JPH08282421A - Air bag device for driver's seat - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve operability of a horn switch of a car by forming switch for born in film shape, and interposing it between a folded air bag and that surface of a module cover which faces the driver of the car. CONSTITUTION: An air bag device 30 is composed chiefly of a retainer 32, inflator 34, air bag 36, module cover 38, and switch assembly 40, and the head of the inflator 34 is inserted through an insert hole 42 furnished in the center of the retainer 32. The switch assembly 40 is formed by surrounding a film-form switch 64 and a hard plate 66 of synthetic resin with a sheet 68 as a material to be enwrapped. This sheet 68 consists of a single piece of cloth, which is folded back in two segments, and their upper and lower parts around the film- form switch 64 are sewn together using a thread 70. A lead wire 72 drawn out from the tip of the lead part extending from the switch 64 is connected with a horn actuator circuit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a driver airbag device, and more particularly to a driver airbag device having a horn switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, an airbag device for a driver's seat is attached to the center of a steering wheel. When an automobile encounters an emergency such as a collision, the inflator operates and the airbag deploys. At this time, the module cover that covers the airbag is prevented from opening, the airbag is prevented from spreading into the vehicle compartment, and the driver is prevented from colliding with the steering wheel or the like.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a steering wheel with a conventional air bag device incorporating a horn switch.

A driver seat airbag device 12 is installed in the center of the steering wheel 10. The spoke engaging portion 14 of the module cover 14 of the driver seat airbag device 12 is installed.
The horn switch 16 is provided in a. The horn sounds when the horn switch 16 is pressed with a finger. The module cover 14 has a center tear line 18
And side tear lines 20 are provided. When the inflator of the airbag device 12 is ignited and the airbag starts to deploy, the module cover 14 is closed by the arrows 22, 2
4 tear along these tear lines 18, 20 as shown in FIG.

Another conventional example is shown in FIG. In this driver airbag device 12A, the module cover 1
The center tear line 18A of 4A is disposed slightly below the position shown in FIG. A film switch 26 is arranged near the center of the occupant facing surface surrounded by the center tear line 18A and the left and right side tear lines 20A. The film switch 26 is embedded in the module cover 14A. The module cover 1
When 4A is molded by one color, the film-shaped switch 26 is embedded in the module cover 14A by insert molding. When the module cover 14A is composed of two layers of an outer layer and an inner layer by two-color molding, the film-like switch 26 is embedded at the interface between the outer layer and the inner layer.

In this air bag device 12A, when the center of the module cover 14A is pushed by a palm or a finger, the film-like switch 26 is turned on and the horn sounds.

[0007]

In the conventional driver airbag device shown in FIG. 6, the horn switch 16 is used.
Is small, it is necessary to push the horn switch 16 with a fingertip.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a driver-seat airbag device having a horn switch with excellent operability.

In the driver-side airbag device shown in FIG. 7, the film-like switch 26 is attached to the module cover 1.
Since it needs to be embedded in 4A, it takes time to manufacture the module cover.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a driver airbag device in which a module cover can be easily manufactured.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driver airbag device, comprising: a retainer; and a retainer connected to the retainer.
In a driver airbag device including a folded airbag, a module cover that covers the airbag, and a horn switch, the switch is a film, and the folded body of the airbag and the module are provided. It is characterized in that it is interposed between the occupant facing surface of the cover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a driver seat airbag apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein a hard plate is interposed between the folded body of the airbag and the film switch.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the air bag device for a driver's seat according to the second aspect, the film-shaped switch and the hard plate are covered with a wrapping material, and the wrapping material is supported by the retainer. It is characterized by that.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the air bag device for a driver's seat according to the third aspect, the encapsulating material is supported by the retainer by a mounting member such as a rivet for fixing the module cover to the retainer. It is a feature.

[0015]

In the driver airbag device of the present invention,
When the occupant facing surface of the module cover is pressed with a finger or palm, the film-like switch is turned on by the pressing force and the horn sounds. Therefore, the horn operation is easy.

The film-shaped switch is interposed between the module cover and the folded airbag body and is not embedded in the module cover. Therefore,
The module cover is easy to manufacture.

In the driver airbag device according to the second aspect, when the film switch is backed up by the hard plate and the module cover is pressed, the film switch is placed between the hard plate and the module cover. It is strongly pinched by. Therefore, even if the module cover is lightly pressed, the film-like switch is turned on.

According to the third aspect of the airbag device for the driver's seat, the film-like switch does not separate from the retainer when the airbag is deployed.

In the driver airbag device according to the fourth aspect, the film switch can be supported by the retainer when the module cover is attached to the retainer.

[0020]

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a switch assembly used in this embodiment, and FIGS.
Sectional drawing which follows the III-III line and IV-IV line, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back surface of a module cover.

The airbag device 30 includes a retainer 32.
, An inflator 34, an airbag 36, a module cover 38, and a switch assembly 40. An inflator insertion opening 42 is provided at the center of the retainer 32, and the leading side of the inflator 34 is inserted into the inflator insertion opening 42.
The flange 44 of the inflator 34 is in contact with the peripheral portion of the inflator insertion port 42. The inflator 34 is configured such that a casing is filled with a gas generating agent, the gas generating agent is ignited by an igniter 48, and gas is ejected from a gas ejection port 50 provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inflator 34 on the tip side. Has been done.

The airbag 36 has an opening 52 at its rear end.
Is provided, and the opening 52 is overlapped with the peripheral portion of the inflator insertion port 42. A ring 54 is arranged so as to press the peripheral portion of the opening 52, and the ring 54 is fixed by a bolt 56 and a nut 58. The airbag 36 is fixed to the retainer 32 by sandwiching the peripheral portion of the opening 52 of the airbag 36 between the ring 54 and the peripheral portion of the inflator insertion port 42 of the retainer 32.

The side surface 38a of the module cover 38 that covers the folded airbag 36 is fixed to the retainer side surface 32a by rivets 60. The module cover 38 is provided with a tear line for initiating its cleavage. The tear line is arranged in an H shape as in FIG. 7, and includes a center tear line 62a and a side tear line 62b. The center tear line 62a is arranged slightly below the center of the module cover 38 as in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the switch assembly 40 has a structure in which a film switch 64 and a synthetic resin hard plate 66 are wrapped with a sheet 68 as an encapsulating material. In this embodiment, the sheet 68 is made of a piece of cloth. This cloth is folded back in two, and the film switch 64 and the hard plate 66 are interposed between the upper cloth and the lower cloth. Then, the upper cloth and the lower cloth around the film-shaped switch 64 (except the portion along the folding line of the sheet 68) are sewn with the sewing thread 70. A lead portion 64a extends from the film-shaped switch 64, and a lead wire 72 pulled out from the tip of the lead portion 64a is connected to a horn operating circuit (not shown). An insertion hole 74 for the rivet 60 is provided on the rear end side of the seat 68.

As shown in FIG. 5, the center tear line 62a.
The film-shaped switch 64 in the switch assembly 40 is arranged near the center of the occupant facing surface of the module cover 38 surrounded by the pair of side tear lines 62b. The switch assembly 40 is drawn along the inner surface of the module cover 38, and the rear end side of the switch assembly 40 is located on the module cover 38 as shown in FIG.
It is sandwiched between the side surface portion 38a and the retainer side surface portion 32a. The rivet 60 is struck so as to pass through the rivet insertion hole 74 of the switch assembly 40 and the rivet insertion holes 76, 78 of the module cover 38 and the retainer 32, so that the rear end side of the switch assembly 40 is supported by the retainer 32. ing.

In the air bag device for a driver's seat constructed as described above, when the vicinity of the center of the module cover 38 is pressed with a finger or palm, the film-like switch 64 is turned on and the horn sounds.

In the present embodiment, the film-shaped switch 64 and the hard plate 66 are superposed on each other, and the film-shaped switch 64 is mounted on the hard plate 66 and the module cover 3.
It is sandwiched between 8 and. Therefore, the module cover 3
When the vicinity of the center of 8 is pressed, the film-like switch 64 is turned on even when the pressing force is relatively small.

When the inflator 34 of the driver airbag system is activated, the module cover 38 is split along the tear lines 62a and 62b, and the airbag 36 is deployed. At this time, since the base end side of the switch assembly 40 is held by the retainer 32 by the rivet 60, the switch assembly 40 does not separate from the retainer 32.

In the above embodiment, the center tear line 62a is used.
Is arranged at a position shifted downward from the center of the module cover 38, and the film-shaped switch 64 of the switch assembly 40 is arranged near the center of the module cover 38. As shown in FIG. It may be arranged in the center of the cover 38, and film switches may be arranged on both sides of the center tear line. Further, in any of the embodiments, the tip side of the switch assembly 40 may extend beyond the center tear line 62a.

In the above embodiment, the module cover 38, the switch assembly 40 and the retainer 32 are connected by the rivets 60, but other fixing members such as bolts may be used.

In the above embodiment, the switch assembly 40 is used.
The side surface 32a of the retainer 32 and the module cover 38
It is sandwiched between the side surface 38a of the
The switch assembly may be sandwiched between the ring 54 and the retainer 32 as in the illustrated switch assembly 40A.

The inflator insertion opening 82 provided on the seat 68A of the switch assembly 40A is overlapped with the inflator insertion opening 42 of the retainer 32, and the airbag 36 having the ring 54 built therein is covered thereover. The bolt 56 fixed to the ring 54 is attached to the bolt hole 84 of the switch assembly 40A and the bolt hole 86 of the retainer 42.
And the nut 58 is fastened to the bolt 56, so that the airbag 36 and the switch assembly 40A
Are attached to the retainer 32.

The other reference numerals in FIGS. 8 to 11 indicate the same parts as in the above embodiment.

Although the sheets 68 and 68A are made of cloth in the above embodiment, they may be made of synthetic resin film. In the present invention, at least a part of the switch assemblies 40, 40A may be adhered to the inner surface of the module cover 38.

[0035]

In the air bag device for the driver's seat according to claims 1 to 3, the horn switch operation is easy. Also,
Since the film-shaped switch is separate from the module cover, the module cover can be easily manufactured.

In the driver airbag device according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the film-like switch is backed up by the hard plate, the film-like switch is turned on only by lightly pressing the module cover.

According to the third aspect of the airbag apparatus for the driver's seat, the film-like switch is firmly held by the retainer when the airbag is deployed.

In the driver airbag device according to the fourth aspect, the module cover and the film-shaped switch can be attached together to the retainer, and the driver airbag device can be easily assembled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a driver airbag device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a switch assembly used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back surface of the module cover used in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a steering wheel including a conventional driver airbag device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a steering wheel equipped with another conventional driver airbag device.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of another embodiment device.

9 is a plan view of a switch assembly used in the embodiment of FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 Airbag Device for Driver 32 Retainer 34 Inflator 36 Airbag 38 Module Cover 40, 40A Switch Assembly 60 Rivet 62a Center Tear Line 62b Side Tear Line 64 Film Switch 66 Hard Plate 68 Sheet (Encapsulation Material)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A retainer and a retainer connected to the retainer,
In a driver airbag device including a folded airbag, a module cover that covers the airbag, and a horn switch, the switch is in the form of a film, and the folded body of the airbag and the module are provided. An air bag device for a driver seat, which is interposed between a cover and an occupant facing surface. 2. The airbag device for a driver's seat according to claim 1, wherein a hard plate is interposed between the folded body of the airbag and the film-shaped switch. 3. The airbag for a driver's seat according to claim 2, wherein the film-shaped switch and the hard plate are covered with a wrapping material, and the wrapping material is supported by the retainer. apparatus. 4. The airbag apparatus for a driver's seat according to claim 3, wherein the encapsulating material is supported by the retainer by a mounting member for fixing the module cover to the retainer.