JPH0711457U - Airbag module - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A simple mechanism is used for temporary fixing of the base plate and the airbag cover, and the temporary fixing process is simplified so that automation of the same process can be easily handled, and yet reliable. An air bag module having a connection structure of an air bag cover and a base plate, which has an excellent temporary fixing function, and further secures a large counter force against the deploying force of the cover without increasing the fixing means such as rivets. I will provide a. [Structure] The left and right edges of the side wall portion (12a) of the base plate (12) are provided with substantially L-shaped engaging pieces (18) projecting outward at right angles to the side wall portion and having their tips facing each other. The air bag cover (14) corresponding to the engaging piece (18) has a standing wall (1
A notch (14b) is formed at the left and right edge positions of 4a), and the engaging piece (18) is engaged with the notch (14b).

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to an airbag module that is mounted in front of an occupant of an automobile and is applied to an airbag device that absorbs occupant's impact by expanding and deploying instantaneously when the vehicle receives a strong impact. The present invention relates to an airbag module, which is characterized by a connection structure between a base plate that supports an airbag and an airbag cover, which are constituent members of the module, and is attached to a desired portion of a vehicle body, and the airbag cover.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In recent years, in addition to conventional seat belt devices to ensure the safety of passengers, when a large impact is applied to a vehicle, the impact is detected and gas is introduced into the airbag to instantly expand into a balloon shape. An airbag device that cushions and supports the upper half of the occupant's upper body with the airbag and significantly reduces the impact force on the human body has been put into practical use.

As shown in FIG. 6, an airbag device of this type includes a metal base plate 2 for airtightly supporting an airbag 1 made of nylon cloth or the like folded in an appropriate size at the periphery of an opening. An air bag module having the air bag 1 and an air bag cover 4 made of a soft synthetic resin material in which a peripheral standing wall portion 4a is externally fitted to the peripheral side wall portion 2a of the base plate 2 and fixed by rivets or the like. 5 is equipped. An inflator (gas generator) 6 is further attached to the opening of the airbag module 5, and is attached to the boss of the steering wheel, for example, in front of the passenger seat.

The airbag 1 is made of an elastomer material. For example, in the event of a collision of a vehicle, the inflator 6 is ignited by receiving a signal from a sensor that detects the impact, and the gas that burns rapidly is the same. Is released into the interior of the air bag 1 and inflates the airbag 1 in an instant. The airbag cover 4 is configured such that a part thereof is ruptured when the airbag 1 is inflated and can be deployed, and when the airbag device is operated as described above, the airbag cover 4 will be released from the airbag 1. The airbag 1 is ruptured and expanded by the inflation pressure, and the airbag 1 is expanded from the ruptured opening to the outside so that the airbag 1 can be greatly inflated.

The airbag module 5 described above is generally attached to a steering wheel or the like through the following assembly process. That is, the air bag 1 is airtightly attached to the periphery of the opening of the base plate 2, and after the air bag 1 is folded compactly, the air bag cover 4 is attached to the base plate 2 so as to accommodate the air bag 1. Install. The airbag cover 4 is attached to the peripheral side wall portion 2a of the base plate 2 by fitting the peripheral side wall portion 2a of the base plate 2 to the peripheral side wall portion 2a and the peripheral side wall portion 4a while the peripheral side wall portion 4a of the cover 4 is slightly expanded outward. 4a is temporarily fixed by temporary fixing means so as to fix the positional relationship with 4a. After that, the base plate 2 and the airbag cover 4 are firmly fixed and integrated with each other via the contact plate 7 by rivets or the like. Next, the inflator 6 is attached to the base plate 2 by an appropriate means to form a module 5, and the base plate 2 of the module 5 is attached to a steering wheel (not shown).

Here, when the airbag cover 4 is externally fitted to the base plate 2 and attached, the reason for temporarily fixing the two is that the airbag 1 attached to the base plate 2 in a folded state is the airbag cover 4 This is because the positional relationship between the base plate 2 and the airbag cover 4 tends to fluctuate because it is pushed up from the inside, and this can be prevented so that the work such as the riveting can be performed accurately and surely.

[0007] Conventionally, many improvements have been made for that purpose, but one example thereof is a connection structure between an airbag cover and a base plate disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-115968. FIG. 6 shows the connecting structure. According to FIG. 6, any one of the airbag cover 4 and the base plate 2 is located on or near a line connecting a plurality of fixing parts such as rivets between the airbag cover 4 and the base plate 2. A protrusion (4b, 2b) protruding from one member toward the other member, and an engaging portion (2c, 4c) provided on the other member engaged with the protrusion (4b, 2b). It has an engaging means consisting of. When the airbag cover 4 is externally fitted to the base plate 2 and attached to the base plate 2, a pad plate 7 is usually used together with the engaging means as in the conventional case, and the base plate 2, the airbag cover 4 and the pad plate are used together. After the three members of 7 are temporarily fixed, the base plate 2 and the airbag cover 4 are firmly connected and fixed by rivets or the like.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In the structure for connecting the airbag cover and the base plate disclosed in the above publication, it is desirable that the protrusion is not formed on the base plate made of a metal material in consideration of automation of the assembling process. Considering that the molding process of the airbag cover is complicated, it is preferable that the protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the airbag cover, not on the inner surface thereof. If such conditions are satisfied, the connecting structure disclosed in the above publication cannot temporarily fix the airbag cover fitted onto the base plate to the same, which allows the connecting structure to function effectively and at the same time improve productivity. It will be difficult to realize the improvement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to adopt a simple structure for temporary fixing means of a base plate and an airbag cover, simplify the temporary fixing step, and perform the same step. The automatic temporary fixing function is demonstrated, and the securing force by rivets etc. is not increased, and a large counter force against the deployment force of the cover is secured. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag module having a structure for connecting an airbag cover and a base plate.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 That is, the above object of the present invention is an airbag module in which a peripheral standing wall portion of an airbag cover is fixed to a peripheral side wall portion of a base plate attached to a desired portion of a passenger compartment, and the side wall portion of the base plate is provided. The left and right end edges are provided with engaging pieces that project outward and their tips are opposed to each other. The engaging pieces are attached at the left and right end positions of the standing wall of the airbag cover corresponding to the engaging pieces. The present invention is achieved by an airbag module characterized in that a notch portion to which a piece is engaged is provided.

Another object of the present invention is an airbag module, which is another configuration of the present invention, in which a side wall of a base plate attached to a desired portion of a vehicle compartment is fixed to a standing wall of an airbag cover. The peripheral side wall of the airbag cover and the peripheral standing wall of the airbag cover have cutouts at positions corresponding to the left and right end edges of the airbag cover, and are made of metal having fastening pieces that engage with the cutouts at both ends. The present invention can also be achieved by an airbag module characterized in that the side wall portion and the standing wall portion are connected and fixed by a plate-like engaging member.

[0012]

[Action]

 When the airbag cover and the base plate are temporarily fixed by the device according to the first aspect, the airbag is first fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the central opening of the base plate by rivets or the like in a compactly folded state. In this state, the outer surface of the side wall of the base plate is pushed along the inner surface of the standing wall of the airbag cover so that the airbag is housed inside the airbag cover. At the time of this pushing, the taper portion of the standing wall is fitted into the fitting insertion guide portion formed between the left and right engaging pieces formed at both ends of the side wall portion and the side wall portion. The engaging portion elastically deforms the taper portion to narrow the width, and passes through the fitting insertion path. At the moment when the tapered portion passes through the fitting guide path, the tapered portion returns to its original shape, and the engaging piece engages with the notch in the airbag cover.

Therefore, in this state, the upper end surface of the engaging piece of the base plate abuts the upper end surface of the notch of the airbag cover, and the engaging piece supports the standing wall portion of the airbag cover from the outer surface. Does not move in the direction of coming out of the airbag cover, the vertical wall does not move away from the side wall, and the rivet insertion position between the base plate and the airbag cover does not shift, so the fixing process using rivets etc. is smooth. You can do it.

In the case of temporarily fixing the airbag cover and the base plate according to the invention described in claim 2, first, the base plate is pushed along the inner surface of the standing wall portion of the airbag cover, and the side wall portion of the plate and the airbag. When the vertical wall of the cover overlaps, when the left and right bent pieces of the fastener are pressed against the notches formed on both the side wall and the vertical wall from the outside of the vertical wall, the bent piece V The character-shaped tip portion is elastically expanded and deformed against the elasticity, and is fitted, and the notch is attached so as to be wrapped by the tip portion. When the engaging member engages with the notch, the base plate and the airbag cover are strongly connected to each other similarly to the invention described in claim 1, and the standing wall portion does not move in the direction away from the side wall portion. Since the rivet insertion position with respect to the cover does not shift, the fixing process using rivets or the like can be performed smoothly.

[0015]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, a typical embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure for connecting an air bag cover and a base plate, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention described in claim 1.

The airbag module 15 according to this embodiment includes a base plate 12 fixed to a boss portion of a steering wheel (not shown) and an airbag cover 14 that also serves as a center pad of the steering wheel, as in the conventional case. And an airbag (not shown) that is folded and accommodated in a storage space formed by the base plate 12 and the airbag cover 14, and an inflator (not shown).

The base plate 12 is formed of a rectangular box having a circular opening (not shown) at the center of the bottom surface, and the opening end of the airbag accommodated in the folded state is located at the peripheral edge of the circular opening. In addition to supporting, the housing portion of the inflator (not shown) is supported by the circular opening after mounting the airbag. Each of the four peripheral edges of the base plate 12 has a side wall 12a which is one of the characteristic features of the present invention. The side wall 12a has a plurality of rivet insertion holes for inserting the rivets 16 as in the conventional case. 12a-1 is formed. What should be noted here is that L-shaped engaging pieces 18 are formed so as to project from the left and right ends of the side wall 12a of the base plate 12. As shown in the figure, the engaging piece 18 slightly extends on the same plane from the left and right end portions of the side wall 12a and then bends at a right angle to the outside. Further, the engaging piece 18 has substantially the same thickness as the air bag cover 14. It is bent in parallel with the side wall 12a at the position where it is formed, and has a substantially L-shape as a whole. The tip ends of the left and right engaging pieces 18 face each other, and the engaging pieces 18 form a fitting insertion guide path 14b for a standing wall 14a of the airbag cover 14, which will be described later.

The airbag cover 14 is made of a soft synthetic resin made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and has a substantially rectangular box shape having standing walls 14a at four peripheral edges of a substantially rectangular surface portion (not shown). . The standing wall 14a is thicker than the other parts and has a certain rigidity, and notches 14b are formed at the left and right ends of the standing wall 14a, and from the upper end of the notch 14b to the tip of the standing wall 14a. It is a tapered portion 14c having a narrow width. The maximum width of the left and right connecting the lower ends of the left and right tapered portions 14c is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the length between the left and right outer end surfaces of the left and right engaging pieces 18 of the base plate 12. It Further, the length of the leading edge of the standing wall 14a and the width between the left and right cutouts 14b are close to those of the fitting guide path 12b formed between the side wall 12a of the base plate 12 and the left and right engaging pieces 18. It is set to the length that can be inserted in the state.

When temporarily fixing the base plate 12 and the airbag cover 14 configured as described above, the air is first fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the central opening (not shown) of the base plate 12 by a rivet (not shown) or the like. Keep the bag compactly folded. In this state, the side wall 12a of the base plate 12 is pushed along the inner surface of the standing wall 14a of the airbag cover 14 so that the airbag is housed inside the airbag cover 14. At the time of this pushing, the taper portion of the standing wall 14a is fitted into the fitting insertion guide path 12b between the left and right engaging pieces 18 formed on both ends of the side wall 12a and the side wall 12a, and the engaging piece 18 is tapered. The portion 14c is elastically deformed to be narrow, and passes through the fitting guide path 12b. At the moment when the tapered portion 14c passes through the fitting guide path 12b, the tapered portion 14c returns to its original shape, and the engaging piece 18 engages with the notch 14b as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Therefore, in this state, the upper end surface of the engaging piece 18 of the base plate 12 abuts the lower end surface of the tapered portion 14c of the airbag cover 14, and the engaging piece 18 also stands on the standing wall 14a of the air bag cover 14. Since the base plate 12 is supported from the outer surface, not only the base plate 12 does not move in the direction of coming out of the airbag cover 14, but also the standing wall 14a does not move in the direction away from the side wall 12a, and the rivet insertion position between the base plate 12 and the airbag cover 14 does not occur. The fixing process using rivets etc. can be performed smoothly without slipping.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a temporary fixing state of an airbag cover and a base plate, which is another embodiment, in a main portion. The difference from the above embodiment in the same embodiment is that the standing wall of the airbag cover 14 is different. 14a is divided into a plurality of pieces in the width direction through slit-shaped notches 14d. By adopting such a configuration, when the base plate 12 is pushed into the inside of the airbag cover 14 while guiding the standing wall 14a of the airbag cover 14 to the fitting guide path 12b of the base plate 12, a slit-like cut is formed. Since the notch 14d is formed, the left and right ends of the standing wall 14a are easily elastically deformed in the direction shown by the arrow in the figure, and the engaging piece 18 can easily get over the tapered portion 14c, and the base plate. 12 can be easily attached to the airbag cover 14.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a connecting structure between an air bag cover and a base plate, which is a typical embodiment of the present invention described in claim 2. In this embodiment, the side wall 12a of the base plate 12 and the standing wall 14a of the airbag cover 14 have substantially the same shape. Therefore, the left and right ends of the side wall 12a are cut at the left and right ends of the standing wall 14a. A notch 12d having the same shape as the notch 14b is formed. Further, the present invention further includes a fastening tool indicated by reference numeral 19 in the figure, which allows the base plate 12 and the airbag cover 14 to be temporarily fixed by one operation with the fastening tool 19. . The fastener 19 is made of, for example, an elongated elastic metal plate material such as spring steel, and both ends thereof are bent at right angles in the same direction to form a bent piece 19a. It is bent and formed into a V-shape that protrudes inward, and the entire shape is a long, narrow U-shape.

In order to connect and temporarily fix the side wall 12 a of the base plate 12 and the standing wall 14 a of the airbag cover 14 by the engaging member 19, the base plate 12 is pushed along the standing wall 14 a of the airbag cover 14 and the plate 12 When the side wall 12a of the bag and the standing wall 14a of the air bag cover 14 are overlapped with each other, the left and right bending pieces 19a of the fastening device 19 are pressed against the notches 12d and 14b from the outside of the standing wall 14a. The V-shaped tip portion of 19a is elastically expanded and deformed against the elastic force and fitted, and the notches 12d and 14b are attached so as to be enclosed by the V-shaped tip portion. In the illustrated example, the left and right end portions of the side wall 12a and the standing wall 14a are tapered as in the above embodiment, but as described above, in the present embodiment, the engaging member 19 is provided from the outer surface of the airbag cover 14. Since the side walls 12a and the standing wall 14a are engaged with the notches 12d and 14b by pressing, the tapered portions may not be formed.

Also in this embodiment, as a result of the base plate 12 and the airbag cover 14 being strongly connected by the fastening member 19, the standing wall 14a does not move in the direction away from the side wall 12a as in the above embodiment, and the base plate 12 and the air bag are not moved. The fixing process using rivets or the like can be smoothly performed without shifting the rivet insertion position from the bag cover 14. Although the present invention is applied to the four peripheral portions in the above-mentioned two embodiments, it is not always necessary to provide the peripheral portions to the four peripheral portions.

[0025]

[Effect of device]

 As is clear from the above description, according to the connecting structure of the base plate and the airbag cover in the airbag module of the present invention, the sidewalls of the base plate are formed in the notches formed at the left and right ends of the standing wall of the airbag cover. The engaging pieces provided at the left and right ends of the base plate are engaged with each other, or one elastic engaging tool is engaged with the notches formed at the left and right ends of the side wall of the base plate and the notch of the standing wall to temporarily connect them. Since it is configured to be fixed, not only can temporary fixing be performed easily with one operation, but even if the repulsive force of the folded airbag acts on the base plate, its relative position with the airbag cover is fixed. There is no change in the relationship, and temporary fixing is ensured and main fixing with rivets etc. becomes easy.

Further, by adopting the above-mentioned configuration in the present invention, it is easy to incorporate in an automated process of module assembly, and it is possible to remarkably improve productivity. Further, according to the above configuration of the present invention, it is not necessary to form a protrusion or the like on the inner surface as in the conventional case, so that complication in forming is avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure example of a base plate and a cover of an airbag module which is a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view seen from the inside showing a temporarily fixed state of a base plate and a cover of the airbag module.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the same state seen from the outside.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view from the outside showing a temporarily fixed state of a base plate and a cover of an airbag module according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a connecting structure of a base plate and a cover of an airbag module which is another typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an overall exploded perspective view showing a connection structure example of a base plate and a cover of a conventional airbag module.

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 base plate 12a side wall 12a-1 rivet insertion hole 12b fitting insertion guide path 12d notch 14 airbag cover 14a standing wall 14b notch 14c taper portion 14d notch 16 rivet 18 engaging piece 19 engaging tool 19a bent piece

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An airbag module in which a peripheral standing wall portion of an airbag cover is fixed to a peripheral side wall portion of a base plate attached to a desired portion of a passenger compartment, wherein outer portions are provided on left and right end edges of the side wall portion of the base plate. Engagement pieces that project toward each other and have their tips opposed to each other are provided, and notch portions to which the engagement pieces engage at left and right edge positions of the standing wall portion of the airbag cover corresponding to the engagement pieces. An airbag module comprising: 2. An airbag module in which a side wall portion of a base plate attached to a desired portion of a vehicle compartment is fixed to a standing wall portion of an airbag cover, the peripheral side wall portion of the base plate and a peripheral standing wall of the airbag cover. The part has notches at corresponding positions of the left and right end edges, and the side wall part and the upright wall are formed by metal plate-like engaging tools having engaging pieces engaging at the notch parts at both ends. An airbag module characterized by being connected and fixed to a section.