls 16, 17 are provided with predetermined spaces, respectively. For example, through holes 16a and 17a are formed at four places.

A gas generator mounting hole 21 is formed substantially in the center of the base plate portion 14, and a bolt through hole 22 and a rivet through hole are formed around the gas generator mounting hole 21. A plurality of 23 are formed respectively.

Further, a pair of bracket plates 24 on both sides are fixed by rivets or the like on both sides of the lower surface of the base plate portion 14, and support piece portions 25 are integrally projected from the bracket plates 24 downward. ing. A through hole 25a is formed in each of the support pieces 25, and a mounting screw for inserting the through hole 25a is screwed to, for example, a horn plate provided with a movable contact of a horn switch device provided in the steering wheel body. As a result, the base plate 12 is supported on the boss portion of the steering wheel so as to be vertically movable.

A bag-shaped airbag 30 is arranged above the base plate 12 in a folded state. The airbag 30 has a peripheral portion of the opening sandwiched between the pressing ring (retainer) 31 and the base plate portion 14 of the base plate 12 with the opening communicating with the gas generator mounting hole 21. The airbag 30 and the pressing ring 31 are fixed to the base plate 12 by rivets 32 which are inserted through the rivet through holes 23 of the base plate portion 14 of the base plate 12. Further, a plurality of stud bolts 33 are fixed to the pressing ring 31, and these stud bolts 33 are inserted through the bolt through holes 22 of the base plate portion 14 of the base plate 12 and project downward.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a gas generator (inflator) 34 having a substantially columnar shape is attached to the base plate 12 in a state fitted in the gas generator attachment hole 21. . This gas generator 34 has a flange portion 34a protruding from the outer peripheral portion abutting against the lower surface of the base plate portion 14 of the base plate 12 and the stud bolt 33 inserted through a through hole formed in the flange portion 34a. The bolt 33 is fixed by screwing a nut.

Reference numeral 41 denotes a cover body, which is a cover body 41.
Is made of synthetic resin and has a substantially box-like shape with an open bottom,
On the lower side surface of the upper surface portion 42 facing the occupant, a weakly formed tear line is formed in, for example, a substantially H-shaped plane.

From the vicinity of the end of the cover body 41,
An attachment wall portion 44 in the shape of a rectangular tube that fits outside each wall portion 15, 16, 17 of the base plate 12 is provided so as to protrude downward. This mounting wall portion 44 corresponds to each wall portion 1 of the base plate 12.
It is composed of a side mounting wall portion 45, a front mounting wall portion 46, and a rear mounting wall portion 47 that come into contact with 5, 16, and 17, respectively, and these mounting wall portions 45, 46, and 47 respectively include the base plate 12 of the base plate 12. Through holes 15a, 16 provided in the wall portions 15, 16, 17
Through holes 45a, 46a, 47a communicating with a, 17a are formed.

Further, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, 51 is a pair of front and rear rectangular plate-like reinforcing plates, and these reinforcing plates 51 and a substantially rectangular plate-like supporting plate 52 having a plurality of through holes 51a formed therein. , And a stud pin 53 that forms a protrusion that is press-fitted and fixed in some of these through holes 51a. In this embodiment, the through holes 51a are formed at four positions on each support plate 52, and the stud pins 53 are fixed to the two through holes 51a on the center side.

Each through hole 51a of each reinforcing plate 51
Are the through holes 16a, 17a, 46 of the front and rear wall portions 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and the front and rear mounting wall portions 46 and 47 of the cover body 41.
The stud pins 53 are formed so as to correspond to the positions of a and 47a, and each stud pin 53 is made of an embedded press-fitting bolt or a threadless product and is press-fitted and fixed from the outside of the support plate 52. Further, the upper end portion of each support plate 52 is bent outward to form a bent portion 55.

The stud pins 53 of the reinforcing plate 51 are connected to the front and rear wall portions 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and the front and rear mounting wall portions 46 and 47 of the cover body 41 through the through holes 16a and 17a. , 46a, 47a are inserted and projected inside the base plate 12, and in this state, the support plate 52 abuts the outside of the mounting wall portions 46, 47 in front of and behind the cover body 41.

Furthermore, the front and rear walls 1 of the base plate 12
6, 17 and the front and rear mounting wall portions 46, 47 of the cover body 41 and the through holes 16a, 17a, 46a, 47a, 51a of the reinforcing plate 51.
Among them, the rivet 57 is inserted into each of the outer through holes 16a, 17a, 46a, 47a, and 51a in which the stud pin 53 is not inserted or press-fitted, and then the rivet 57 is caulked and fixed.
Between the support plate 52 of each reinforcing plate 51 and the front and rear wall portions 16 and 17 of the base plate 12, the front and rear mounting wall portions 4 of the cover body 41 are provided.
While holding 6 and 47, front and rear wall portions 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and front and rear mounting wall portions 46 of the cover body 41,
47 and each reinforcing plate 51 are connected and fixed.

The side wall portions 15 on both sides of the base plate 12
And the through holes 15a of the mounting wall portion 45 on both sides of the cover body 41,
The rivets 57 are also inserted into the respective 45a and then caulked and fixed, and the side wall portions 15 on both sides of the base plate 12 and the mounting wall portions 45 on both sides of the cover body 41 are connected and fixed.

Next, the assembling operation of the airbag device 11 of this embodiment will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the base plate
An air bag unit 61 in a semi-assembled state is constructed by assembling an air bag 30 and the like to 12, and a stud pin 53 is press-fitted and fixed into a through hole of each support plate 52 to construct a reinforcing plate 51.

Then, the sub-assembled airbag unit 61 is pushed into the inside of the mounting wall portion 44 of the cover body 41, and the respective wall portions 15, 16, 17 of the base plate 12 are fitted into the mounting wall portion 44, The through holes 15a, 16a, 17a of the wall portions 15, 16, 17 and the through holes 45a, 46a, 47a of the mounting wall portion 44 are aligned and communicated with each other.

The stud pin of each reinforcing plate 51
53 is each of the front and rear walls 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and the through holes 16a, 17a, 46a inside the mounting wall 44 of the cover body 41.
It is inserted into 47a from the outside so as to project to the inside of the base plate 12, and as shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 52 is brought into contact with the outside of the front and rear mounting wall portions 46, 47 of the cover body 41. In this state,
The airbag unit 61, the cover body 41, and the reinforcing plates 51 are temporarily fixed by the stud pins 53.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the air bag unit 61, the cover body 41, and the respective reinforcing plates.
In each of the through holes 15a, 16a, 17a, 45a, 46a, 47a, 51a of the 51 through which the stud pin 53 is not inserted or press-fitted,
The rivets 57 are respectively inserted and then caulked and fixed, and the wall portions 15, 16, 17 of the base plate 12, the mounting wall portion 44 of the cover body 41, and the reinforcing plates 51 are connected and fixed.

According to the airbag apparatus 11 of this embodiment, the upper portion of the airbag 30 is always covered and protected by the cover body 41 attached to the base plate 12. Then, when an impact such as a collision of an automobile is received, gas is rapidly injected into the inside of the airbag 30 from the gas generator 34, and the airbag 30 is rapidly inflated and deployed. Then, in the middle of this expansion, the breaking line is broken by the pressure of the expansion, and the cover body 41 expands in a double door shape.
The airbag 30 projects toward the occupant to protect the occupant from impact.

Then, a cover body 41 for covering the airbag 30.
Is the front and rear mounting wall portions 45 provided on the cover body 41,
The rivet 57 is held while the 46 is sandwiched between the front and rear walls 16 and 17 provided on the base plate 12 and the reinforcing plate 51.
By caulking and fixing by caulking, the mounting walls 45 and 46 in the front and rear of the cover body 41, to which pressure is applied particularly when the cover body 41 is broken due to the expansion of the airbag 30, are protected while being protected from the large head portion of the rivet 57. It can be fixed, and the cover body 41 can be prevented from falling off or scattering when the cover body 41 is broken.

The stud pins 53 projecting from each reinforcing plate 51 are connected to the front and rear wall portions 16 and 17 of the base plate 12 and the front and rear mounting wall portions 45 and 46 through holes 16a, 17a and 45a, respectively.
The cover body 41 and each reinforcing plate 51 can be positioned and temporarily fixed by inserting into the cover body 46a to improve the work efficiency of assembling, and the stud pin 53 can prevent
Since the mounting wall portion 44 can be supported in the shearing direction to prevent the cover body 41 from falling off or scattering during rupture of the rivet, the force for fixing and holding the cover body 41 can be maintained substantially the same while the rivet
It is possible to reduce the number of 57 and improve the assembly work efficiency.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the stud pin 53 is inserted into the through hole 51a of the rectangular support plate 52.
Although the reinforcing plate 51 is configured by press-fitting and fixing, the through hole 64 through which the rivet is inserted is formed like the reinforcing plate 64 shown in FIG.
The reinforcing plate 64 may be integrally formed by cutting and raising the projecting piece portion 66 from the rectangular plate-shaped support plate 65 in which a is formed.

Although the airbag device 11 mounted on the steering wheel body has been described in each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention may be applied to an airbag device provided on an instrument panel in front of a passenger seat of an automobile, for example. it can.

[0035]

According to the airbag device of the present invention, the cover body covering the airbag has the mounting wall portion provided on the cover body sandwiched between the fixed wall portion provided on the base plate and the reinforcing plate. In this state, the protruding portion protruding from the reinforcing plate is inserted into the through hole provided in communication with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion, and is also provided in communication with the fixed wall portion, the mounting wall portion, and the reinforcing plate. It can be firmly fixed by fixing the fixing means for inserting the through hole. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the cover body from falling off or scattering when the cover body is broken due to the inflation of the airbag. Also, by inserting the projection protruding from the reinforcing plate into the through hole provided in communication with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion, the cover body and the reinforcing plate can be positioned and temporarily fixed to the base plate. The working efficiency can be improved, and since the protrusion supports the mounting wall portion when the cover body is broken and the cover body can be prevented from falling off or scattering, the number of fixing means can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the above airbag device.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the same airbag device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the above airbag device.

FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view of the same reinforcing plate.
(B) is an II sectional view of the reinforcing plate.

FIG. 6A is a plan view showing another embodiment of the reinforcing plate of the airbag device of the present invention. (B) is II-II sectional drawing of a reinforcing plate same as the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Airbag device 12 Base plate 16 Front wall part 16a through hole which constitutes the fixed wall part 17 Rear wall part 17a through hole which constitutes the fixed wall part 30 Airbag 41 Cover body 44 Mounting wall parts 46a and 47a Through hole 51 Reinforcement plate 51a Through hole 53 Stud pin forming a protrusion 57 Rivet as fixing means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An airbag comprising: a base plate provided with an airbag that is inflated by the inflow of gas; and a cover body that is attached to the base plate, covers the airbag, and is broken and expanded as the airbag expands. In the device, a mounting wall portion provided in the cover body and having a plurality of through holes formed therein, and one side surface of the mounting wall portion provided in the base plate are brought into contact with and communicate with the respective through holes of the mounting wall portion. At least one of the plurality of through holes provided in contact with the fixed wall portion having the through hole and the other side surface of the mounting wall portion and communicating with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion is inserted. A supplementary projecting member is provided with a projecting portion and a through hole communicating with at least one of the plurality of through holes provided in communication with the fixed wall portion and the mounting wall portion. An airbag apparatus comprising: a strong plate; and a fixing means that is fixed by being inserted into the through hole provided in communication with the fixed wall portion, the mounting wall portion, and the reinforcing plate.