JPH1059110A - Air bag door structure 0f instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag door structure of an instrument panel, which is capable of positively introducing a rupture of a foaming layer due to inflation of an air bag to a rupture scheduled part by a simple and economic method to quickly and positively open the air bag door. SOLUTION: In an instrument panel made up of a base material 11 to the surface of which a primer 19 is applied, an air bag door-core material 15 arranged to close an air bag developing opening part 14, a surface skin 12 on which a break expecting part 16 is formed, and a synthetic resin-foaming layer 13, a projection 17 or a stepped part is formed on the surface of the outer periphery of the air bag developing opening part of the base material, and a primer non-applied surface 18A is provided between the projection on the base material-surface, or the stepped part and the air bag developing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as shown in FIG. 9, an airbag device 50 may be provided in a passenger seat side of an instrument panel P of an automobile in order to safely protect an occupant from an impact in a collision. In the airbag device 50, the folded airbag A is stored in the airbag storage container C together with the airbag operating device I. The upper part of the airbag container C is configured as an opening for the airbag A to be deployed in the vehicle interior, and is covered by an airbag door D formed integrally with the instrument panel P. The airbag device 50 operates the operating device I once the automobile receives a large impact,
The inflated airbag A pushes up the airbag door D from the inside to open and deploy in the vehicle interior.

[0003] The instrument panel P is usually formed from the viewpoint of ease of molding operation and good appearance of the product.
It is made by integral foam molding. That is, this is performed by injecting a foaming material such as a polyurethane raw material between the surface of the base material 61 formed into a predetermined panel back surface shape and the skin 62 and integrally foaming the synthetic resin foam layer 63. The base material 61 is often made of a hard resin in terms of lightness, strength, and the like, and an airbag door opening portion 64 for opening the airbag A into the vehicle compartment is provided in the airbag door D portion. ing. This airbag deployment opening 64
An airbag door core 65 made of a hard resin or a metal plate or the like is attached so as to close the airbag deployment opening 64. As shown in FIG. 10, a predetermined break portion 66 that defines the airbag door D is provided at a predetermined position of the skin 62. The breakable portion 66 is formed by a V-groove, a notch, an easily breakable engagement structure (fastener structure), or the like, and is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag.

[0004] Instead of the airbag deploying opening 64 and the airbag door core 65, a predetermined position of the base material corresponding to the airbag door portion is surrounded by a portion that is more easily broken than the periphery, such as a slit or a V-groove. The inflated airbag deployment opening is formed, and the inflated airbag deployment opening is pushed by the inflation of the airbag to bend toward the skin, breaking the synthetic resin foam layer and the skin, and moving the airbag into the vehicle interior. Some structures allow for deployment.

The base material 61 is necessary for maintaining the shape of the instrument panel P and attaching it to the vehicle body, and it is preferable that the base material 61 is securely bonded and integrated with the foam layer 63. The adhesion between the base material 61 and the foam layer 63 is exerted by the foam material (synthetic resin foam layer) when the foam material foams between the base material 61 and the skin 62 during the integral foam molding of the instrument panel. This is done by adhesion.

However, as described above, since the base material 61 is selected with emphasis on the shape retention and attachment properties of the instrument panel P, the adhesiveness (compatibility) with the foam material (synthetic resin foam layer) is required. ) Is often made of inferior material. For example, there is a case where the foam layer 63 is made of a polyurethane foam layer and the base material 61 is made of polypropylene (PP). In this case, the surface of the base material 61 is coated with a primer for increasing the adhesiveness (compatibility) with the foam material (synthetic resin foam layer) prior to the integral foam molding of the instrument panel P.

However, at the time of the integral foam molding, the foaming material also enters a portion 68 where the edge of the airbag door core 65 and the peripheral edge of the airbag deployment opening 64 on the surface of the base material 61 overlap. Therefore, the airbag deployment opening 6 on the surface of the base material 61
When the primer is also applied to the periphery of the airbag door 4, the foam material adheres to the outer periphery of the airbag door core material 65 and the periphery of the airbag deployment opening 64 of the base material 61, and the airbag door is inflated when the airbag is inflated. The core material 65, that is, the airbag door D may not be smoothly opened.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the surface 68A of the base material between the peripheral edge of the airbag deployment opening 64 and the portion 66 to be broken is masked by an appropriate method so that the primer is not applied. This prevents the base material 61 from adhering to the outer periphery of the airbag door core material 65. Reference numeral 67 denotes a primer applied to another portion of the surface of the base material 61.

However, since the base material 61 does not indicate the position of the rupture portion 66 of the epidermis, the primer 67 is correctly applied to the surface of the base material 61 along the rupture portion 66 so that the non-applied portion and the applied portion are properly aligned. However, it was not easy to apply them separately. Therefore, the foam layer 63 due to the inflation of the airbag
That the airbag door core material 65 and the base material 61 adhere to each other and the force required for the breakage becomes large, so that the airbag door cannot be stably opened. There is.

Further, in order to deploy the airbag most efficiently in the vehicle interior, the breakage of the foam layer 63 that occurs when the airbag is inflated and the back surface of the airbag door core 65 is pushed up is caused by the scheduled breakage of the skin. It is important to be guided quickly to the nearest distance to 66.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12, between the airbag door core 65A and the base material 61A, a slit S extending from the back surface side of the foam layer 63A to the middle portion toward the breakable portion 64A of the skin 62A. Is provided to facilitate breakage of the foam layer 63A and to guide the breakage to a predetermined position. However, with this structure,
If the slit S is to be provided at the time of integral foam molding of the instrument panel, there arises a problem that such a slit forming mechanism must be provided in the foam mold.
Further, in the case of providing after the molding, there is a problem that the step of forming the slit is increased and it is difficult to efficiently manufacture the instrument panel, and both cases are uneconomical.

[0012]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of such a problem, and it is intended to surely and reliably cut a break of a foam layer due to inflation of an airbag to a portion to be broken by an inexpensive method. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel, which can guide the airbag door quickly and surely.

[0013]

That is, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base material having an airbag deploying opening formed thereon and a primer applied to a surface thereof, and an airbag deploying opening provided on a surface side of the base material. Airbag door core material arranged so as to close the portion, a skin on which a breakable portion defining the airbag door portion is formed, and a synthetic resin foamed between the base material and the airbag door core material and the skin. In the instrument panel composed of a foam layer, a projection or a step portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the airbag deployment opening of the base material along a portion where the skin is to be broken, and a projection or a step portion on the surface of the base material. The present invention relates to a structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel, characterized in that a non-primer coated surface is provided between the airbag deployment opening and the airbag deployment opening.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a base member having an airbag deployment opening scheduled portion formed thereon and a primer applied to the surface thereof, and a breakable schedule defining an airbag door portion on the surface side of the base material. In an instrument panel comprising a skin in which a portion is formed, and a synthetic resin foam layer foamed between the base material and the skin, the skin is to be broken on the surface of the outer periphery of the airbag deployment opening scheduled portion of the base material. An airbag door for an instrument panel, wherein a projection or a step portion is formed along the portion, and a space between the projection or the step portion on the surface of the base material and the portion where the airbag is to be opened is an uncoated surface. According to the structure.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material, and FIG.
4 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material, FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the structure of the airbag door according to the invention of claim 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing one example of a base material, FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one example of the base material.

The structure of the airbag door according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a base material, an airbag door core material and a skin, and the base material and the airbag door core material and a skin as shown in FIG. Consisting of a synthetic resin foam layer foamed between,
It is preferably used for an instrument panel having an airbag device on the back surface at a predetermined position and made of an integral foam molded product. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the main part. Symbol 1 in the figure
0 is an instrument panel, 11 is a base material, 12 is a skin, and 13 is a synthetic resin foam layer.

The base material 11 is made of a hard resin having poor adhesion (compatibility) or non-adhesion (incompatibility) with the foam material (foam layer 13) at the time of foaming the foam layer 13. It is formed in the back surface shape of the instrument panel by injection molding or the like. In this embodiment, it is made of polypropylene. In the base material 11, an airbag deployment opening 14 is provided at a predetermined position opposite to an opening of an airbag device (not shown), and an airbag for closing the airbag deployment opening 14 is provided on the surface thereof. A door core 15 is arranged. FIG. 2 shows a state in which an airbag door core 15 is arranged in the airbag deployment opening 14 of the base material 11. In this embodiment, the airbag door core material 15 is formed by forming a metal plate into a substantially rectangular shape slightly larger than the airbag deployment opening 14, and is disposed so as to cover the airbag deployment opening 14. B and so on.

The skin 12 is made of a soft synthetic resin sheet material. As shown in FIG. 1, a breakable portion 16 is formed in advance at a position corresponding to the airbag deployment opening 14. The breakable portion 16 is formed on the back surface or the front surface of the skin 12 so as to define the airbag door D portion by a structure that is easier to break than the surroundings, and the opening shape of the airbag door D, for example, in this example, In the case of a single door, a substantially U-shape is used, or in the case of a double door, H is used.
It is formed in an appropriate shape such as a letter shape. In this example, two skins are bonded together by welding or the like at the position of the scheduled fracture portion 16.

The synthetic resin foam layer 13 is formed by arranging the base material 11 and the skin 12 in a foaming mold, and forming the base material 11 and the skin 12
A foam material such as a urethane foam material is foamed therebetween, and is formed by known integral foam molding.
1 and the epidermis 12.

On the base material 11, a projection 17 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the airbag deploying opening 14 along a portion 16 to be broken of the skin 12. The surface between the projection 17 and the airbag deployment opening 14 has a primer-uncoated surface 18A on which the primer 19 is not applied.
On the other hand, the outer surface across the projection 17 is a primer-coated surface 18B on which the primer 19 is coated.
It is said.

The projections 17 are provided on the base material 11 by clarifying the portions 16 to be broken of the skin on the base material 11.
On the surface of the base material 11 accurately and easily along the expected break portion 16 of the skin 12, and when the instrument panel 10 is integrally foamed, the projections 17 are formed on the synthetic resin foam layer 13. Notches (grooves) 13A corresponding to the above are formed so as to efficiently and reliably guide the breakage of the synthetic resin foam layer 13 to the breakable portion 16 of the skin 12 when the airbag is inflated. The position of the projection 17 is provided continuously or intermittently at an appropriate height along the scheduled break portion 16 of the skin 12, and as shown by a dotted line in FIG. It is preferable that the position be closest to the breakable portion 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the protrusion 17 shown in this example is formed in a substantially U-shape surrounding three sides of the airbag door core material 15 which are not fixed by the bolts B.

Prior to the integral foam molding of the instrument panel 10, the surface of the base material 11 between the projections 17 and the airbag opening 14 is formed by masking tape or the like prior to the formation of the uncoated surface 18A and the coated surface 18B. And by applying the primer 19 on the surface of the substrate 11. At this time, on the surface of the base material 11, a position corresponding to the scheduled fracture portion 16 of the skin is defined by the protrusion 1.
7, the portion to be applied with the primer and the portion that does not need to be applied are accurately shown in accordance with the scheduled break portion 16 of the epidermis, so that the masking operation can be performed extremely efficiently and accurately. Can do it. The unfoamed surface 18A does not adhere to the foam layer 13 by virtue of the integral foam molding of the instrument panel 10, while the primer applied surface 18B firmly adheres to the foam layer 13.

Further, when the airbag door D is opened,
A non-primer coated surface 18A defined by the projections 17 is provided at a peripheral portion of the airbag deployment opening 14 where the edge of the airbag door core 15 overlaps. Since the outer periphery of 15 and the peripheral edge of the airbag deployment opening 14 are not bonded, there is no possibility that the opening of the airbag door D is hindered.

In addition, the projections 1 along the breakable portions 16
7, the foam layer 13 and the base material 11 are firmly joined via the primer 19 applied to the surface of the base material 11 at the outer portion of the base material 11. When the airbag door core material 15 is lifted by the pressure, the foam layer 13 efficiently starts to break along the protrusion 17, and the break is directed along the surface of the protrusion 17 toward the scheduled break portion 16 of the skin 12. The airbag door D can be promptly guided to open the airbag door D constantly. In addition, since the notch (groove) 13A is formed by the projection 17 in the foam layer 13 of the portion 16 to be broken as described above, the breaking is started quickly with a small force. When the core material 15 is made of a metal plate, if the degreasing treatment is performed, the adhesion between the urethane forming the foam layer 13 and the core material 15 becomes good. Need not be applied.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes an instrument panel, 21 denotes a base material, 22 denotes a skin, 23 denotes a foam layer, 24 denotes an airbag deployment opening, 25 denotes an airbag door core material, 26 denotes a portion of the skin to be broken, and 29 denotes It is a primer.

As shown in the figure, a step portion 27 is provided on the base material 21 of the instrument panel 20 in accordance with the position of the breakable portion 25 of the skin 22. The step portion 27 is configured such that the periphery of the airbag deployment opening 24 on the front surface of the base material is one step lower than the other surfaces toward the back surface of the base material. The surface between the step 27 and the airbag deployment opening 24 is the non-coated surface 28 of the primer 29.
A, the outside of the step 27 is the coated surface 28B of the primer
It has been.

Since the position of the portion to be broken 26 of the skin 22 is clarified on the base material 21 by the step 27, the primer 29 can be accurately separated and applied along the portion to be broken 26. The portion from the airbag deployment opening 24 to the step 27 is the non-coated surface 28 of the primer.
As A, the peripheral edge of the airbag door core material 25 is placed. Further, by applying the divided primer 29, it is possible to cause stable breakage of the foam layer 23 at a position corresponding to the scheduled break portion 26 of the skin 22.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an example of the structure of the airbag door according to the second aspect of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes an instrument panel, 31 denotes a base material, 32 denotes a skin, 33
Is a foam layer, 36 is a portion of the skin to be broken, 37 is a protrusion, 39
Is a primer. As shown in the drawing, the base material 31 has an airbag deployment opening scheduled portion 34 formed therein. The airbag deployment opening scheduled portion 34 is broken and opened by the inflation of the airbag, thereby enabling the airbag to be deployed in the vehicle cabin. It is formed by making it thinner than other parts, such as a groove and a U-groove, so that it is fragile and easily broken by the pressure of the airbag inflation. The portion surrounded by the airbag deployment opening portion 34 constitutes an airbag door core portion 35. When the airbag is inflated and the airbag deployment opening portion 34 breaks, it is lifted and foamed by the pressure. The airbag door is opened by breaking the layer 33 and the skin 32. Note that a primer 39 is applied to the surface of the portion surrounded by the development opening scheduled portion 34.

On the other hand, a projection 37 is provided on the front side of the base material 31 along the expected airbag deployment opening portion 36. The projection 37 is formed at a position closest to the scheduled break portion 36 of the skin 32.
The surface portion of the base material 31 between the airbag deployment opening portion 34 and the airbag deployment opening portion 34 is a primer non-application surface 38A, and the outside of the protrusion 37 is a primer application surface 38B.

The instrument panel 30 having such a structure
According to the method, the position of the portion of the epidermis to be broken is clearly indicated by the projections 37 and the V-grooves 34, so that it is easy to apply a masking tape or the like, and it is easy to accurately separate and apply the primer. . In addition, when the airbag is inflated and pressed, the foam layer 33 is rapidly broken at the position of the protrusion 37 by separately applying the protrusion 37 provided on the base material 31 and the primer, and the break is caused by the breakage of the skin. The user is promptly guided toward the unit 36.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the present invention. This instrument panel 40
Is formed of a slit in which the airbag deployment opening scheduled portion 44 of the base material 41 is intermittently formed. Symbol 4 in the figure
2 is a skin, 43 is a foam layer, 45 is an airbag door core part, 46 is a part to be broken provided on the skin 42, 47
Is a projection, 48A is a primer-uncoated surface, 48B is a primer-coated surface, and 49 is a primer. This primer non-coated surface 48A is formed by sticking a masking tape in the same manner as described above.

As an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention,
A protrusion 3 on the surface of the base material on the outer periphery of the portion where the airbag is to be opened
Although an example in which the protrusions 7 and 47 are provided is shown, a step similar to the step 27 shown in FIG. 3 may be provided instead of the protrusion.

[0033]

As shown and described above, according to the structure of the airbag door of the instrument panel of the present invention, the position of the portion where the skin is to be broken is evident by the projection or the step provided on the base material surface. Therefore, it is possible to apply the primer in a precisely divided manner. The protrusions or steps and the primer-uncoated surface formed on the periphery of the airbag deployment opening or the periphery of the intended airbag deployment opening of the base material quickly and reliably prevent breakage of the foam layer due to inflation of the airbag. The airbag door can always be opened constantly since the airbag door can be guided to the portion where the skin is to be broken. Moreover, in this structure, since only the projections and the steps are provided on the base material, the process of forming the instrument panel is not complicated, and can be carried out economically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the structure of the airbag door according to the invention of claim 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing another example.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the base material.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an airbag door of a general instrument panel having an airbag device.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the airbag door.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state where a primer is applied to a base material.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view showing an example in which a slit is provided in a foam layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 11 Base material 12 Skin 13 Foam layer 14 Airbag deployment opening part 15 Airbag door core material 16 Expected breakage 17 Projection 18A No primer applied surface 19 Primer 27 Stepped portion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base material having an airbag deployment opening formed thereon and a primer applied to the surface thereof, and an airbag door core material disposed on the surface side of the base material so as to close the airbag deployment opening. An instrument panel comprising: a skin on which a rupture portion defining an airbag door portion is formed; and a synthetic resin foam layer foamed between the base material and the airbag door core material and the skin. A projection or a step is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the airbag deployment opening along the expected portion of the skin, and a primer-uncoated surface is provided between the projection or the step on the base material surface and the airbag deployment opening. The structure of the instrument panel airbag door, characterized in that: 2. A base material having an airbag deployment opening scheduled portion formed thereon and a primer applied to the surface thereof, and a skin having a scheduled breaking portion defining an airbag door portion formed on the surface side of the base material. An instrument panel comprising a synthetic resin foam layer foam-formed between the base material and the skin, wherein a protrusion or a step is formed along a scheduled break portion of the skin on a surface of an outer periphery of the planned airbag deployment opening of the base material. A structure of an airbag door of an instrument panel, characterized in that a portion is formed, and a space between a projection or a step portion on the surface of the base material and a portion where the airbag is to be opened is an uncoated surface.