JPH08175308A - Air bag module for front passenger seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a light and compact air bag module for a front passenger seat which is of simple structure and performs effective shock absorbing action without needing any separate member. CONSTITUTION: This relates to an air bag module for a front passenger seat equipped with an air bag 2, which expands at collision to protect an occupant, an inflator 5, which expands the air bag 2, an air bag casing 10, which accommodates these air bag 2 and inflator 5, and a lid 1 whose foot 1B is fixed to the fixing part 7 of the rise flank 3B of the air bag casing 10 arranged on the side of the front passenger seat and which consists of thermoplastic elastomer material. The foot 1B has a function to absorb the light shock working on the front 1A of the lid by making itself 1B, erected from the front 1A of the lid to the fixing part 7, into a shock absorbing part with a specified length.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag module for a passenger seat, which is suitable for protecting an occupant in an automobile or the like, and is particularly suitable for being stored and used in an instrument panel such as a passenger seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a passenger airbag device that is used by being housed in an instrument panel of this type, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates above a predetermined value, an airbag in an airbag module is activated by the operation of an acceleration sensor. Will deploy to the occupant side to protect the occupant, but the occupant may collide with the instrument panel due to deceleration to the extent that the acceleration sensor does not operate. There is a safety standard for occupant protection against such a slight impact, and it is defined to have a predetermined cushioning function. For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-127322. In addition, the side surface of the metal airbag case is formed so as to be easily deformed to absorb the impact, etc.
Although various improvements have been made for that purpose, the structure is not only complicated but also requires a space for a shock absorber. Therefore, various airbag modules having a simple structure and a buffer function that does not require space have been proposed.

One of such proposals is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-92195 shown in FIG.
To explain this, the airbag module has an airbag 22 inside an airbag case 24 opened to the occupant side.
An inflator 25, an ignition device, an acceleration sensor (not shown), etc. are housed and configured, and a bolt or the like is attached to a mounting seat 30 obtained by extending from a lower opening of the instrument panel 26 to the front of the vehicle body (right side in the drawing). Is attached through. The mounting seat 30 is firmly fixed to a steering shaft support member 32 or the like of the vehicle body. A buffer plate 28 and a hinge 23 are provided on the upper surface of the airbag case 24.
Are fastened together by bolts 29. The bolt 29
Further, the base portion of the airbag 22 housed in the airbag case 24 is also fastened. The hinge 23
Only the upper part is fixed by the bolt 29, and is extended downward along the inner surface of the main body 21A of the lid 21 that is cleaved when the airbag is activated. The lower end of the airbag case 24 is connected to a connecting member 31 fixed to the lower portion of the opening of the airbag case 24 and formed easily. 27 indicates a protective cover.

When the vehicle is decelerated at a deceleration such that the acceleration sensor does not operate due to sudden braking or the like, the occupant collides with the lid main body 21A or the protective cover 27 on the same plane as the instrument panel 26. In that case, when the lid 21 is deformed, the hinge 23 swings downward around the fixing bolt 29 to break the connecting member 31, and first interferes with the cushion plate 28 before it interferes with the airbag case 24. The cushioning action of the plate 28 absorbs the kinetic energy of the occupant. As a result, a good cushioning action can be obtained regardless of the material of the airbag case by adding a very simple means, that is, a cushioning plate.

[0005]

However, even in the above example, although the space is not required so much, the hinge, the buffer plate, and the connecting member must be provided as separate members, and the number of parts is reduced. It was unavoidable to increase the number of times and the time for the assembly process. Therefore, in the present invention,
By solving the problems in the conventional passenger airbag module as described above, a lightweight, compact passenger airbag module having an effective cushioning action with a simple structure without requiring any separate member is provided. It is provided.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, according to the present invention, an airbag for inflating and protecting an occupant in a collision, an inflator for inflating the airbag, and an airbag casing for accommodating the airbag and the inflator are provided. And a lid made of a thermoplastic elastomer material in which a leg portion is fixed to a fixing portion of a standing side surface portion of the airbag casing which is arranged on the passenger side, and the airbag module for the passenger seat is erected from the front portion of the lid. Then, the leg portion formed between the fixed portion and the fixed portion is formed as a cushioning portion having a predetermined length, so that the leg portion has a shock absorbing function of acting on the front surface of the lid. Is what
This is a means for solving the problem. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the leg portion of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material is fixed to the fixing portion of the standing side surface portion of the airbag casing by caulking. Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that the leg portion of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material has a buckling structure.

[0007]

As described above, the air bag casing 10 for accommodating the air bag 2 and the inflator 5 and the thermoplastic material in which the leg portion 1B is fixed to the fixing portion 7 of the standing side surface portion 3B of the air bag casing 10 are arranged. In a passenger airbag module including a lid 1 made of an elastomer material, a leg portion 1B standing upright from the lid front portion 1A and formed between the lid portion 1B and the lid 1 is used as a buffer portion having a predetermined length. Due to sudden braking, etc., the vehicle is decelerated with a deceleration that does not activate the acceleration sensor,
When the occupant collides with the lid front portion 1A which is substantially on the same surface as the instrument panel 6, the impact energy acting on the occupant is absorbed to some extent by the lid front portion 1A, but the energy not absorbed there is the thermoplastic elastomer material. It is effectively buffered by the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 (formed upright from the front portion 1A), and the kinetic energy of the occupant is sufficiently absorbed. Moreover, a simple structure in which the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 made of a thermoplastic elastomer material is simply used as a buffer portion having a predetermined length does not require a space and does not require any separate member. A lightweight and compact passenger-side airbag module having various cushioning effects is obtained. Also,
If the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 made of the thermoplastic elastomer material is fixed to the fixing portion 7 of the upright side surface portion 3B of the airbag casing 10 by caulking, the leg portion 1B is fixed as compared with the case of fixing with a rivet or a bolt. Not only is it possible to fix it near the lower end of the seat, which makes it easier to deform and improve shock absorption, but also to use the fulcrum of lateral expansion when the lid 1 that operates the airbag 2 is torn open. The lower end portion of the portion 1B can be used, and a larger lid can be deployed to promote rapid deployment of the airbag 2. Further, if the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 made of the thermoplastic elastomer material has a buckling structure, the leg portion 1B is more likely to be deformed and buckled, and a more effective cushioning effect is obtained.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention and shows a sectional view of an airbag module mounted in an instrument panel 6 of a passenger seat. Inside the opening provided in the front surface of the instrument panel 6, the airbag 2 folded into an appropriate shape is housed, and a case upper 3 made of metal or the like,
An airbag module including a case lower 4 made of metal or the like for accommodating and mounting the inflator 5 fastened to the case upper 3 and a lid 1 fixed to the case upper 3 is mounted, and a lower part of the case lower 4 is mounted. Is firmly fixed to the steering shaft support member 12 or the like of the vehicle body. The case upper 3 and the case lower 4 form an airbag casing 10. The case upper 3 and the case lower 4 overlap the standing side surfaces 3B and 4B of the airbag 2 with the base of the airbag 2 sandwiched therebetween,
Further, a partition wall 3 for partitioning the inflator 5 from the storage chamber
A is also attached and fastened together with the base portion of the airbag 2 by fastening bolts and nuts 9, and when the airbag is operated, gas from the inflator 5 is passed through the holes formed in the partition wall 3A. The airbag 2 is configured to be inflated and deployed by being supplied to the side. The airbag casing 10 may be formed separately from the case upper 3 and the case lower 4, or may be integrally formed. Further, the base portion of the airbag 2 may be fastened only to the case upper 3. Further, the fixing portion 7 provided on the upright side surface portion 3B of the case upper 3 can be laterally extended from the upright side surface portion 3B to form the caulking metal fitting 3C. A separate caulking metal fitting 3C may be fixed to the upright side surface portion 3B of the case upper 3 in advance by welding or the like as a metal fitting. Thus,
The crimping metal fitting 3C is deformed and crimped so as to sandwich the leg portion 1B formed upright from the front portion 1A of the lid 1, and the upper end portion thereof is fixed to the concave portion 1C outside the leg portion 1B. In this embodiment, the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 and the case upper 3 can be fixed very easily by caulking. The front portion 1A and the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 are made of a thermoplastic elastomer material and thus have appropriate elasticity, and the leg portion 1B has a predetermined length between the front portion 1A and the fixing portion 7 of the case upper 3. Preferably, it is formed as a buffer having a length of 30 mm or more. Therefore, when the vehicle is decelerated at a deceleration such that the acceleration sensor does not operate due to sudden braking or the like, and the occupant collides with the lid front portion 1A that is substantially on the same plane as the instrument panel 6, the impact energy acting on the occupant Is absorbed to some extent by the lid front portion 1A, but the energy not absorbed there is effectively buffered by the leg portion 1B of the lid 1, and the kinetic energy of the occupant is sufficiently absorbed.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment is the leg portion 1B of the lid 1.
While the case upper 3 and the case upper 3 are fixed by crimping, in the present embodiment, the backing plate 10 is attached to the outside of the leg 1A of the lid 1 that is in contact with the outside of the upper end of the case upper 3. Bolts 8 that penetrate these through washers
It is fixed by A and the nut 8B (or a rivet may be used). This fixing method is versatile and can be combined with a conventional case upper,
It is economical.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is characterized in that the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 made of the thermoplastic elastomer material has the buckling structure 11, and as shown in FIG. 3A, the lid 1 made of the thermoplastic elastomer material is used. A large number of holes 11A, 11A, ... Penetrating in the transverse direction are bored in the leg portion 1B, and the presence of these holes 11A causes the leg portion 1B to deform and buckle easily, and a more effective cushioning effect is obtained. . Buckling structure 11
3B to FIG. 3 instead of the large number of holes 11A.
Each buckling portion 11B to 11E that easily buckles in the length direction of the lid leg portion 1B as shown in (E) may be formed. In this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the leg portion 1B of the lid 1 and the case upper 3 are fixed by swaging by the standing side surface portion 3B of the case upper 3 and a separate caulking metal fitting 3C. However, it may be bolted or riveted as in the second embodiment.

The air bag module for the passenger seat according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail. The air bag device in which the air bag is used is arranged not only in the passenger seat but also in the door, the rear seat or the like. Within the scope of the gist of the present invention, the shape of the lid,
The thickness, the folded shape of the airbag, the form of the fixing part between the leg part of the lid and the case upper, the form of fastening the case upper and the case lower, the shape and material of the case upper and the case lower, etc. can be appropriately adopted. is there.
As a material for the lid, an appropriate material can be used as long as it has a Shore hardness of 55D or less. Above all, a thermoplastic elastomer blended with a lightweight filler having a high impact absorbing property of the material itself is preferably used. In particular, glass balloons are preferred as the lightweight filler, and urethane elastomers are more preferred as the thermoplastic elastomer.

[0012]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the leg portion made of the thermoplastic elastomer material which is erected from the front portion of the lid and is formed between the leg portion and the fixing portion of the airbag casing has a predetermined length. Since the shock-absorbing portion has a height, the vehicle is decelerated at a deceleration such that the acceleration sensor does not operate due to sudden braking or the like, and when the occupant collides with the front portion of the lid, the impact energy acting on the occupant is the impact energy applied to the front portion of the lid. The energy that is not absorbed there is effectively buffered by the legs of the lid, and the kinetic energy of the occupant is sufficiently absorbed. Moreover, a simple structure in which the leg portions of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material are simply buffer portions having a predetermined length, preferably 30 mm or more, does not require a space and requires a separate member. In addition, a lightweight and compact passenger-side airbag module having an effective cushioning effect can be obtained. Further, if the leg portion of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material is fixed to the fixing portion of the standing side surface portion of the airbag casing by caulking, the vicinity of the lower end portion of the leg portion can be compared with the case of fixing with a rivet or a bolt. It is possible to fix it at the same time, which makes it easier to deform and improves shock absorption, and the lower end of the leg is the fulcrum of lateral expansion when the lid that operates the airbag is torn. Therefore, it is possible to deploy a larger lid and promote rapid deployment of the airbag. Further, if the leg portion of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material has a buckling structure, the leg portion is more likely to be deformed and buckled, and a more effective cushioning effect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first airbag module for a passenger seat according to the present invention.
It is sectional drawing of an Example.

FIG. 2 is a second airbag module for a passenger seat according to the present invention.
It is an important section sectional view of an example.

FIG. 3 is a third airbag module for a passenger seat according to the present invention.
It is an important section sectional view of an example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example of a passenger seat airbag.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lid 1A Front part 1B Leg part 2 Airbag 3 Case upper 3B Standing side part 4 Case lower 5 Inflator 6 Instrument panel 7 Fixed part 10 Airbag casing 11 Buckling structure

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air bag for inflating upon collision to protect an occupant, an inflator for inflating the air bag, an air bag casing for accommodating the air bag and the inflator, and an air bag arranged on the passenger side. An airbag module for a passenger seat, comprising: a lid made of a thermoplastic elastomer material, the legs of which are fixed to a fixed portion on a standing side surface of a bag casing, and formed between the fixed portion by standing upright from the front surface of the lid. An air bag module for a passenger seat, characterized in that the leg portion has a cushioning function having a predetermined length, thereby providing the leg portion with a cushioning function for a light impact acting on the front surface of the lid. 2. The airbag for a passenger seat according to claim 1, wherein the leg portion of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material is fixed to the fixing portion of the standing side surface portion of the airbag casing by caulking. module. 3. The passenger airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the legs of the lid made of the thermoplastic elastomer material have a buckling structure.