JPH06219228A - Arrangement structure for air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an arrangement structure for an air bag device in which an instrument panel dose not need projecting in its formation and a dead space is prevented. CONSTITUTION:An air bog device 15 provided with an air bag to be expanded in an emergency is arranged inside an opening 17 for air bag expansion formed on an assistant seat side of an instrument panel 1, while a honeycomb duct 35, which is provided with honeycomb structure inside it and is used as a duct 33 of a vehicle air conditioning device, is extended to the vehicle width direction along the inner face of the instrument panel 1 in the lower side of the opening 17 and is arranged so as to be a guide between the opening 17 and the air bag device 15 in the case of the air bag expansion.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of an airbag device which is deployed at the time of a vehicle collision or the like to protect an occupant on the passenger side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An arrangement structure of a conventional airbag device is shown in FIG. 6 (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-1985547).

An opening 103 is formed on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 101, and the opening 103 is closed by an air bag grid 105. A resin cover case 107 is housed inside the opening 103.
An airbag device 1 equipped with an airbag to be deployed in an emergency
09 are supported by the strength member 111. A glove box 113 is provided below the airbag device 109, and a duct 115 for air conditioning in the vehicle compartment is provided on the back side.

[0004]

In such an arrangement structure of the airbag device 109, it is necessary to surely deploy the airbag device 109 toward the occupant in an emergency, and the airbag is provided by the glove box 113, the duct 115 and the like. Device 1
The airbag device 109 is provided so as to be located on the innermost side of the vehicle compartment because, for example, the mounting position of the 09 is restricted.

However, in general, the airbag device 109
The cover case 107 has a predetermined shape for reasons such as the sharing of parts between different vehicle types, whereas the instrument panel 101 often has a different shape for different vehicle types. In some cases, a part 105a of the air bag grid 105 has to be formed so as to protrude toward the vehicle interior side according to the shape of the cover case 107,
There was a risk of unnecessarily narrowing the passenger compartment.

Further, since the shape of the instrument panel 101 is determined by reasons such as function and design,
In some cases, the outer shape of the cover case 107 may not match, and the dead space 11 may be included in the shape mismatch portion.
There were cases where 7 occurred.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to form a part of an instrument panel so as to project in conformity with the shape of a cover case. It is an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement structure for an airbag device that does not have a dead space.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the arrangement structure of an airbag device according to the present invention is an airbag device equipped with an airbag that is deployed in an emergency. A honeycomb duct which is arranged in the opening for airbag deployment formed in, and which has a honeycomb structure inside and is used as a duct of a vehicle air conditioner,
It is configured to extend in the vehicle width direction below the opening along the inner surface of the instrument panel and to serve as a guide when the airbag is deployed between the opening and the airbag device.

[0009]

Since the honeycomb duct is arranged on the inner surface of the instrument panel located below the opening, the honeycomb duct is formed in conformity with the shape of the instrument panel, so that it is not necessary to form the instrument panel in a protruding manner. Moreover, no dead space occurs.

Further, since the honeycomb duct used as the duct of the vehicle air conditioner has a honeycomb structure inside, even if the duct shape is bent and disposed inside the passenger compartment close to the occupant, the honeycomb duct circulates in the duct. Generation of air noise is suppressed.

Further, since the honeycomb duct is arranged between the opening and the air bag device so as to serve as a guide when the air bag is deployed, even if the air bag device is provided on the back side of the honeycomb duct, the air bag is urgent. Sometimes it deploys reliably in a given direction.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the interior of a vehicle equipped with an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the arrangement structure of the airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Partial cross-sectional view, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the honeycomb duct and the airbag device of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a front view of the honeycomb duct and the airbag device of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the airbag of FIG. 2 is deployed.

As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 1 is provided in the front of the vehicle compartment. On the passenger seat 3 side of the instrument panel 1, a side surface 1b is curved downward from the substantially flat upper surface 1a toward the occupant. A center vent 5 is provided at the central portion 1c of the instrument panel 1, and a side vent 7 is provided at the end portion 1d on the passenger seat 3 side. From the center vent 5 and the side vent 7, air conditioning air is directed toward the occupant. Is blown out.

As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument panel 1 is composed of a panel body 9 made of metal, a pad 11 made of resin, and an outer skin 13. The surface of the pad 11 is covered with the outer skin 13, and the panel body 11 is covered. It is fixed to.

The panel body 9 on the upper surface 1a side of the instrument panel 1 is formed with a substantially rectangular opening 17 in which an airbag device 15 is arranged, and an air bag grid 19 is fitted around the opening 17. The stepped lid fitting portion 21 to be fitted is formed by the pad 11 and the skin 13.

The air bag grid 19 includes a lid body 23.
And a pad member 25 and a skin 27. The lid body 23 is bolted to the panel body 9 on the front side of the vehicle via mounting members 29 and 31. As a result, the air bag grid 19 is fixed to the instrument panel 1 and closes the opening 17. Further, when a strong force is applied to the air bag grid 19 fixed in this way from the inside of the instrument panel 1, the air bag grid 19 is bent at the rotation center portion 19a near the opening 17 on the fixed side, and the opening 17 is opened. It will be open. The surface of the air bag grid 19 is formed so as to be substantially continuous with the surface of the instrument panel 1.

Inside the side surface 1b of the instrument panel 1 located below the opening 17, a duct 33 of a vehicle air conditioner 32 is provided as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The duct 33 includes a honeycomb duct 35 having a honeycomb structure inside, and two bent connecting pipes 3.
7 and 39. One end 35a of the honeycomb duct 35 is connected to the vent outlet 32a of the vehicle air conditioner 32 via a connecting pipe 37, and the other end 35b is connected to the outlet 7a of the side vent 7 via a connecting pipe 39. . As a result, the temperature-controlled air flows from the vent outlet 32a to the connecting pipe 15a, the honeycomb duct 35, and the connecting pipe 1.
5b, and is supplied into the vehicle compartment from the outlet 7a of the side vent 7.

As shown in FIG. 5, the honeycomb duct 35 has substantially the same height as the knees of the occupant M seated in the passenger seat 3,
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the instrument panel 1
The inner side surface 1b is extended along the vehicle width direction. An outer surface 35c of the honeycomb duct 35 on the vehicle interior side is formed in a shape along the inner surface of the side surface 1b.

As shown in FIG. 2, inside the opening 17, on the back side of the honeycomb duct 35, an airbag device 15 provided with an airbag 41 that is deployed in an emergency is arranged. A tongue portion 35e that extends from the outer surface 35d of the honeycomb duct 35 on the side of the airbag device 15 to the edge portion 17a of the opening 17 on the vehicle interior side and is continuous with the lid fitting portion 21 is provided. The outer surface 35d and the tongue portion 35e serve as guides for guiding the airbag 41 so that the airbag 41 deploys toward the occupant in the passenger compartment.

The airbag device 15 is attached to a strength member 43 extending in the vehicle width direction inside the instrument panel 1 via a bracket portion 45. The airbag device 15 includes a resin cover case 47, an airbag 41 folded and housed in the cover case 47, and a high pressure gas (not shown) that is ignited by a signal from a collision sensor and sends high pressure gas into the airbag 41. It has an inflator.
As shown in FIG. 3, the surface of the cover case 47 on the vehicle interior side is formed by the thin portion 47a so as to be easily cracked in the vertical direction.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the airbag 41 expands rapidly by breaking the thin wall portion 47a of the cover case 47 in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and the airbag bag grid 19 is fixed near the opening 17 on the fixed side. It is bent at the rotation center portion 19a and is expanded from the opening 17 to the inside of the vehicle compartment.

A glove box 49 is provided below the honeycomb duct 35 and the airbag device 15 so as to open to the inside of the vehicle compartment.
9 a is closed by a lid 51 so as to be openable and closable.

According to the arrangement structure of the airbag device 15 as described above, the honeycomb duct 35 extends along the inner surface of the side surface 1b of the instrument panel 1 located below the opening 17.
Since the honeycomb duct 35 is extended and the shape of the honeycomb duct 35 is adapted to the instrument panel 1, it is possible to easily prevent the occurrence of dead space. In addition, the outer surface 35c of the honeycomb duct 35 on the vehicle interior side is replaced by the side surface 1b.
Since it is possible to form the instrument panel 1 in a protruding shape, it is possible to widen the vehicle interior space and to freely design the shape of the instrument panel 1.

The temperature-controlled air flowing through the honeycomb duct 35 is disturbed by the bent connecting pipes 37 and 39, but since the inside of the honeycomb duct 35 has a honeycomb structure, it is difficult to generate air noise. Therefore, the honeycomb duct 35
Is located near the occupant in the passenger seat, there is no fear that the occupant will feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable due to the generation of abnormal noise.

Further, since the outer surface 35d and the tongue portion 35e of the honeycomb duct 35 are used as guides for guiding the airbag 41, even if the airbag device 15 is provided on the back side of the honeycomb duct 35, the airbag 41 is In an emergency, it can be reliably deployed to the occupants, ensuring safety.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the occupant M is received by the airbag 41 during a vehicle collision, the knees of the occupant M may collide with a part of the instrument panel 1. Since the honeycomb duct 35 is arranged so as to be substantially at the same height as the knees of the occupant M, the impact due to the collision is alleviated and absorbed by the honeycomb duct 35. As a result, the knees of the occupant M can be protected during a vehicle collision or the like.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since it is not necessary to form the instrument panel in a protruding manner and no dead space is generated, the vehicle interior space can be widened and the instrument can be used. The shape of the panel can be freely designed.

Further, since the generation of air noise flowing through the duct is suppressed, the occupant does not feel uncomfortable, and the honeycomb duct serves as a guide, and in an emergency, the airbag surely deploys in a predetermined direction. Therefore, safety is also ensured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an interior of a vehicle equipped with an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing an arrangement structure of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a perspective view showing the duct and the airbag device of FIG. 2. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the duct and the airbag device of FIG. 2 viewed from the direction of arrow A.

5 is a schematic diagram showing a state of a vehicle interior when the airbag of FIG. 2 is deployed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement structure of a conventional airbag device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Instrument Panel 3 Passenger Seat 15 Airbag Device 17 Opening 32 Vehicle Air Conditioner 33 Duct 35 Honeycomb Duct 41 Airbag

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air bag device having an air bag that is deployed in an emergency is arranged in an air bag deployment opening formed on the passenger side of an instrument panel, and a honeycomb structure is provided inside the air bag device. A honeycomb duct, which is used as a duct of the device, extends in the vehicle width direction along the inner surface of the instrument panel below the opening, and serves as a guide when the airbag is deployed between the opening and the airbag device. Arrangement structure of the air bag device, which is characterized in that