JPH0966793A - Air bag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability of a facelike switch provided in an air bag device. SOLUTION: An air bag 14 which is folded down is covered with a cover body 21 made of synthetic resin. Facelike switches 16, 17 are positioned between the cover body 21 and the air bag 14 and mounted on the cover body 21. Receive plates 18, 19 are positioned between each switch 16, 17 and the air bag 14 and mounted on the cover body 21. The receive plates 18, 19 are formed by soft synthetic resin in the same way as the cover body 21 and have the hardness exceeding that of the cover body 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag device having a switch on the back side of a cover body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an airbag device, for example, a device incorporated in a pad portion located in the center of a steering wheel to protect a driver of a vehicle from the impact of a collision, and an airbag device for passengers Various forms such as those installed in the instrument panel, those installed in the front seat back for the rear seats, and those installed on the door or the side of the seat for side collision have been developed and put into practical use. There is.

In order to improve the operability of switches such as a horn in this type of airbag device,
A configuration is known in which a switch is operated by pushing a pad portion provided with an airbag device.

In this respect, for example, there is known a structure in which a horn plate having a movable contact is provided on a steering wheel main body so as to be capable of being elastically moved up and down, and the horn plate elastically supports the entire airbag device. . In this configuration, the cover body (front surface pad) of the airbag device
By pushing the button, the movable contact is lowered, the circuit is closed between the movable contact and the fixed contact provided on the steering wheel body side, and the horn is blown.

However, in such a structure in which the entire airbag device is elastically supported, the elastic force supporting the horn plate is reduced below a certain level in order to stably support the inflating and expanding airbag. However, it is difficult to improve the operability of the switch.

Further, for example, an airbag device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-8689 is known. In this airbag device, a folded airbag is covered with a hard insert body, and a horn switch is arranged in a space between the hard insert body and a soft cover body. Then, from the back surface side of the cover body, a plurality of protrusions are projected toward the horn switch, and an imaginary surface formed by the tips of these protrusions forms a simple flat surface that contacts the horn switch. Therefore, when the surface of the cover body is pushed, this pushing force is transmitted through the ridges of the cover body, and the insert body receives this pushing force, so that the horn switch is provided between the cover body and the insert body. , The horn circuit is closed and the horn is blown.

However, in this structure, since the soft cover body is attached to the insert, it is necessary to firmly hold the cover body to the insert in order to surely and smoothly deploy the airbag, which increases the manufacturing cost. Have a problem to do. Also, when deploying the airbag,
Due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, the cover is cleaved from the thin breaking line, but the thickness of the deployed portion is large and the deployment load becomes large. Also, since the edge of the horn switch stands up when the airbag is deployed, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of the mounting position of the horn switch so that the edge of this horn switch does not protrude from the edge of the cover body or insert body. There is,
There is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases. Further, since the insert body is not arranged at the position on the back surface side of the break line, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the operability of the horn switch near the break line.

[0008]

As described above, in the air bag device having the switch, the horn plate having the movable contact is provided on the steering wheel body so as to be able to move up and down elastically, and the horn plate is used for the air bag. In the configuration that supports the entire device, it is difficult to reduce the elastic force that supports the horn plate to a certain level or less, and it is difficult to improve the operability of the switch. Also,
Cover the folded airbag with a hard insert body,
In the configuration in which the horn switch is arranged in the space between the hard insert body and the soft cover body, it is necessary to firmly hold the cover body on the insert, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases. Further, when the airbag is deployed, there is a problem that the thickness dimension of the deployed portion is large and the deployment load becomes large. Furthermore, when deploying the airbag, it is necessary to increase the accuracy of the mounting position of the horn switch so that the edge of this horn switch does not protrude from the end of the cover body or insert body. have. Further, since the insert body is not arranged at the position on the back surface side of the break line, there is a problem that it is difficult to improve the operability of the horn switch near the break line.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device in which the operability of the switch provided on the back side of the cover body is good and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag apparatus, which is folded and accommodated, a cover body provided with a deformable coating portion for covering a front surface side of the airbag, and the airbag. A switch having a deformable planar switch body disposed between the bag and the cover body, and a switchable soft body disposed between the airbag and the switch body of the switch. Further, it is provided with a receiving plate having a hardness equal to or higher than the covering portion of the cover body.

In this structure, when the covering portion of the cover body is pushed, the switch main body portion is pressed through the covering portion, and the switch is closed with at least a part of the switch main body portion deformed. It Since the receiving plate having a hardness equal to or higher than the covering portion of the cover body is arranged between the airbag and the switch main body portion of the switch, when the pressing force is applied from the covering portion side, this pressing force is applied. While receiving and closing the switch body easily, the pressing force from the airbag side is blocked, malfunction is prevented, and operability of the switch is enhanced. Further, since the receiving plate is deformable and soft, when the airbag is deployed, the receiving plate smoothly deploys together with the cover portion of the cover body and easily has a shape along the back surface side of the cover portion.

The airbag device according to a second aspect is the airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the switch includes a connecting piece portion extending from the switch body portion for making an electrical connection, and the receiving plate is An extension portion extending along at least a part of the connection piece portion is provided.

In this structure, the extending portion of the receiving plate protects the connecting piece of the switch and prevents stress from the airbag side from being concentrated on the connecting piece.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the airbag apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the cover body has a breakable portion that can be broken when the airbag is deployed, and the switch has at least the breakable portion. The receiving plate is provided at a position that partially crosses, and the receiving plate is provided at the airbag side of this switch.

Further, in this structure, the operability of the switch is improved even near the ruptured portion of the cover body, and the ruptured portion is ruptured when the airbag is deployed and can be deformed when the covering portion is deployed. Since the end portion of the soft receiving plate is in a protruding state and only the end portion of the switch is prevented from being exposed, the switch mounting position does not require high accuracy and the switch can be easily assembled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag apparatus according to any of the first to third aspects, the receiving plate is formed separately from the cover body, and the cover portion of the cover body is formed. They are made of the same resin material.

Further, in this structure, the cover body and the receiving plate are easily formed by a die having a simple shape.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel of an automobile. The steering wheel 1 is a steering wheel main body 2 and an airbag device 4 which is a pad portion mounted on an upper side of the steering wheel main body 2 on an occupant side. And etc.

The steering wheel body 2 is
It is composed of an annular rim portion (ring portion) 5, a boss portion 6 located inside the rim portion 5, and four spoke portions 7 connecting the rim portion 5 and the boss portion 6. . In addition, a boss that is fitted to a steering shaft (not shown) is provided at a lower portion of the boss portion 6 on the vehicle body side, and a boss plate is fixed to the boss by welding or the like. The core metal of the spoke portion 7 is connected to the boss plate, and the core metal of the rim portion 5 is connected to the core metal of the spoke portion 7. Further, a skin portion 8 made of a soft polyurethane foam with integral skin is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the core metal of the rim portion 5 and the outer peripheral portion of the spoke portion 7 on the rim portion 5 side of the core metal. There is.

Further, the airbag device 4 is mounted on the upper side of the boss portion 6, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inflator 12 and the airbag 14 are attached to the base plate 11, and further, to the base plate 11, Cover body 21 with a pair of front and rear switches 16 and 17 and receiving plates 18 and 19 attached
It is configured by attaching.

The base plate 11 is made of metal,
An upper plate part 11a having a substantially rectangular shape in a plane and a peripheral wall part 11b having a substantially rectangular tube shape extending downward from a peripheral edge part of the upper plate part 11a are formed. A circular hole-shaped inflator mounting hole 11c is formed in the center of the upper plate portion 11a, and the upper plate portion 11a is located around the inflator mounting hole 11c.
Plural bolt through holes 11d and rivet through holes 11e are formed. Further, the peripheral wall portion 11b is formed with a pair of bracket mounting portions 11f on both sides.
A nut 11g is fixed to the peripheral wall portion 11b, and a plurality of rivet through holes 11h are formed in the peripheral wall portion 11b at predetermined intervals. Further, the front and rear peripheral wall portions 11b are provided with rivet through holes 11h.
A locking hole 11i is formed between the two.

The base plate 11 is attached to the nut 11g of the bracket mounting portion 11f by a bolt that is screwed into the nut 11g.
The steering wheel body 2 is fixed to a pair of brackets provided on both sides of the boss plate.

The inflator 12 is also provided with a substantially columnar inflator body 12a, and a gas injection port 12b for injecting gas at a predetermined interval to the upper side of the inflator body 12a.
Are formed. And this inflator body 12a
From this, a flange portion 12c is provided protruding toward the outer peripheral side, and a plurality of bolt through holes 12d are formed in this flange portion 12c.

On the other hand, the airbag 14 is formed in a bag shape by stacking two circular woven cloths and sewing the outer periphery thereof,
A circular hole-shaped opening 14a is provided at the center of the lower surface, and a plurality of bolt through holes 14b and rivet through holes 14c are formed around the opening 14a.

Reference numeral 23 is a retainer, and this retainer 23
Is provided with a retainer body 23a having an annular shape having a substantially U-shaped cross section. A plurality of through holes (not shown) are formed in the planar portion of the retainer main body 23a, and mounting bolts 24 are inserted into the through holes from the upper side and fixed integrally by spot welding or the like. Further, a plurality of rivet through holes 23b are formed in the retainer body 23a by press punching or the like. Also, each mounting bolt 24
, A nut 25 is screwed into each.

The cover body 21 is integrally injection-molded with synthetic resin such as various soft elastomers, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, one of the boss portion 6 and the spoke portion 7 of the steering wheel body 2 is formed. A covering portion 31 for covering the portion,
The covering portion 31 has a mounting piece portion 32 formed in a substantially rectangular tube shape and protruding downward from the back surface.

The surface (upper surface) of the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21 is composed of a combination of complicated curved surfaces curved in the front-rear direction and both side directions in order to improve the appearance. Further, on the surface of the covering portion 31, in order to visually indicate the operating range of the horn, a concave groove having a substantially rectangular plane shape is formed.
33 is formed, and inside the concave groove 33, a horn switch operating portion 34 that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction is formed. Further, the horn switch operating portion 34 is divided into front and rear by a molding line 35 whose longitudinal direction is on both sides, and front and rear operating portions 34a and 34b are formed and formed, and the deployment of the airbag 14 is recalled. It is like this.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the back surface (lower surface) of the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21 is recessed in a substantially H-shaped plane so that it is more recessed than the other portion of the covering portion 31. vulnerable,
A tear line 36 is formed as a breaking portion. That is, the tear line 36 is provided with a horizontal crossing portion 36a which extends in the longitudinal direction on both sides and a pair of vertical portions 36b on both sides which are continuously provided at both ends of the horizontal crossing portion 36a, and cover the airbag 14 when the airbag 14 is inflated. The portion 31 is split along the tear line 36 to form a pair of front and rear door piece portions 37a and 37b including the operating portions 34a and 34b and extending forward and backward.
The horizontal crossing portions 36a of the tear line 36 are formed in parallel with each other at a position that vertically overlaps or near the molding line 35 on the front surface side. Also, the end portion 36c of each vertical portion 36b is
The door pieces 37a, 37
When b is formed, the fracture is prevented from propagating to parts other than the tear line 36, and the end portions 36c on both sides are connected to each other to connect the door piece 37
The a and 37b are designed not to be separated from the cover body 21.

Further, the front and rear door pieces 37a, 37b are provided with mounting bosses 38 which are located in the vicinity of the peripheral edge portion on the back surface side at predetermined intervals. Each of the mounting bosses 38 has a substantially columnar shape, and a boss seat 38a is formed at the base end thereof except for those located near the center of the horizontal cross section 36a. A large number of ridges 39 are provided on the back surfaces of the door pieces 37a and 37b so that the ends of the boss seats 38a are in contact with a gentle virtual curved surface connecting the ends of the bosses 38a. In addition, this virtual curved surface is in the lateral direction, that is, the horizontal crossing portion 36 of the tear line 36
The cross-section in the direction parallel to a is a circular arc drawn with a single radius, and the cross-section in the front-rear direction orthogonal to both sides, that is, the cross-section in the direction parallel to the vertical portion 36b of the tear line 36 is drawn as a straight line. It has a curved surface (cylindrical surface).

On the other hand, the mounting piece portion 32 of the cover body 21 has a substantially rectangular tube shape fitted to the outside of the peripheral wall portion 11b of the base plate 11, and has a rectangular hole shape communicating with the rivet through hole 11h of the peripheral wall portion 11b. A plurality of rivet through holes 32a to be formed are formed at predetermined intervals, and a pair of notch portions 32b for mounting portions which are fitted on both sides of the bracket mounting portions 11f are formed. Further, the front and rear mounting pieces 32 are provided with locking projections 32c located between the rivet through holes 32a.

The switches 16 and 17, which are also called membrane switches, are formed into elastically deformable planes (sheets, films) as a whole, and constitute an automobile horn switch. . And each switch 1
The planar shapes of 6 and 17 are, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, switch body portions 16a and 17a having a substantially rectangular shape and a connecting piece portion 16 extending from the switch body portions 16a and 17a.
b, 17b and mounting portions 16c, 17c having a substantially T-shape provided at the tips of the connecting piece portions 16b, 17b are connected to each other. Further, mounting through-holes 16d, 17d each having a circular hole shape or an elongated hole shape are formed in the vicinity of the peripheral portions of the switch body portions 16a, 17a and the mounting portions 16c, 17c, respectively.

On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape of each of the switches 16 and 17 is a pair of film-like contact carrier films 41 and 42 made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin and the like, and is located between these contact carrier films 41 and 42. It is formed by overlapping with a spacer that does not. Then, conductive films 41a and 42a, such as copper foil, which serve as contacts, are adhered to the opposite surfaces of the contact carrier films 41 and 42, respectively, while the spacer has the same outer shape as the contact carrier films 41 and 42. Thus, the portions facing the conductive films 41a and 42a are cut out in a rectangular shape. Further, one of the conductive films 41a, 42a is connected to the other conductive film 41a, 42a.
A large number of insulating dot-like silicone dots are formed facing the
41a and 42a are separated from each other.

Also, from the conductive films 41a and 42a, lead portions (not shown) having a narrow width having conductivity are led out along the longitudinal direction of the connecting piece portions 16b and 17b, and the mounting portions 16 are respectively provided.
It has been extended to c and 17c. Then, each mounting portion 16c,
As shown in FIG. 1, lead wires 41b, 42b respectively connected to the lead portions are led out from 17c and connected to a horn device on the vehicle body side via a connector device (not shown) or a steering shaft.

The receiving plates 18 and 19 are injection-molded into a plate shape with various soft elastomer resins similar to the cover body 21, for example, thermoplastic elastomers such as polyurethane and polyester, and are the same as the cover body 21, for example. The resin is formed to have substantially the same thickness dimension as the covering portion 31.
The receiving plates 18 and 19 have body receiving portions 18a and 19a having substantially rectangular shapes similar to the switch body portions 16a and 17a of the switches 16 and 17, respectively, and connecting pieces 16b and 16b of the switches 16 and 17, respectively.
Extensions (tabs) 18b, 19 that take the shape of part of 17b
b is formed integrally with the main body receiving portion 18a,
Mounting through holes 18c and 19c each having a circular hole shape or a long hole shape are formed near the peripheral edge of 19a.

Next, a process of assembling the airbag device 4 will be described.

First, in order to attach the switches 16 and 17 and the receiving plates 18 and 19 to the cover body 21, the switch body portions of the switches 16 and 17 are provided on the back side of the door piece portions 37a and 37b of the cover body 21. 16a and 17a and the main body receiving portions 18a and 19a of the receiving plates 18 and 19 are superposed, and the mounting boss 38 is inserted into each mounting through hole 16d, and then fixed by caulking or the like. The connection pieces 16b and 17b of the switches 16 and 17 are the attachment pieces of the cover body 21, respectively.
Curved along 32, the mounting holes 16d of the mounting parts 16c, 17c
, 17d are locked to the locking protrusions 32c. In this state, the switch body 16a of the front switch 16 crosses the tear line 36 of the cover body 21 and reaches the rear door piece 37b,
The rear switch 17 partially overlaps with the lower side of the switch body 17a. In addition, the front support plate 18 also crosses the tear line 36 of the cover body 21 and reaches the rear door piece portion 37b,
The switch 16 is arranged along the lower surface of the switch body 16a of the switch 16 on the front side, and the projecting dimension of the receiving plate 18 is set larger than the projecting dimension of the switch 16.

On the other hand, in order to attach the airbag 14 to the base plate 11, first, the retainer 23 is inserted into the inside of the airbag 14 through the opening 14a, and the mounting bolts 24 are inserted into the bolt through holes 14b of the airbag 14, respectively. To do. Then
The opening 14a of the airbag 14 is aligned with the inner peripheral edge of the retainer body 23a, and the rivet through hole 14c of the airbag 14 and the rivet through hole 23b of the retainer 23 are aligned with each other. The retainer 23 is easily inserted into the airbag 14 by deforming the opening 14a of the airbag 14 so as to pull it in the radial direction. Subsequently, when the mounting bolt 24 protruding from the airbag 14 is inserted into the bolt through hole 11d of the base plate 11 from above, the inflator mounting hole 11c of the base plate 11 is aligned with the opening 14a of the airbag 14, and The rivet through hole 11e of the base plate 11 is aligned with the rivet through holes 14c and 23b of the airbag 14 and the retainer 23. Therefore, in this state, a rivet (not shown) is inserted into the rivet through holes 11e, 14c, 23b from the lower side of the base plate 11 and caulked to thereby retain the retainer 23 and the base plate.
An airbag 14 is sandwiched and fixed between 11 and.

Subsequently, the airbag 14 is attached to the base plate.
Fold 11 so that it fits within the outer peripheral shape of the upper plate portion 11a.

Furthermore, the cover body 21 is attached to the base plate 11 so as to cover the folded airbag 14 from above.
Put on. Then, the mounting piece portion 32 of the cover body 21 is engaged with the locking hole 11i of the peripheral wall portion 11b of the base plate 11 to perform positioning and temporary fixing. Then, in this state, the cover body 21
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rivet 45 is inserted into the rivet through hole 32a from the outside of the mounting piece 32 of the rivet through hole 11h of the peripheral wall portion 11b of the base plate 11, and the front and rear peripheral wall portions 11b. Mounting holes 16d for each switch 16, 17
By inserting 17d and caulking, the base plate
11, the mounting piece 32 of the cover body 21 and each switch 16, 17
The mounting portions 16c and 17c of are fixed.

Further, the inflator body 12a of the inflator 12 is inserted into the opening 14a of the airbag 14 from the lower side of the base plate 11 through the inflator mounting hole 11c, and the mounting bolt 24 projecting to the lower side of the base plate 11 is inserted. Is inserted into the mounting through hole 12d of the flange portion 12c, and the nut 25 is tightened and fixed.

In this way, the airbag device 4 is assembled and, as shown in FIG. 3, the airbag 14 is formed between the base plate 11 and the cover body 21 in a state of being folded small. It is stored in the storage space. The switches 16 and 17 are arranged between the cover body 21 and the airbag 14, and the switches 1 and
The receiving plates 18 and 19 are arranged between the airbags 6 and 17 and the airbag 14.

Therefore, when the horn switch operating portion 34 (the operating portion 34a or the operating portion 34b) of the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21 is pressed with a finger or the like, the horn switch operating portion 34 is bent downward and elastically deformed. . Then, the ridge 39 provided on the back surface of the horn switch operating portion 34 presses the switches 16 and 17 and deforms them so as to compress the thickness between them and the receiving plates 18 and 19, and the conductive films facing each other. With 41a, 42a in contact with each other, the circuit closes and the horn blows.

When a vehicle collides, a signal from a collision diagnosis unit (not shown) is used to output an inflator.
When the igniter 12 is activated and the filled propellant reacts, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is rapidly injected into the inside of the airbag 14 from the gas injection port 12b formed on the peripheral surface, and the propellant is folded. The airbag 14 that has been inflated rapidly inflates.
Then, due to the inflation pressure of the airbag 14, the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21 is split along the tear line 36 in a substantially H-shape to form a pair of front and rear door pieces 37a, 37b. Further, the door pieces 37a and 37b rotate back and forth together with the switches 16 and 17 and the receiving plates 18 and 19 to form a rectangular airbag.
Fourteen projecting openings are formed, and the airbag 14 projects from the projecting openings and inflates and deploys toward the front side of the occupant to reduce the impact of collision.

According to the present embodiment, the cover body
By pushing the horn switch operating portion 34 of the covering portion 31 of 21, the switch body portions 16a and 17a of the switches 16 and 17 are pushed through the covering portion 31, and the switch body portions 16a and 17a are pressed.
By deforming at least a part of a so as to be compressed, the circuit can be closed and the horn can be blown while the conductive films 41a, 42a facing each other are in contact with each other. Therefore, as compared with a configuration in which the entire airbag device is supported by a switch mechanism, the operation force of the horn switch can be reduced and the operability of the horn switch can be improved.

Further, between the airbag 14 and the switch bodies 16a and 17a of the switches 16 and 17, the covering portion of the cover body 21 is provided.
The receiving plates 18 and 19 having at least the same hardness as 31 are arranged, and the receiving plates 18 and 19 are attached to the back surface side of the covering portion 31,
Since the switches 16 and 17 are arranged between the covering portion 31 and the receiving plates 18 and 19, when a pressing force is applied from the covering portion 31 side,
The thin film switches 16 and 17 can receive bending and pressure contact, and the conductive films 41a and 42a are surely brought into contact with each other, so that the horn switch can be easily and surely closed to improve the operability of the horn switch. can do.

Furthermore, the upper surface of the folded airbag 14 is not necessarily flat, and the inside is not necessarily folded at a uniform density, and the portion folded back in a U shape has a larger restoration toward the upper side. Generate force,
Furthermore, although the pressing force applied upward varies depending on the portion of the inflator 12 that is folded over and the portion that is folded so as to surround the side portion, a receiving plate 18 having at least the same hardness as the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21, Since 19 is arranged below the switches 16 and 17, such a pressing force (lifting force) from the airbag 14 side is received, and local force is prevented from being applied to the switches 16 and 17 to prevent malfunction. Can be prevented and the operability of the horn switch can be improved. In this way, since the pressing force from the side of the airbag 14 can be received, even when the airbag 14 is tightly (tightly) folded, the planar switches 16 and 17 can be incorporated inside the cover body 21. .

Also, the switch body of the front side switch 16
When the tip portions of 16a and the receiving plate 18 are arranged so as to cross the horizontal crossing portion 36a of the tear line 36, the tear line 36 of the cover body 21, that is, the molding line 35 and the vicinity of this molding line 35 are pushed. Also, the horn switch can be operated with good operability.

Further, since the projecting dimension of the front receiving plate 18 is set to be larger than the projecting dimension of the switch 16, the tear line 36 is broken and the door piece portion is broken when the airbag 14 is deployed.
When 37a and 37b are deployed, with respect to the front door piece portion 37a, although the tip of the switch 16 protrudes from the edge of the cover body 21, it is softer than the tip of the switch 16 toward the tip side. Since the receiving plate 18 protrudes, it is possible to prevent only the end of the switch 16 from being exposed, high accuracy is not required for the mounting position of the switch 16, and the assembly of the switch 16 is facilitated to reduce the manufacturing cost. In addition, the airbag 14 can be smoothly deployed.
On the other hand, with respect to the rear door piece portion 37b, the end portion of the switch 17 does not protrude because the door piece portion 37b, the switch 17, and the receiving plate 19 are arranged in the order in which the end portion is closer to the occupant when deployed. There is. Then, in this way, the cover body 21, the switches 16, 1
7 and the receiving plates 18 and 19 are gradually shifted so that the soft resin member comes into contact with the airbag 14 when the airbag 14 is deployed, and the airbag 14 is smoothly deployed. be able to.

Further, since the receiving plates 18 and 19 are deformable and soft, when the airbag 14 is deployed, it can be smoothly deployed together with the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21 to facilitate the deployment of the airbag 14. Instead, it is possible to easily form or curve the shape along the virtual curved surface in accordance with the switches 16 and 17 curved along the virtual curved surface by the protrusion 39 on the back surface side of the covering portion 31. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the switch with a long ridge, the deployment load can be reduced, the airbag 14 can be deployed smoothly, and the storage space of the airbag 14 can be effectively used. The device 4 can be downsized.

Further, since the receiving plates 18 and 19 are formed separately from the cover body 21 and are formed of the same resin material as the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21, compared to the structure using an insert body or the like. As a result, the cover body 21 and the receiving plates 18 and 19 can be easily formed with a die having a simple shape, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the receiving plates 18, 19 are used.
Has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main body receiving portion 18a, 19a projecting a substantially planar extending portion 18b, 19b. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. Along the bent portion of 17b, curved extended portions 18d, 19 having a large longitudinal dimension.
It is also possible to form d.

In the structure shown in FIG. 6, the extension portion is
The self-restoring force from the airbag 14 side is applied to the connecting pieces 16b and 17b that electrically and mechanically connect the switches 16 and 17 by blocking the pushing force such as the restoring force of the airbag 14 by the 18d and 19d. It is possible to prevent the stress such as from being concentrated and applied, and regulate the bending amount of these switches 16 and 17 to surely protect them. Then, since it is possible to prevent the stress from being concentrated and applied to the connecting piece portions 16b and 17b, it is possible to prevent this stress from propagating to the switch main body portions 16a and 17a,
It is possible to prevent malfunction of the switches 16 and 17 and improve operability.

Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the extended portions 18d and 19d, one inner protrusion 18e, 19e is formed on the lower surface side (inner surface side) of the bent portion and ,
It is also possible to form two parallel outer protrusions 18f, 19f located on the upper surface side (outer surface side) of the bent portion.

In the structure shown in FIG. 7, each protrusion is
18e, 19e, 18f, and 19f bend the extended portions 18d and 19d with a predetermined curvature, and resist the pressing force from the airbag 14 side to bend the connecting pieces 16b and 17b of the switches 16 and 17. Can be reliably regulated, and the connecting pieces 16b and 17b can be prevented from being bent at an excessive angle. further,
In this configuration, the two outer protrusions 18f and 19f can guide and reliably protect the connecting piece portions 16b and 17b of the switches 16 and 17, and can accurately and easily position them.

In each of the above embodiments, the receiving plate
18 and 19 are formed to have hardness substantially equal to the hardness of the covering portion 31 of the cover body 21, but the receiving plates 18 and 19 have hardness equal to or higher than the hardness of the covering portion 31, that is, the same or higher hardness. By doing so, it is possible to receive the pressing force from the upper and lower sides and obtain the same operational effects as those of the above-described respective embodiments.

Further, in addition to using the pair of switches 16 and 17, it is also possible to use only one of the planar switches.

[0058]

According to the airbag device of the first aspect, by pushing the covering portion of the cover body, the switch body is pushed through the covering portion, and at least a part of the switch body portion. Since the switch can be closed in a deformed state, the operability of the switch can be improved as compared with a configuration in which the entire airbag device is supported by the switch mechanism. Further, since the receiving plate having a hardness equal to or higher than the covering portion of the cover body is arranged between the airbag and the switch main body portion of the switch, when the pressing force is applied from the covering portion side, this pressing force is applied. The receiving and the switch body can be easily closed, and the pressing force from the airbag side can be blocked to prevent erroneous operation and enhance the operability of the switch. Furthermore, since the backing plate is deformable and soft, when the airbag is deployed, it can be smoothly deployed together with the cover portion of the cover body to facilitate the deployment of the airbag and easily along the back surface side of the cover portion. It is possible to easily secure the storage space for the airbag and to downsize the airbag device.

According to the airbag device of claim 2,
In addition to the effect according to claim 1, since the extending portion is extended to the receiving plate along at least a part of the connecting piece portion which is extended from the switch body portion and electrically connects, the connecting piece portion of the switch is provided. It is possible to improve the operability of the switch by protecting the connection part and preventing the stress from the airbag side from being concentrated and applied to the connecting piece part.

According to the airbag device of claim 3,
In addition to the effect according to claim 1 or 2, the switch is provided at a position crossing at least a part of the break portion of the cover body, and the receiving plate is provided on the airbag side of the switch, so that the break portion of the cover body is provided. The operability of the switch can be improved even in the vicinity of, and the end portion of the deformable soft receiving plate projects when the breaking portion breaks and the covering portion deploys when the airbag is deployed. Since it is possible to prevent a situation where only the end of the switch is exposed, it is not necessary to have high accuracy in the mounting position of the switch, the switch can be easily assembled, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the airbag device of claim 4,
In addition to the effect according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Since it is formed separately from the cover body and is made of the same resin material as the covering portion of the cover body, the cover body and the receiving plate can be easily formed with a simple-shaped mold, which reduces the manufacturing cost. It can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a steering wheel including the same airbag device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the airbag device.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the above airbag device.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing a state where a cover body, a switch, and a receiving plate of the airbag device are assembled.

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the airbag device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Airbag device 14 Airbags 16 and 17 Switches 16a and 17a Switch body parts 16b and 17b Connection piece parts 18 and 19 Support plate 21 Cover body 31 Cover part 36 Broken part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An airbag that is folded and stored, a cover body that is provided with a deformable covering portion that covers a front surface side of the airbag, and a deformable body that is disposed between the airbag and the cover body. A switch having a flat switch main body, and a receiving member that is disposed between the airbag and the switch main body of the switch and is deformable and soft and has a hardness equal to or higher than the covering portion of the cover body. An airbag device comprising: a plate. 2. The switch includes a connecting piece extending from the switch body for making an electrical connection, and the receiving plate extends along at least a part of the connecting piece. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The cover body includes a breakable portion that can be broken when the airbag is deployed, a switch is provided at a position crossing at least a part of the broken portion, and a receiving plate is the airbag of the switch. The airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag device is provided on the side. 4. The backing plate is formed separately from the cover body,
The airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airbag device is formed of the same resin material as the covering portion of the cover body.