JPH0675954U - Airbag device with horn switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The horn switch can be removed from the airbag cover to stabilize the operation performance of the horn switch and facilitate replacement of the horn switch. [Structure] Airbag cover 11 having a storage hole 19
A lid 20 for closing the opening 19a of the storage hole, and a horn switch 18. By inserting the horn switch into the storage hole and attaching the cover to the airbag cover, the horn switch is attached to the airbag. Attach to the cover. Also,
An air bag cover 40 having a guide piece 46 provided on the inner wall surface.
And a horn switch 18, and the horn switch is attached to the airbag cover by guiding and sandwiching the horn switch from a side surface of the airbag cover by a guide piece.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an airbag device with a horn switch, which is arranged in the center of a steering wheel and absorbs the impact of a seated occupant in the event of a vehicle collision to protect it.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art In order to protect a driver when a vehicle crashes, an airbag device with a horn switch is provided in which a airbag cover is arranged at a central portion of a steering wheel so as to face a driver's seat.

Conventionally, as an airbag device with a horn switch of this type, one described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-127572 is known. This is a steering wheel in which an airbag device is stored under the pad part, and a mesh is insert-molded on the inner surface of the upper part of the pad part.At least when the airbag is activated, the upper surface of the pad part opens on both sides with the center part as the open end. At this time, the ends of the membrane switch facing the side to be the fixed ends on both sides are formed in a corrugated form, or are sewn and fixed to the mesh and incorporated by insert molding. .

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the device described in the above publication, since the horn switch is incorporated in the pad portion of the steering wheel by insert molding, it is difficult to replace only the horn switch when the horn switch fails. In addition, since the horn switch is insert-molded, the horn switch must have heat resistance, and in addition, the horn switch may be damaged during molding. Furthermore, since the horn switch is insert-molded on the pad part of the steering wheel, even if the occupant presses the pad part, the entire pad part may move and the horn switch may not work properly. Was there.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art. The purpose of the present invention is that only the horn switch can be easily replaced, and the horn switch has no heat resistance. The present invention intends to provide an airbag device with a horn switch that can be used as a horn switch and can be operated stably without fear of damaging the horn switch during the device assembly process.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, an airbag device with a horn switch according to the present invention has an airbag cover having a storage hole, a lid for closing the opening of the storage hole, and a horn switch. The horn switch is attached to the airbag cover by inserting the horn switch into the storage hole and attaching the lid to the airbag cover. In addition, it has an airbag cover with a guide piece horizontally installed on the inner wall surface and a horn switch.The horn switch can be attached to the airbag cover by guiding and sandwiching the horn switch from the side surface of the airbag cover. It is a thing.

[0007]

[Action]

 When the occupant presses the airbag cover to operate the horn switch, the pressing force elastically deforms the airbag cover toward the airbag body. Then, this pressing force is transmitted to the horn switch attached to the airbag cover, and the horn switch operates and the horn sounds.

Since the horn switch can be removed from the side portion of the airbag cover, the horn switch can be replaced. In addition, the horn switch is stored independently of the airbag cover, so it does not scatter even when the air bag body is inflated and deployed.

[0009]

【Example】

 Examples will be described with reference to the drawings. This device is arranged at the center of the steering wheel 10. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present apparatus, and FIGS. 6 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present apparatus.

First, the first embodiment will be described. Reference numeral 11 denotes an airbag cover that houses the folded airbag bag body 12. The airbag cover 11 may be made of thermoplastic elastomer resin or urethane foam.

The airbag cover 11 has a top plate 13 and side plates 14 bent and extended from four circumferences of the top plate 13. A skirt plate 15 is bent from the edge of the top plate 13 so as to surround the side plate 14 of the airbag cover 11. The skirt plate 15 has a notch 16 formed on the side close to the driver's seat when the steering wheel 10 is positioned in the forward running direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner wall surface of the top plate 13 of the airbag cover 11 is locally thinned to facilitate the breakage of the airbag cover 11 when the airbag bag body 12 is inflated and deployed. Thus, the concave groove 17 is formed.

The airbag cover 11 has a storage hole 19 with a closed rear end for inserting and storing the horn switch 18 from the upper end of the side plate 14 corresponding to the cutout 16 to the center of the top plate 13. It is provided. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the storage hole 19 is provided on the inner wall surface side of the top plate 13, but it goes without saying that it may be provided on the outer wall surface side of the top plate 13.

By forming the accommodation hole 19 in the airbag cover 11, the thickness of the airbag bag 11 in this portion becomes relatively thin. As a result, when a pressing force is applied to the airbag cover 11, the portion of the airbag cover 11 where the storage hole 19 is formed is easily deformed. Further, the inner wall surface side of the top plate 13 of the airbag cover 11 having the accommodation hole 19 has a predetermined thickness and a certain rigidity, and the horn switch 18 operates stably.

The opening 19 a of the storage hole 19 is closed by a lid 20 so as to be openable and closable. The lid 20 is formed in a shape that fits into the notch 16 of the skirt plate 15. Engaging projection pieces 22 1, 22 ... Engaging with the engaging holes 21, 21 ... Provided in the side plate 14 are provided on the lid 20. Further, the lid 20 is provided with an insertion hole 24 through which the switch wiring 23 of the horn switch 18 is inserted. Reference numeral 25 is an attachment hole for attaching the lid body 20 to the airbag cover 11 and the base plate 27 with the bolt 26.

The horn switch 18 is housed and fixed by inserting the horn switch 18 into the housing hole 19 through the opening 19 a after assembling the airbag device and closing the housing hole 19 with the lid 20. The switch wiring 23 of the horn switch 18 passes through the insertion hole 24 and is drawn out to the steering wheel 10 side. The horn switch 18 does not have to be heat-resistant, and if it fails, only the horn switch 18 can be easily replaced.

The airbag bag 12 is formed by stitching the outer edge portions of two circular base materials. The air bag body 12 may be one that is evenly folded by a conventional automatic folding machine. The airbag bag 12 has a peripheral edge of an opening provided at the center of the base material clamped between the ring plate 28 and the base plate 27 by rivets or the like, and is airtightly coupled to the inflator 29.

The inflator 29 is in the shape of a thin cylindrical container having a gas generating agent sealed therein, and has a plurality of gas ejection ports 30, 30 ... Formed on its side surface. Further, a flange 31 is provided on the outer periphery of the inflator 29 at the side of the gas ejection ports 30, 30 ... The inflator 29 has its head penetrating the base plate 27, the opening of the airbag 12 and the ring plate 28, and its flange 31 is fixed to the base plate 27 by bolts or rivets 32. The gas outlets 30, 30, ... Of the inflator 29 are surrounded by the airbag bag 12.

The present device is fixed to the steering wheel 10 via the base plate 27. The airbag cover 11, the folded airbag bag 12, the ring plate 28, and the inflator 29 are attached to the base plate 27 as described above.

Next, a second embodiment will be described. Reference numeral 40 denotes an airbag cover, which may be made of the same material as the airbag cover 11 of the first embodiment. The airbag cover 40 has a top plate 41, side plates 42 bent and extended from four circumferences of the top plate 41, and a skirt plate 43 bent and extended from an edge portion of the top plate 41 so as to surround the side plate 42. A concave groove (not shown) is formed on the inner wall surface of the top plate 41 of the airbag cover 40, as in the first embodiment.

A cut opening 44 is formed in the skirt plate 43 at a portion located on the upper right side when the steering wheel 10 is positioned in the forward running direction (the state shown in FIG. 6). An insertion opening 45 is provided at the upper end of the side plate 42 corresponding to the cut opening 44. Further, on the inner wall surface of the top plate 41, guide pieces 46, 46 having two rows of L-shaped cross sections are provided so as to project from the portion corresponding to the insertion opening 45. The guide pieces 46, 46 guide and fix the horn switch 18 inserted through the insertion opening 45.

Reference numeral 47 is a reinforcing plate adhered to the lower surface of the horn switch 18 in order to impart rigidity to the sheet-shaped horn switch 18 and to operate the horn switch 18 stably. The reinforcing plate 47 may be made of a hard material such as metal or plastic, and may have substantially the same size as the horn switch 18. By attaching the reinforcing plate 47 to the horn switch 18, the horn switch 18 can be guided and inserted into the guide pieces 46, 46 without being affected by the airbag bag 12. If the reinforcing plate 47 or the guide pieces 46, 46 are formed in a slightly tapered shape with respect to the insertion direction, the reinforcing plate 47 will be in a tightly fitted state as it is inserted therein, and will be fixed by frictional resistance. .

After assembling the airbag device, the horn switch 18 to which the reinforcing plate 47 is attached is inserted into the insertion opening 45 visible from the cut opening 44, guided by the guide pieces 46 and 46, and stored and fixed. It The switch wiring 23 of the horn switch 18 passes through the insertion port 45 and is drawn out along the outer wall surface of the side plate 42 of the airbag cover 40. As in the first embodiment, the horn switch 18 does not have to be heat resistant, and the horn switch 18 can be easily replaced if it fails.

The airbag bag 12, the base plate 27, the ring plate 28, and the inflator 29 are the same as those in the first embodiment. The airbag cover 40, the folded airbag bag body 12, the ring plate 28, and the inflator 29 are attached to the base plate 27, and the base plate 27 is attached to the steering wheel 10.

[0025]

[Effect of device]

 Since the present invention is configured as described above and the horn switch can be taken out from the airbag cover, when the horn switch fails, only the horn switch can be easily replaced from the side of the airbag cover. it can. Further, since the horn switch is fixed by an airbag cover or a reinforcing plate with high rigidity, the switch performance is stable. In addition, since the horn switch is installed by inserting it from the side of the airbag cover after assembling the airbag device, there is no risk of damaging the switch during the switch mounting process, and even if the switch is not heat resistant, it can be used. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA-A of the first embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 1B-B of the first embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the lower portion of the airbag cover of the first embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid of the airbag cover according to the first embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 6C-C of the second embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a second embodiment of the device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the back surface of the airbag cover of the second embodiment of the present device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the horn switch insertion portion of the second embodiment of the present device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 40 Airbag cover 18 Horn switch 19 Storage hole 19a Opening 20 Lid 46 Guide piece

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An airbag cover having a storage hole,
The horn switch is attached to the airbag cover by having a lid for closing the opening of the accommodation hole and a horn switch, inserting the horn switch into the accommodation hole, and attaching the lid to the airbag cover. An airbag device with a horn switch characterized by the above. 2. An air bag cover having a guide piece laterally provided on the inner wall surface, and a horn switch, and the horn switch is guided and sandwiched by the guide piece from the side surface of the air bag cover. An airbag device with a horn switch characterized by being attached.