JPH0725306A - Air bag structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enclose an air bag body at a part, opposed to a driver's seat, in an instrument panel part without causing inconvenience to the layout of measuring instruments and the like and set the expanding direction of the air bag body in the direction optimum to protect an occupant. CONSTITUTION:A bag storage part 30 provided at the part, opposed to a driver's seat 13, of an instrument panel part 7, with an opening part 30A formed therein so as to be opened/closed by a lid 33 forming the upper part of the instrument panel part 7 is provided with an air bag body 31 enclosed in the contracted state together with an inflator 32 and shifted in the state of being expanded into the vehicle interior 2 through the opening part 30A from the contracted state by the actuation of the inflator 32. A driver's seat side part 30B in the bag storage part 30 is made a projected reflecting face part related to a projection type instrument display device 36.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention has a bag storing section provided in a vehicle compartment forming section that is in a contracted state and is stored together with bag expanding means, so that a relatively large impact is applied to the vehicle body from the outside. The present invention relates to an airbag structure of a vehicle including an airbag main body, which is adapted to shift from a contracted state to an inflated state in a vehicle compartment when actuated by a bag expanding means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle is equipped with an airbag that is normally stored in a retracted state in a storage portion provided in a vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle body, and is relatively large from the outside of the vehicle body. When a shock is applied, the airbag in the contracted state is allowed to rapidly expand from the storage part into the vehicle interior, and the airbag in the expanded state absorbs the impact force and the interior of the vehicle interior is absorbed. It has been proposed to restrain the occupant so as to reduce the impact on the occupant and protect the occupant.

An airbag installed in such a vehicle is often designed to protect an occupant seated in each of a driver's seat and a passenger's seat, which are installed in a passenger compartment.
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-303952, in the case where the main purpose is to protect an occupant seated in the driver's seat, the retracted state is stored in the storage section provided at the center of the steering wheel. In addition, in the case where the main purpose is to protect the occupant sitting in the passenger seat, in the instrument panel that constitutes the front end of the passenger compartment forming part, the part in front of the passenger seat is It is stored in the provided storage portion in a contracted state.

Then, the airbag stored in the retracted state in the storage portion provided in the central portion of the steering wheel or in the front portion of the passenger seat in the instrument panel portion is changed from the contracted state to the inflated state. When squeezing, by the operation of the bag expansion means (inflator) arranged in the storage part along with the airbag,
The inside of the vehicle is rapidly filled with gas and is expanded from the storage portion into the vehicle interior. In the airbag stored in the storage portion provided in the central portion of the steering wheel or the instrument panel portion,
When it is placed in an inflated state, the upper body including the head of the occupant, who often falls in the traveling direction of the vehicle in the passenger compartment, is to be reliably protected. It is desired to inflate to abut the throat.

[0005]

As described above, the airbag provided in the vehicle is provided in the central portion of the steering wheel, with the main role of protecting the occupant sitting in the driver's seat. When stored in the storage part, the reference position for the occupant seated in the driver's seat is assumed, and the inflated airbag is located at the throat part of the occupant who collapses from the assumed reference position in the traveling direction of the vehicle. The inflation direction of the airbag is set so that the contact state can be obtained. However, in the case of an airbag stored in a storage portion provided at the center of the steering wheel, the actual storage position of the airbag is limited by the position of the steering wheel. There may be difficulties in properly setting the inflation direction. For example, depending on the selection of the angle of the steering wheel with respect to the driver's seat, the airbag is set so that the inflation direction is desired. Depending on the state, it may be impossible to store the steering wheel in the storage portion provided in the central portion of the steering wheel.

Further, in a steering wheel in which a storage portion for storing an airbag together with an inflator is provided in a central portion, an increase in overall weight is imitated, which adversely affects operability. There is also a risk that it will have an effect.

Therefore, in order to deal with such a problem, an airbag storage part, which mainly protects an occupant sitting in the driver's seat, is provided in a portion of the instrument panel portion facing the driver's seat. As you can see, the part of the instrument panel that faces the driver's seat is
Usually, various instruments such as a speedometer, an engine tachometer, and a fuel gauge that indicate the condition of the vehicle are arranged, so that the spare space is relatively small. In addition to various instruments, an airbag is also provided. It is often difficult to place even. In addition, even if the space problem is solved by some means and a storage part for the airbag is provided in a part of the instrument panel section facing the driver's seat, the air bag is stored in the storage part. There is also a problem that when the bag is inflated, the steering wheel located between the instrument panel portion and the driver's seat becomes an obstacle to proper inflation of the airbag.

In view of the above point, the present invention has a main role of protecting an occupant seated in a driver's seat installed in a vehicle compartment, and is an instrument forming a vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle. The panel section is provided with a storage section without causing any other inconvenience to the arrangement of other devices such as instruments, and the storage section is stored in a retracted state together with the inflator, and (EN) Provided is an airbag structure of a vehicle which can be inflated optimally to protect an occupant sitting in a driver's seat when it is moved from a contracted state to an inflatable state in a passenger compartment. To aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention is arranged in a vehicle compartment of an vehicle in an instrument panel portion forming a vehicle compartment forming portion of the vehicle. A bag storing section provided at a position facing the driver's seat and having an opening opened and closed by an opening / closing member forming an upper part of the instrument panel section or a driver's seat side section facing the driver's seat;
The airbag storage unit is provided with an airbag body that is in a contracted state in the bag storage unit and is stored together with an inflator, and is moved by the operation of the inflator from a contracted state to a state in which the airbag unit is inflated into the vehicle compartment through the opening. The driver's seat side portion facing toward the driver's seat side is to form the projection reflection surface portion in the projection type instrument display device,
Alternatively, when the opening / closing member forming the driver side portion of the instrument panel section facing the driver's seat is in a position that closes the opening of the bag storage section, it forms the projection reflection surface section in the projection instrument display device. It is supposed to be and is configured.

[0010]

In the vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention having the above-described structure, the airbag body, together with the inflator, is located at the position facing the driver's seat in the instrument panel section. It is stored in the bag storage section provided in the. As a result, when the airbag body is caused to shift from the contracted state in the bag storage section to the inflated state in the vehicle compartment by the operation of the inflator, the direction of the inflation depends on, for example, the selection state of the angle of the steering wheel with respect to the driver's seat. Regardless of this, it is assumed that the direction can be set in the optimum direction to protect the occupant sitting in the driver's seat.

Further, when the projection-type instrument display device is used, the driver-side portion of the bag storage portion facing the driver-seat side forms the projection reflection surface portion of the projection-type instrument display device, or An opening / closing member that forms a driver's seat side portion of the instrument panel portion facing the driver's seat is configured to open and close the opening of the bag storage portion, and is in a position to close the opening of the bag storage portion. At this time, since it is assumed that the projection reflection surface portion of the projection type instrument display device is formed, an occupant seated in the driver's seat looks at the various instruments on the instrument panel section to ensure that the various instruments are read. Since it is not necessary to dispose the actual instruments of various instruments inside the portion of the instrument panel section facing the driver's seat, By the bag storage portion at a position facing the driver's seat in the panel portion is provided, never otherwise inconvenient placement of other devices, such as instruments are Kitasa.

Further, the steering wheel can be displaced downward from the normal position when the inflator is actuated and the airbag body is caused to shift from the contracted state in the bag storing section to the inflated state into the passenger compartment. In such a case, the steering wheel does not become an obstacle to the inflation of the airbag main body that is inflated into the vehicle compartment from the inside of the bag storage portion through the opening of the bag storage portion.

[0013]

1 shows an example of a vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention, together with a vehicle body portion to which it is applied.

In FIG. 1, a vehicle compartment forming portion which forms a vehicle compartment 2 in a vehicle body 1 of a vehicle is connected to a floor portion 3, a roof portion 4, a front windshield 5 and a dash panel 6. The instrument panel portion 7 and the like are included, and the instrument panel portion 7 constitutes a front end portion of a vehicle compartment forming portion that forms the vehicle compartment 2. A steering wheel 11 attached to an end portion of a steering shaft 10 rotatably supported by a steering column 12 projects from the lower side of the instrument panel portion 7 into the vehicle interior 2. In the passenger compartment 2, a driver's seat 13 which is separated from the instrument panel section 7 by a predetermined distance is provided.
Is installed, and the steering wheel 11 is located between the instrument panel section 7 and the driver's seat 13.

The instrument panel portion 7 has an upper portion 7A, a side portion 7B and a lower portion 7C which face the front windshield 5, the driver's seat 13 and the floor portion 3 and extend in the vehicle width direction. A meter window 14 that is supported by the side portion 7B and faces the driver's seat 13 is provided. A steering wheel moving mechanism 50 that supports the steering column 12 is connected to the lower portion 7C of the instrument panel section 7. Further, a cowl box 16 extending in the vehicle width direction along the instrument panel portion 7 is arranged between the vehicle compartment 2 and the engine compartment 15 of the vehicle body 1.

The steering column 12 is composed of a first column member 18 located near the steering wheel 11 and above the steering wheel 11, and a second column member 19 located below the first column member 18. A first shaft portion penetrating the first column member 18, a second shaft portion penetrating the second column member 19, and
It extends further downward from the second shaft portion and is divided into a third shaft portion connected to the steering gear portion 20, and each shaft portion is interconnected via a universal joint.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first column member 18 of the steering column 12 has three sets of through holes 21, 22 and 23 (through holes 22).
Each of Nos. 23 and 23 has a connecting portion 18A provided with one not shown in the drawing), and the second column member 19 has a pair of through holes 25 (one not shown in the drawing). Is provided, and the connecting portion 18A of the first column member 18 has a connecting portion 19A which is engaged from the outside. The through hole 21 provided in the connecting portion 18A of the first column member 18 is provided at a position closer to the steering wheel 11 than the through hole 22, and the through hole 23 is separated from the steering wheel 11 by the through hole 22. It is provided at the position where

Through hole 2 provided in the first column member 18
2 and each of the through holes 25 provided in the second column member 19 pass through the first shaft portion of the steering shaft 10 through which the first column member 18 is inserted and the second column member 19 through. The first and second column members 18 and 19 are located at positions opposite to both ends of the connecting pin 26 for interconnecting the second shaft portion with the through hole 22 and the through hole 25, respectively. Are interconnected by being inserted into one and the other of each of the. Then, the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 is attached to the first column member 18 connected to the second column member 19.
Is attached.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 has a fixed portion 51 and a movable portion 52.
have. The fixed portion 51 is a pair of first portions 54 (one of which is not shown in the figure) attached to the lower portion 7C of the instrument panel portion 7 so as to extend in the vehicle front-rear direction.
And a support bar 5 attached to each of the first portions 54 and extending along the instrument panel portion 7.
5 has one end fixed to the first part 5
A pair of second portions 56 having the other end portion extending obliquely in a direction away from each of the four and a flat plate portion 57 interconnecting one end portion to an intermediate portion of the second portion 56. It is configured to include. The through hole 5 is provided at the other end of each of the pair of second portions 56 of the fixed portion 51.
8 is provided, and a through hole 59 that is located above the through hole 58 is provided. Further, the flat plate-shaped portion 57 of the fixed portion 51 is provided with a pair of through holes 60 having a relatively large diameter on each of both side portions extending along the pair of second portions 56, and an upper surface portion thereof. The movable plate member 61 is disposed in the. The movable plate member 61 is
It is connected to an ignition type retracting member 65 via a wire 64.

On the other hand, the movable portion 52 includes a pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 integrally formed by being connected to each other.
It is configured to include a pair of arm-shaped portions 67 that are separate from the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66. Each of the connecting arm-shaped portions 66 is an instrument from one end provided with a through hole 68, the other end provided with a through hole 69, and an intermediate portion sandwiched between the through hole 68 and the through hole 69. It has a projecting portion 66B projecting toward the panel portion 7 and having a bent portion 66A provided at its tip portion, and the other end portion of each has a connecting portion 6.
It is said that they are mutually connected through 6C.
A pair of through holes 72 are provided in the bent portion 66A of the protruding portion 66B in each of the connecting arm-shaped portions 66. Further, each of the arm-shaped portions 67 has one end portion provided with the through hole 70 and the other end portion provided with the through hole 71.

The pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 of the movable portion 52 have a through hole 68 provided at one end thereof as a first portion.
The pair of through holes 21 provided in the connecting portion 18A of the column member 18 from the outside, and the through holes 69 provided at the other ends of the pair of through holes 21 are provided in the fixing portion 51.
Pair of through holes 59 provided at the other end of the portion 56
The first and the second with the state of facing each other from the outside.
Of the column members 18 and 19 of FIG. In addition, the pair of arm-shaped portions 67 has a through hole 70 provided at one end portion thereof and a connecting portion 18 of the first column member 18.
The pair of through holes 23 provided in A are respectively opposed from the outside, and the through holes 71 provided at the other ends thereof are provided at the other ends of the pair of second portions 56 of the fixing portion 51. The first and second column members 18 and 19 are engaged with the pair of through holes 58 facing each other from the outside.

Then, the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 and the first column member 18 and the pair of connecting pins 73 respectively penetrate through the through holes 68 provided at one end of the connecting arm-shaped portion 66, By inserting into the pair of through holes 21 provided in the connecting portion 18A of the first column member 18, respectively,
They are interconnected so that they can move relative to each other. Further, in the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66, the pair of connecting pins 74 respectively penetrate through the through-holes 69 provided at the other end of the connecting arm-shaped portion 66, and the pair of second portions of the fixing portion 51. By being inserted into a pair of through holes 59 provided at the other end of 56, respectively, they are movably connected to the fixed portion 51.

Further, the pair of arm-shaped portions 67 and the first column member 18 and the pair of connecting pins 75 respectively penetrate through the through holes 70 provided at one end of the arm-shaped portion 67 to form the first column member 18. The column members 18 are inserted into the pair of through holes 23 provided in the connecting portion 18A of the column members 18 and are connected to each other so as to be relatively movable. In addition, in the pair of arm-shaped portions 67, the pair of connecting pins 76 respectively penetrate through the through holes 71 provided in the other end of the arm-shaped portion 67, so that the fixed portion 5 is fixed.
1 is inserted into the pair of through holes 58 provided at the other ends of the pair of second portions 56, respectively, so that the fixing portion 5
1 is connected so that it can be moved relatively.

The bent portions 66A provided on the projecting portions 66B of each of the connecting arm-shaped portions 66 have a pair of through holes 72 provided therein, on both sides of the flat portion 57 of the fixed portion 51. A pair of through holes 60 provided
And is brought into contact with the lower surface of the flat plate-shaped portion 57 in a state of being opposed to.

The movable plate member 61 disposed on the flat plate portion 57 of the fixed portion 51 is provided on both sides with elongated holes 77 extending along the pair of second portions 56, and below the support bar 55. A pair of notches 78 located and communicating with each of the long holes 77.
And one end to which the wire 64 is attached. The long holes 77 provided on both sides of the movable plate member 61 are located on the pair of through holes 60 provided on both sides of the flat plate upper portion 57, respectively. Then, the pair of connecting pins 79 respectively penetrate the pair of through holes 72 provided in the bent portions 66A of each of the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 of the movable portion 52, and the fixed portion 5 is formed.
By penetrating through the pair of through holes 60 provided on both sides of the flat plate portion 57 of one, respectively, and further penetrating the long holes 77 provided on both sides of the movable plate member 61 respectively. The fixed portion 51, the movable portion 52, and the movable plate member 61 are interconnected. A nut 80 for locking the connecting pin 79 in the elongated hole 77 is screwed into the tip of each connecting pin 79, whereby the connecting pin 79 is engaged.
Is prevented from coming off from the through hole 60 having a relatively large diameter.

The ignition type retracting member 65 connected to the movable plate member 61 via the wire 64 is supported by the first portion 54 of the fixed portion 51, and the ignition agent contained therein is in an ignited state. When the wire 64 is broken, the wire 64 is pulled into the inside thereof, whereby the movable plate member 61 is detached from the fixed portion 51 together with the long hole 77 and the notch 78 provided therein being detached from the connecting pin 79. There is.

On the other hand, in the instrument panel section 7,
As shown in FIG. 1, the driver seat-side portion 3 is located at a position facing the driver seat 13 and faces the driver seat 13 side.
0B is provided in the cowl box 16, and the bag storage portion 30 is supported and supported by the cowl box 16. The bag storage portion 30 is located at a position facing the upper portion 7A of the instrument panel portion 7. Arranged opening 30
Have A. In such a bag storage portion 30, an airbag body 31 that is in a contracted state by being folded is provided.
And the inflator 3 located below the airbag body 31
2 are stored, and the inflator 32 is connected to one end of the airbag body 31.

In the bag storage section 30, a driver side portion 30B facing the driver's seat 13 side is made to face the inside of the vehicle compartment 1 through the meter window 14, and an opening 30 is formed.
A is covered with a lid 33 that forms a part of the upper portion 7A of the instrument panel section 7. The lid 33 can be relatively easily rotated by the pressure applied from the bag storing section 30 side, whereby
The open state of the opening 30A formed in the bag storage portion 30 is obtained. In the driver seat side portion 30B of the bag storage portion 30, a surface facing the meter window 14 forms a mirror 35.

A projection-type instrument display device 36 is arranged between the meter window 14 and the lower portion of the driver's seat side portion 30B of the bag storage portion 30. The projection-type instrument display device 36 includes various kinds of information including a speedometer, an engine tachometer, a fuel gauge, and the like, which provide various kinds of information such as a traveling speed, an engine speed, and a fuel remaining amount of a vehicle provided with the passenger compartment 2. Projection of a display showing meters and the like on the mirror 35 formed by the driver's seat side portion 30B of the bag storage portion 30 and showing various meters and instruments such as a speedometer, an engine tachometer and a fuel gauge on the mirror 35. It is designed to obtain an image. That is, the driver's seat side portion 30B of the bag storage portion 30 is used as a projection reflection surface portion related to the projection-type instrument display device 36, and the driver's seat side portion 3 of the bag storage portion 30 is used.
The projected image showing various instruments obtained on the mirror 35 formed by 0B is transmitted through the meter window 14 and
It is designed to be visually recognized by an occupant P seated in the driver's seat 13. Therefore, the occupant P seated in the driver's seat 13
On the instrument panel section 7, looking at various instruments including a speedometer, an engine tachometer, a fuel gauge, etc., which provide various information such as the traveling speed of the vehicle, the engine speed, and the remaining fuel amount, It will be possible to reliably read them.

In the instrument panel section 7 provided with such a projection-type instrument display device 36, it is unnecessary that actual instruments of various instruments are arranged inside the portion facing the driver's seat 13. As a result, even if the bag storage section 30 is provided at a position facing the driver's seat 13, there is no possibility that the arrangement of other devices such as instruments will be inconvenient. Further, the driver's seat side portion 30B of the bag storage portion 30 is used as a projection reflection surface portion related to the projection type instrument display device 36, whereby the projection type instrument display device 36 is made compact.

The airbag body 31 includes the bag storage portion 30.
In comparison with the inflated length of the portion that is in a contracted state inside the opening 30 </ b> A in FIG.
The expansion length of the portion in the contracted state inside B is small. Further, the inflator 32 connected to the airbag body 31 contains an ignition type gas generating agent or the like, and when the vehicle body 1 is subjected to a relatively large impact from the outside, the gas generating agent is ignited. Therefore, a large amount of inert gas is rapidly generated, and the gas is supplied to the inside of the airbag body 31. As a result, when a relatively large impact is applied to the vehicle body 1 from the outside, the airbag body 31 stored in the bag storage portion 30
However, the contracted state is suddenly changed to the expanded state in the passenger compartment 2. At this time, the airbag body 31 in the inflating process pushes and rotates the lid 33 from its inside to open the opening 30A, and is rapidly inflated into the passenger compartment 2 through the opening 30A.

At this time, the airbag body 31 is positioned inside the driver's seat side portion of the bag storage portion 30 in comparison with the expanded length of the portion of the bag storage portion 30 which is in a contracted state inside the opening portion 30A. Since the expanded length of the portion in the contracted state is small, the opening portion 30A from the contracted state is opened.
When it is rapidly expanded into the passenger compartment 2 through
After abutting on the front windshield 5, the steering wheel 11 is covered and quickly spread downward. As a result, the inflated airbag body 31 can be appropriately brought into contact with the traveling direction side of the vehicle, that is, the throat portion of the occupant P leaning toward the steering wheel 11 side, and the occupant P can be reliably protected. Will be seen.

Further, when a relatively large impact is applied to the vehicle body 1 from the outside thereof, the retracting member 65 of the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 causes the inflator 32 to move.
With this, the built-in ignition agent is ignited by being placed in an operating state. As a result, the flat plate portion 57 of the fixed portion 51 is formed.
The movable plate member 61 disposed at the position is pulled by the wire 64 in the direction indicated by the arrow a in FIG. 3, and is separated from the fixed portion 51. As a result, the movable plate member 61
Each of the plurality of connecting pins 79 locked in the long holes 77 of the through hole 60, which has a relatively large diameter, is provided in the flat plate portion 57 through which the connecting pins 79 are penetrated, and one point is shown in FIG. As indicated by the chain line, the nut 80, which is screwed into the tip, is separated from the fixed portion 51. As described above, due to the load of the steering shaft 10, the steering wheel 11 and the like imposed on the movable portion 52, which increases due to the detachment of the plurality of connecting pins 79 from the fixed portion 51,
The pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 of the movable portion 52 are moved in a direction away from the fixed portion 51 with the pair of connecting pins 74 as fulcrums, and the pair of arm-shaped portions 67 also support the pair of connecting pins 76 as fulcrums. As the fixed part 5
It is moved in the direction away from 1.

The movement of the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 and the pair of arm-shaped portions 67 is performed by moving the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66.
The connecting portion 66C for interconnecting the parts is stopped by coming into contact with the other end of the flat plate portion 57 of the fixed portion 51.

At this time, one end of the connecting arm-shaped portion 66 is attached via the connecting pin 73, and one end of the arm-shaped portion 67 is located at a position separated from the steering wheel 11 by the connecting pin 73. In the steering shaft 10 penetrating the steering column 12 mounted via 75, a first shaft portion penetrating the first column member 18 and a second shaft portion penetrating the second column member 19. However, with the movement of the pair of connecting arm-shaped portions 66 and the pair of arm-shaped portions 67, they are moved along different trajectories.

As a result, the first and second shaft portions of the steering shaft 10 which penetrate the first and second column members 18 and 19, respectively, are shown by solid lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 together with the steering wheel 11. The steering wheel 11 is moved from a reference position where the central axes are substantially the same as shown to a lower position where the central axes are different from each other, as shown by the alternate long and short dash lines in FIGS. 1 and 3. The lower position, which is more upward than when the orientation is at the reference position.

As described above, when the vehicle body 1 is subjected to an impact greater than a predetermined amount from the outside, the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 operates together with the inflator 32, and the steering wheel 11 moves upward from the reference position. By being moved to the lower position, which is to be directed to the side, as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
The steering wheel 11 prevents the airbag body 31 in an inflated state, which expands downward so as to cover the steering wheel 11 after contacting the front windshield 5, from expanding in an appropriate direction. Avoidable situations. As a result, the inflating airbag body 31 is seated in the driver's seat 13 in which the airbag body 31 inclines toward the steering wheel 11 and the traveling direction of the vehicle.
Therefore, the inflated state can be swiftly and accurately secured to reliably protect the upper body including the head of the occupant P leaning in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

FIG. 4 shows another example of a vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention, together with a vehicle body part to which it is applied. Regarding the example shown in FIG. 4, each part and each member corresponding to each part and each member shown in FIG.
The same reference numerals are given to them, and a duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 4, the instrument panel portion 81 includes a front windshield 5 and a driver's seat 13.
Further, it has an upper portion 81A, a side portion 81B, and a lower portion 81C, which face the floor portion 3 and extend in the vehicle width direction, respectively. In addition, the lower portion 8 of the instrument panel portion 81
A steering wheel moving mechanism 50 that supports the steering column 12 including the first and second column members 18 and 19 is connected to 1C.

The instrument panel portion 81 has an opening 83A facing the driver's seat 13 and facing the driver's seat 13, and the portion facing the opening 83A is the cowl box 16. A bag storage portion 83 is provided that is attached to and supported by the bag storage portion 83. The bag storage portion 83 stores an airbag body 84 that is in a contracted state by being folded and an inflator 32 that is located closer to the cowl box 16 than the airbag body 84. The inflator 32 is the airbag body 84. Is connected to one end of.

The bag storage portion 83 is provided with a lid 85 which forms a driver's seat side portion of the instrument panel portion 81 facing the driver's seat 13 and can open and close the opening 83A. . This lid 85
When the opening 83A is closed, the cover covers the opening 83A and faces the driver's seat 13 side with a predetermined inclination angle.

The lid 85 is provided in the bag storage portion 83.
It is relatively easily rotated by the pressure applied from the side, so that the opening portion 83 of the bag storage portion 83 has.
The open state of A is obtained. Further, the lid 85 has a driver's seat 1
The surface on the side of 3 forms the mirror 35.

A projection type instrument display device 36 is arranged above the lid 85. The projection-type instrument display device 36 is
The lid 8 which is supposed to cover the display showing various instruments in order to close the opening 83A of the bag storing portion 83.
The projection image representing various instruments is obtained on the mirror 35 by projecting it onto the mirror 35 formed by 5. That is, the lid 85 that forms the driver's seat side portion of the instrument panel portion 81 facing the driver's seat 13 and can open and close the opening 83A of the bag storage 83 closes the opening 83A. In this case, the projection-type instrument display device 36 is assumed to be used as a projection reflection surface section.
Projected images representing various instruments obtained on the mirror 35 formed by the lid 85 are designed to be viewed by a passenger P seated in the driver's seat 13. Therefore,
Even in such an example, the occupant P seated in the driver's seat 13 is
Various instruments that provide various information about the vehicle,
When viewed on the instrument panel section 81, it is possible to reliably read them.

Even in the instrument panel portion 81 provided with such a projection type instrument display device 36, it is not necessary to dispose actual instruments of various instruments inside the portion facing the driver's seat 13. As a result, even if the bag storage portion 83 is provided at a position facing the driver's seat 13, there is no possibility that the arrangement of other devices such as instruments will be inconvenient. Further, the lid 85 that forms the driver's seat side portion of the instrument panel portion 81 facing the driver's seat 13 and can open and close the opening 83A of the bag storage portion 83 is a projection-type instrument display device 36. The projection-type instrument display device 36 is made compact by being used as a projection reflection surface portion related to the above.

When the airbag body 84 stored in the bag storing portion 83 is subjected to a relatively large impact on the vehicle body 1 from the outside and the inflator 32 is put into an operating state,
The contracted state is suddenly changed to the expanded state in the passenger compartment 2. At that time, the airbag body 84 in the inflating process
Pushes the lid 85 from its inside to rotate the opening 8
3A is opened and the passenger compartment 2 is opened through the opening 83A.
It is inflated rapidly inside.

The airbag body 84 is provided with the opening 83A of the bag storage portion 83 so as to face the driver's seat 13, so that the air bag body 84 is kept in a contracted state.
The transition to the inflated state inside is performed by the expansion that efficiently expands in the appropriately set expansion direction toward the driver's seat 13. In addition, the airbag main body 84 that is inflated toward the driver's seat 13 efficiently in this way can have its inflation volume reduced, and the transition from the contracted state to the inflated state can be performed quickly. become.

Furthermore, when a relatively large impact is applied to the vehicle body 1 from the outside, the retracting member 65 of the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 causes the inflator 32 to move.
The steering wheel 11 supported by the steering shaft 10 from the reference position as shown by the solid line in FIG.
As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4, it is moved to a lower position which is more upward than when it is in the reference position.

As described above, when the vehicle body 1 is subjected to an impact greater than a predetermined amount from the outside, the steering wheel moving mechanism 50 operates together with the inflator 32, and the steering wheel 11 moves upward from the reference position. By being moved to the lower position, which is the one facing the side, as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.
A situation in which the steering wheel 11 prevents the airbag body 84 from inflating in an appropriate direction toward the driver's seat 13 in an inflating direction in an appropriate direction is prevented. As a result, the inflating airbag main body 84 is reliably interposed between the steering wheel 11 and the occupant P seated in the driver's seat 13 which falls in the traveling direction of the vehicle.

Moreover, the steering wheel 11 placed in the lower position in such a state that the direction is set to the upper side is opposed to the driver's seat 13 in the bag storing portion 83, as shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. The airbag main body 84 that inflates toward the driver's seat 13 from the opening 83A is supported from below to ensure that the driver's seat 13 is
It is supposed to expand towards. As a result, the airbag body 84 causes the driver's seat 1 to collapse toward the traveling direction of the vehicle.
The inflated state that reliably protects the upper body including the head of the occupant P seated on the vehicle 3 can be swiftly and appropriately obtained.

[0050]

As is apparent from the above description, in the airbag structure of the vehicle according to the present invention, the airbag body, together with the inflator, is located at the position facing the driver's seat in the instrument panel portion. It is stored in the provided bag storage part, and the driver's seat side portion of the bag storage part facing the driver's seat side is to form the projection reflection surface part in the projection type instrument display device, or the instrument panel The opening / closing member forming the driver's seat side portion facing the driver's seat is configured to open / close the opening of the bag storage portion, and the opening / closing member is in a position to close the opening of the bag storage portion. At this time, the projection reflection surface portion of the projection type instrument display device is formed. As a result, when the airbag body is caused to shift from the contracted state in the bag storage section to the inflated state in the vehicle compartment by the operation of the inflator, the direction of the inflation depends on, for example, the selection state of the angle of the steering wheel with respect to the driver's seat. Regardless of this, it is assumed that the direction can be set in the optimum direction to protect the occupant sitting in the driver's seat. In addition, an occupant seated in the driver's seat can see various instruments on the instrument panel section and can read the various instruments reliably, and the actual instruments are the instrument panel section. Since it does not need to be arranged inside a portion of the instrument panel facing the driver's seat, a bag storage portion is provided at a position of the instrument panel portion facing the driver's seat, so that other devices such as instruments can be installed. There is no particular inconvenience to the arrangement.

Further, when the inflator is actuated to move the airbag body from the contracted state in the bag storing section to the inflated state in the vehicle compartment, the steering wheel can be displaced downward from the normal position. In this case, the steering wheel does not become an obstacle to the inflation of the airbag main body that is inflated from the inside of the bag storage portion through the opening of the bag storage portion into the vehicle compartment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention together with a vehicle body part to which the airbag structure is applied.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a steering wheel moving mechanism provided in a vehicle to which the example shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

3 is a schematic configuration diagram provided for explaining a configuration and an operation of a steering wheel moving mechanism provided in a vehicle to which the example shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of the vehicle airbag structure according to the present invention together with the vehicle body part to which the example is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 vehicle body 2 vehicle compartment 7,81 instrument panel portion 10 steering shaft 11 steering wheel 12 steering column 13 driver's seat 16 cowl box 30,83 bag storage portion 30A, 83A opening 30B driver's seat side portion 31,84 airbag body 32 inflator 33,85 lid 35 mirror 36 projection type meter display device 50 steering wheel moving mechanism

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masaya Watanabe 3-1, Shinchi, Fuchu-cho, Aki-gun, Hiroshima Mazda Motor Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An instrument panel portion constituting a vehicle compartment forming portion of a vehicle, which is provided at a position facing a driver's seat arranged in the vehicle compartment of the vehicle and forms an upper portion of the instrument panel portion. A bag storage part having an opening that can be opened and closed by an opening and closing member, and a retracted state stored in the bag storage part together with a bag expanding means, and the contracted state by the operation of the bag expanding means. From the air bag body to the state of inflating into the passenger compartment through the opening, the driver seat side portion of the bag storage portion facing the driver seat side is projected by the projection instrument display device. An airbag structure for a vehicle, characterized in that a reflection surface portion is formed. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the bag storage portion facing the driver's seat side portion is supported by a cowl box arranged between an engine room and a vehicle compartment of the vehicle. Airbag structure. 3. The airbag main body is deflated inside the driver's seat side portion of the bag storage portion in comparison with the expanded length of the portion deflated inside the opening portion of the bag storage portion. The airbag structure for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inflated length of the portion is small. 4. An instrument panel portion constituting a vehicle interior forming portion of a vehicle, the vehicle being provided in a position facing a driver's seat arranged in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, the instrument panel portion being provided at the driver's seat. A bag storage unit having an opening that is opened and closed by an opening and closing member that forms a portion facing the driver's seat, and a bag storage unit that is in a contracted state and stored together with a bag expansion unit, and expands the bag. An airbag main body that is moved by the operation of the means from a contracted state to a state of inflating into the vehicle compartment through the opening, wherein the opening / closing member is in a position to close the opening. A vehicle airbag structure characterized in that it forms a projection reflection surface portion in a projection-type instrument display device. 5. The air of a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the bag storing portion facing the opening is supported by a cowl box arranged between an engine room and a vehicle compartment of the vehicle. Bag structure. 6. When the airbag body is moved from a contracted state to an inflatable state in the vehicle compartment, the airbag body provided in a vehicle is moved from the contracted state to an inflatable state in the vehicle compartment. The airbag structure for a vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the steering wheel is configured to be displaced so as to be supported so that the inflation direction is directed in a specific direction.