JPH08188108A - Air bag module cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To sufficiently secure an opening area for inflating an air bag by largely rotating a covered plate part 9 in time of a car-crash accident. CONSTITUTION: A mounting plate part 14 of a cover 8 is connected to a housing 10 of an air bag module 5 by means of two rivets 15 and 15. This mounting plate part 14 and an end edge of a covered plate part 9 are joined together by a connecting plate part 12. Both symmetrical end edges of this connecting plate part 12 and a side wall 11 are connected by two thin wall parts 13 and 13. At the time of inflation of an air bag, these thin wall parts 13 and 13 are ruptured, thereby allowing any deformation in the connecting plate part 12, and thus an opening area is thus secured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An airbag module cover according to the present invention is provided in a substantially central portion of a steering wheel so as to cover the airbag, and adjusts the appearance of the steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a collision accident, a secondary collision occurs in which a driver's body collides with a steering wheel following a primary collision in which an automobile collides with another automobile. An airbag device is widely known as an auxiliary safety device for preventing the driver's body from violently colliding with the steering wheel and being seriously injured in the case of the secondary collision. For example, when the airbag device is installed in the driver's seat of an automobile, the airbag module is mounted on the surface of the steering wheel facing the driver at the center.

This airbag module has a metal housing having a function as a substrate, an inflator for discharging a pressure gas, a folded airbag, and
A module cover for covering the airbag is mounted, and is fixed to the boss portion at the center of the steering wheel by the housing. In such an airbag module, the appearance of the steering wheel portion is normally prepared by covering it with a module cover. In the event of a collision, the airbag pushes through the module cover and inflates to catch the driver's body.

28 to 29 show an example of the cover mounted on the central portion of the steering wheel to cover the airbag as described above, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-27636. The cover 1 made of a soft material such as vinyl has a cover plate 2 having a size large enough to cover the airbag, and a cover plate 2 protruding from the peripheral edge of the cover plate 2 in a direction perpendicular to the steering wheel surface. The formed side wall portion 3 is provided.

Further, mounting portions 4 and 4 are provided at a plurality of end edge portions of the side wall portion 3 (four portions in the illustrated example), and the cover 1 and the airbag module are provided by these mounting portions 4 and 4, respectively. 5 housing 10 (see FIGS.
2)). Also, the cover plate portion 2
A thin portion 7 having a V-groove shape is formed on the back surface of the. In the illustrated example, the thin portion 7 is formed in an H shape by forming the thin portion 7 at the center portion in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 28) and both end portions in the length direction (also in the up and down direction).

The cover 1 constructed as described above is normally provided at the center of the steering wheel to cover the airbag. However, the airbag incorporated in the airbag module 5 in the event of a collision accident. When the bag 16 (see FIG. 2) is inflated, it breaks at the thin portion 7 portion. As a result, the airbag 16 inflates outside the cover 1 and receives the body of the driver.

[0007]

However, in the case of the air bag module cover constructed and used as described above, depending on the shape of the cover, an opening portion for leading out the air bag 16 in the event of a collision accident may be formed. There is a possibility that the area cannot be secured sufficiently. That is, as shown in FIGS.
This is preferable when the cover plate portion 2 of the cover 1 is relatively flat, but in the case of the cover 8 having a large surface shape curvature as shown in FIGS. Even if the thin portion 7 (see FIGS. 28 to 29) is provided on the plate portion 9, even if the thin portion 7 is torn, the cover plate portion 9 forming the cover 8 becomes difficult to open.

In the event of a collision accident, if the cover plate 9 is difficult to open and the area of the opening cannot be secured sufficiently, the airbag 16 may not fully inflate or the inflated position may deviate from a predetermined position. The possibility arises. Therefore, conventionally, the hinge portion serving as a fulcrum at the time of opening is displaced from the curved surface portion having the relatively small radius of curvature described above, and the hinge portion shown in FIG.
29, the hinge portion is provided near the peripheral edge of the cover 1 and near the mounting portion 4.

However, as shown in FIGS. 28 to 29, when the above-mentioned hinge portion is provided in a portion near the peripheral portion of the cover 1 near the mounting portion 4, when the area of the opening is sufficiently secured, the cover 1 is It has to be made considerably larger, and it becomes impractical depending on the type of vehicle to be installed. Further, it is inevitable that the molding of the cover 1 becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost of the cover 1 increases.

Further, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-50053, an opening area can be secured by mounting a cover on the driver side so that the cover can be displaced, and the actual opening number is 62-141564.
As described in the publication, it has been proposed to secure an opening area by forming a flexible portion that assists bending deformation in the opening direction in a part of the cover plate portion. However, these conventionally proposed structures have a problem that the opening area for taking out the airbag cannot be made sufficiently large, or the applicable structure is limited.
For this reason, conventionally, a structure has been implemented in which the cover plate portion is not torn at its central portion and instead the entire cover plate portion is retracted from the front surface of the airbag module. There is a possibility that the airbag is not sufficiently evacuated and the airbag is insufficiently inflated. The airbag module cover of the present invention was invented in view of such circumstances.

[0011]

The airbag module cover of the present invention is formed in the same manner as the above-mentioned airbag module cover, with a cover plate portion for covering the airbag and a state of protruding to the back side of this cover plate portion. And a mounting plate part whose tip is coupled and fixed to the housing of the airbag module. Then, when the airbag incorporated in the airbag module is inflated, the airbag is allowed to inflate while partially deforming.

Particularly, in the airbag module cover of the present invention, a thin portion which is torn or is easily deformed as the airbag is inflated is provided at a portion of the above portion or its adjacent portion.

[0013]

In the air bag module cover of the present invention constructed as described above, the thin wall portion is torn or deformed in a state where the cover is opened due to the expansion of the air bag. As a result, the partial deformation can be smoothly performed. Then, a sufficient opening area is secured to inflate the airbag large and evenly.

[0014]

1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the up, down, left, and right directions refer to a state in which the airbag module 5 is mounted on the steering wheel and the steering wheel is rotated to the neutral position.
The cover plate portion 9 constituting the cover 8 has a size capable of covering the airbag 16 mounted in the central portion of the steering wheel, and the housing 1 constituting the airbag module 5
The inner side surface on the 0 side (the front side in FIG. 1 and the left side in FIGS. 2 to 4) is curved in a direction in which it becomes a concave surface. A side wall 11 is provided on the inner side surface of the cover plate portion 9. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the side wall 11 is formed in a U-shape with its upper side opened, as shown in FIG. 16 described later.

Further, in a portion surrounded by both upper end portions of the side wall 11 and an upper edge of the cover plate portion 9 on three sides, there is a portion connecting the mounting plate portion 14 and the cover plate portion 9 described below. Yes,
The rectangular connecting plate portion 12 is provided, which is also a part that is deformed when the airbag 16 is inflated. Three of the four sides forming the peripheral edge of the connecting plate portion 12 are continuous with both upper end side surfaces of the side wall 11 and the upper end edge of the cover plate portion 9. A thin wall portion, which is a feature of the airbag module cover of the present invention, is formed at the left and right ends of the connecting plate portion 12 and is continuous with both upper end side surfaces of the side wall 11, which is characteristic of the airbag module cover of the present invention. 13 and 13 are formed. Furthermore, from the remaining one side of the peripheral edge of the connecting plate portion 12, the cover plate portion 9
Toward the other side (front side of FIG. 1, right side of FIGS. 2-3),
The mounting plate portion 14 is formed. And this mounting plate part 1
4 is connected to the housing 10 by rivets 15, 15 or a connecting member such as a screw.

Further, the lower end portion of the cover plate portion 9 has a connecting piece 17 (see FIGS. 12 to 15 showing the third embodiment) which can be torn and broken when a strong force is applied, and a connecting member such as a rivet 15. It is fixed to the housing 10 via. The formation position of the connecting piece 17 is the same as that of the structure widely known from the past. In the event of a collision, the connecting piece 17 is torn at a narrow portion provided in the middle as the airbag 16 incorporated in the airbag module 5 is inflated, and the airbag 16 is separated from the outside of the cover 8. Allow to go to. That is, when the connecting piece 17 is torn and the supporting force on the lower end side of the cover 8 is lost, the steering plate is operated by using the mounting plate portion 14 provided on the upper end side of the cover 8 as a fulcrum (hinge portion). Opening away from the wheel allows the airbag 16 to exit.

When a force is applied to open the cover 8 with the mounting plate portion 14 as a fulcrum, a force in the same direction is also applied to the connecting plate portion 12 adjacent to the mounting plate portion 14,
This connecting plate portion 12 is displaced. In the case of the cover 8 of the present invention, the thin-walled portions 13 and 1 are provided at both left and right ends of the connecting plate portion 12.
3 is present, and these thin-walled portions 13 and 13 form the airbag 1
Since 6 breaks in the process of expanding, the displacement of the connecting plate portion 12 is smoothly performed.

That is, when the airbag 16 starts to inflate, a force in a direction away from the housing 10 (leftward in FIG. 4) is applied to the cover plate portion 9 as shown by an arrow in FIG. Then, due to this force, the thin portions 13, 13
However, they are torn before and after the connecting piece 17 is torn.
When the thin portions 13, 13 are torn, the connecting plate portion 1
The left and right edges of 2 are separated from the side wall 11, and the connecting plate portion 12 can be deformed without being hindered by the highly rigid side wall 11. Therefore, when the airbag 16 is further inflated, the connecting plate portion 12 is largely deformed as shown in FIG. 5, the cover plate portion 9 is largely retracted from the front surface of the housing 10, and the airbag 16 Inflate smoothly.

Next, FIGS. 6 to 10 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, the thin portions 13, 13 extend from the left and right end portions of the connecting plate portion 12 to the upper end portion of the cover plate portion 9. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the airbag 1
6 (FIG. 2), the range of tearing due to expansion becomes longer than in the case of the first embodiment described above, and the airbag 16
The range of deformation increases with the expansion of. Therefore, the airbag 16 is inflated more smoothly. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the above-described first embodiment.

Next, FIGS. 11 to 15 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, in addition to forming the thin portions 13, 13 on both the left and right sides of the connecting plate portion 12, the cover plate portion 9
The second thin portions 18, 18 are formed in a part of the. In the case of the present embodiment, not only the connecting plate portion 12 is deformed sufficiently large when the airbag 16 is inflated, but also the cover plate portion 9 is
As shown in FIG. 15, it is bent at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction. As a result, the airbag 16 can be expanded more greatly. It should be noted that each of the second thin portions 18, 18
The portion of the side wall 18 which is aligned with the middle portion is cut out,
1 does not prevent the deformation of the cover plate portion 9.

16 to 19 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, the girder-shaped protrusions 19 are formed in the central portion of the cover plate portion 9 surrounded by the side wall 11. The ridges 19 improve the rigidity of the central portion of the cover plate portion 9 and improve the self-holding property (shape maintaining property) of this portion. Then, the end portions of the thin-walled portions 13 and 13 and the second thin-walled portions 18 and 18 formed at two left and right positions of the upper end portion of the cover plate portion 9 and the vertically intermediate portion, respectively,
It abuts against the ridge 19. Further, at a position where a part of the side wall 11 is aligned with the second thin portions 18, 18,
The notches 21 and 21 are formed. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the third embodiment described above.

Next, FIGS. 20 to 23 show fifth to seventh embodiments of the present invention. First, in the case of the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 20, the protrusion 20 is formed at the end edge portion of the thin portion 13 where tearing starts when the airbag is inflated. The thin wall portion 13 is prevented from being inadvertently torn during the assembly work of the airbag device. On the other hand, in the case of the sixth embodiment shown in FIG. 21, a V-shaped notch 23 is formed at the edge of the thin portion 13 where tearing starts when the airbag is inflated. Thus, when the airbag starts to inflate, the thin portion 13 is torn smoothly. Further, in the case of the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 22 to 23, by forming the thin-walled portion 13 in a V-shaped cross-section, the thin-walled portion 13 is easily torn at the start of inflation of the airbag. are doing.

Next, FIG. 24 shows an eighth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, the thin portion 13 is formed on the upper portion of the cover plate portion 9 and the thin portion 13 is deformed when the airbag is inflated, so that the inflation of the airbag is allowed. In the case of this embodiment, it is not always necessary to form the thin portion in the connecting plate portion 12 (FIGS. 1 to 3) as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

Next, FIG. 25 shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, the third thin portion 22 is formed on a part of the side wall 11. The third thin portion 22 is
It exists in a state of partitioning the intermediate portion of the second thin portion 18 formed on the cover plate portion 9. When the airbag is inflated, the third thin wall portion 22 is torn from the end edge side of the side wall 11 to allow the cover plate portion 9 to be deformed as shown in FIG. The third embodiment is the same as the above-described third embodiment, except that the third thin portion 22 is formed in the side wall 11 instead of the notch 21 (see FIG. 18).

26 to 27 show a tenth embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, the mounting plate portion 14 is continuous from the top edge of the side wall 11. Then, thin-walled portions 13 are formed at the left and right ends of the upper side of the side wall 11. When the airbag is inflated, the thin-walled portion 13 is torn to allow the side wall 11 and the mounting plate portion 14 to be deformed, and the cover plate portion 9 is largely retracted to allow the airbag to be inflated. .

[0026]

Since the air bag module cover of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it can be manufactured at a small size and at a low cost, but the opening area in the event of a collision is ensured and the air bag is protected. The occupant can be effectively protected by inflating the occupant sufficiently and uniformly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the inside of an upper portion of an airbag module cover showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a deformed state of the cover when the airbag starts to inflate.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a deformed state of the cover when the airbag is fully inflated.

FIG. 6 is an upper outer side view of the cover showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view seen from above in FIG.

8 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing a deformed state of the cover when the airbag starts to inflate.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing a deformed state of the cover when the airbag is inflated to the end.

FIG. 11 is an outer side view of the cover showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram viewed from the right side of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a view seen from below in FIG. 11.

14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, showing a deformed state of the cover when the airbag is inflated to the end.

FIG. 16 is an inner side view of the cover showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram viewed from the right side of FIG. 16.

18 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG.

19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of FIG.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention and corresponding to the G part in FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21, showing the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a view on arrow H in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the ninth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a view on arrow I of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a view showing an example of a conventional structure as viewed from the back side of the cover.

29 is a sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG. 28.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cover 2 Cover Plate Part 3 Side Wall Part 4 Mounting Part 5 Airbag Module 7 Thin Wall Part 8 Cover 9 Cover Plate Part 10 Housing 11 Side Wall 12 Connecting Plate Part 13 Thin Wall Part 14 Mounting Plate Part 15 Rivet 16 Airbag 17 Connecting Piece 18th Second thin-walled portion 19, 20 Projection 21 Notch 22 Third thin-walled portion 23 Notch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cover plate part for covering the airbag, and a mounting plate part formed in a state of protruding to the back surface side of the cover plate part, the tip part of which is coupled and fixed to the housing of the airbag module. In an airbag module cover that allows the airbag to inflate while deforming a portion of the airbag incorporated in the airbag module when the airbag is inflated, the airbag is inflated at a portion of the portion or a portion adjacent to the portion. An airbag module cover characterized by having a thin portion that is torn or easily deformed in accordance with.