JP2001163150A - Air bag device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To minimize the number of welding parts. SOLUTION: A recessed part 14 is formed in an instrument panel 13, an air bag lid 25 is provided for closing the recessed part 14, leg portions 28, 29 integrally extending substantially along the inner surface of the recessed part 14 are formed on the rear surface of the air bag lid 25, the recessed part 14 and the leg portions 28, 29 form an air-bag-body storing space 31 capable of storing an air bag body 30 in it in a folded, state and an inflator storing member 43 is mounted after the air-bag-body storing space 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, vehicles such as automobiles are provided with an airbag device 1 as shown in FIG. 8 as an emergency safety means. The airbag device 1 is provided in a housing 3 housed inside an instrument panel 2, and is inflated in an inflator 4 for blowing out a pressurized gas when a vehicle receives an impact force of a predetermined value or more. The airbag main body 5 is housed in the housing 3 in a state, and is inflated by blowing out a pressurized gas from the inflator 4. And inflator 4
As shown by the solid line in FIG. 8, the airbag body 5 (5a in FIG. 8) swells from the upper part of the instrument panel 2 to the passenger side 6 in the vehicle cabin, and is seated at a fixed position. And catch the head of the crew. In this way, the airbag main body 5a inflates to the front of the occupant, so that the head or the like can be prevented from directly colliding with a hard instrument such as the instrument panel 2, and the like.
The occupants can be protected. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 7 denotes a front window glass of the vehicle, and 8 denotes a vent hole for adjusting the internal pressure of the airbag body 5a.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional vehicle airbag device, the inflator 4
The housing 3 that accommodates the airbag body 5 and the airbag body 5 is a welded structure, and there is a problem that it takes a lot of time to manufacture because there are many welds.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an airbag device for a vehicle which can reduce the number of welds as much as possible.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a concave portion is formed in an instrument panel, and an air bag grid body for closing the concave portion is provided. An airbag body storage space in which a leg extending substantially integrally along the inner surface of the recess is formed on the back surface of the airbag lid body, and the airbag body can be stored inside the recess and the leg in a state where the airbag body is folded. And an inflator storage member is attached to the rear of the airbag body storage space.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag body storage space is formed inside the recess formed in the instrument panel and the leg formed on the back surface of the airbag lid body. Then, in the airbag body storage space, the airbag body is stored and mounted in a folded state, so that a metal container for housing the airbag body can be eliminated. Welds to the storage space can be eliminated. Moreover, the instrument panel and the airbag grid body are usually made of resin, but the wall of the airbag body storage space has a double structure of the concave portion and the front and rear legs, so it is made of resin. Also, sufficient strength can be secured.

In the invention described in claim 2, the inflator housing member is constituted by a base member having a substantially inverted Ω shape in side view, and side plates locked on both sides of the base member, The upper part of the side plate is pressed by the upper surface pressing part of the retainer attached to the pressure gas introduction opening of the airbag body, and the upper part of the inflator stored in the inflator storage member is pressed by the inflator upper pressing part. It is characterized by doing.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inflator housing member has a substantially inverted Ω-shaped base member in side view, and a side plate which is locked to both sides of the base member. The upper part of the side plate is pressed by the upper surface pressing part of the retainer attached to the pressure gas introduction opening of the airbag body, and the upper part of the inflator stored in the inflator storage member is pressed by the inflator upper pressing part. As a result, a welded portion to the inflator housing member can be substantially eliminated.

[0009]

First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention.

First, the structure will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an airbag device 11 is formed in a recess formed in an instrument panel 13 on a passenger seat side below a windshield 12 of an automobile. Fourteen parts are provided. The recess 14 has a substantially vertical front wall 15,
It has a rear wall 16 and both side walls 17, and an opening 18 is formed at the bottom. The front wall 15 and the rear wall 16
At the lower end, there are inclined portions 19 and 20 having a substantially inverted C shape in a side view, and a bolt insertion hole 21 is formed in the inclined portions 19 and 20. A step 22 is provided around the recess 14.
Are formed, and a locking hole 23 is formed around the step 22. The instrument panel 13 includes:
In FIG. 1, the resin hard panel is formed only of the core material, but may be a soft panel in which a foam layer or the like is further laminated. Further, the recess 14 has a structure without the rear wall 16, that is, the instrument panel 13.
Due to the die-cutting relationship described above, a structure having the front wall 15 but not the rear wall 16 may be used.

An airbag lid body 25 made of resin which is formed separately from the recess 14 and closes the recess 14 is attached to the recess 14. The airbag lid body 25 is fitted and locked to the step portion 22 of the instrument panel 13 and has a lid 26 that covers and closes the concave portion 14. At this time, by making the step amount of the step portion 22 substantially equal to the thickness of the lid 26, the lid 26 can be mounted almost flush with the instrument panel 13.

The air bag grid body 25 is provided with a locking claw 2 projecting downward from a peripheral portion or a back surface of the lid 26.
7 are integrally provided. The locking claw 27 is locked in a locking hole 23 formed in a peripheral portion of the step 22.

Further, a pair of front and rear legs projecting from the back surface of the lid 26 substantially downward along the inside of the front wall 15 and the rear wall 16 of the recess 14 from inside the locking claw 27 to the inside of the locking claw 27. Parts 28 and 29 are integrally provided. An airbag main body storage space 31 for storing the airbag main body 30 in a folded state is formed inside the concave portion 14 and the front and rear legs 28 and 29. At this time, the lower ends of the front and rear legs 28 and 29 are along the inclined portions 19 and 20 of the front wall 15 and the rear wall 16 of the concave portion 14, and have a substantially inverted C-shape in side view, which can contact with them. Parts 32 and 33. The bolt insertion holes 2 are provided in the inclined portions 32 and 33.
A bolt insertion hole 34 corresponding to No. 1 is formed.

On the back surface of the lid 26, for example, a cleavage groove 35 having a substantially H shape in a plan view (a whole illustration is omitted).
Are formed. Then, an airbag body 3 described later.
The cleavage groove 35 is cleaved by the pressing force when the 0 is inflated, and arrows A and B are formed around the roots 36 of the legs 28 and 29.
As shown by b, the swelling opening is formed by double opening in the direction away from each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, a retainer 38 is provided inside the pressure gas introduction opening 37 of the airbag body 30.
The airbag body 30 is disposed in contact with the inclined portions 32, 33 of the front and rear legs 28, 29 with the pressure gas introduction opening 37 aligned with the opening 18 of the concave portion 14, as described later. Are fixed using bolts 39 and nuts 40 (see FIG. 4). The retainer 38 has a substantially hat shape in a side view, and mounting portions 60 that can be mounted on the inclined portions 32 and 33 are formed at both ends in the front-rear direction, and eject from a later-described inflator 42 at a center portion 41 in the front-rear direction. Control of the amount and direction of pressure gas
A large number of slit-shaped diffusers 63 extending in the front-rear direction are formed.

An inflator housing member 43 for accommodating a cylindrical inflator 42 capable of ejecting a pressurized gas is mounted below the inclined portions 19 and 20 in the concave portion 14 of the instrument panel 13. The inflator housing member 43 includes a base member 44 having a substantially inverted Ω shape in side view.
And a substantially hexagonal shape in a side view, which is respectively locked by side U-shaped side locking portions 46 formed on both sides of a storage portion 45 at the center of a base member 44, and a center inflator 42.
And a pair of side plates 48 each having a round hole 47 through which a protrusion from the front plate passes. Further, a bracket 50 that is fastened and fixed to a vehicle body-side member (not shown) such as a steering support member with a bolt or the like is welded and fixed to the lower portion of the outer surface of the base member 44 (weld portion 49).

Then, the flange 51 formed on the upper portion of the base member 44 is superimposed on the inclined portions 19 and 20 of the concave portion 14, and as shown in FIG.
The stepped bolt 39 integrally protruded from 0 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 52 around the pressure gas introduction opening 37 of the airbag body 30 and the bolts formed in the inclined portions 32 and 33 of the legs 28 and 29. The insertion hole 34 and the inclined portions 19 and 2 of the concave portion 14
0, and a bolt insertion hole 53 formed in the flange 51 of the inflator storage member 43.
, And the nut 40 is screwed on, whereby the inflator housing member 43 is attached.

Further, the retainer 38 and the inflator housing member 43 constitute an inflator support structure 54. That is, when the retainer 38 and the inflator storage member 43 are combined as shown in FIG. 5, the retainer 38 and the inflator storage member 43 are formed to have a substantially regular hexagonal shape in a side view as shown in FIG. 6. Structure 54
The inflator 42 is supported at a substantially center position of the inflator support structure 54 with a required gap for the passage of the pressurized fluid to the inflator support structure 54. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the storage portion 45 at the center of the base member 44 projects inward from the lower side position to inflate the inflator 42.
The lower part 55 of an inflator which supports the lower part of this is projected and formed. Further, an inflator side support portion 56 formed of a ridge that can support the side portion of the inflator 42 is formed at the periphery of the round hole 47 of the side plate 48 by bending. Further, on both ends of the central portion 41 of the retainer 38, upper surface pressing portions 57 for pressing the side plate 48 from above are formed. In the vicinity of both ends of the central portion 41 of the retainer 38, an inflator upper pressing portion 58 for pressing the upper portion of the inflator 42 is formed by bending.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described.

When assembling the airbag device 11, the airbag body 30 to which the retainer 38 is attached is housed in the front and rear legs 28 and 29 of the airbag lid body 25,
The airbag lid body 25 is attached to the concave portion 14 formed in the instrument panel 13, and the inflator housing member 43 is brought into contact with the lower portion of the concave portion 14, and these are sandwiched between the bolt 39 and the nut 40 as shown in FIG. To wear. Then, the instrument panel 13 to which the airbag device 11 is assembled is fastened and fixed to a vehicle body-side member (not shown) such as a steering support member using a bracket 50 of the inflator housing member 43 as an attachment point. Attach the side member to the vehicle body.

When the pressurized gas is ejected from the inflator 42, the pressurized gas enters the airbag body 30 through the pressurized gas introduction opening 37 through the opening 18 of the recess 14 and the diffuser 63 of the retainer 38, and The main body 30 is expanded. The cleavage groove 35 formed on the back surface of the lid 26 is cleaved by the pressing force when the airbag body 30 is inflated, and the lid 26 is attached to the base 3 of the legs 28 and 29.
A bulging opening is formed by double-opening in the directions away from each other as indicated by arrows A and B around the center 6. The airbag body 3 extends from the bulging opening to the passenger side in the vehicle cabin.
0 bulges and receives the head and the like of the occupant sitting in a fixed position. As described above, when the airbag body 30 inflates to the front of the occupant, the instrument panel 13
It is possible to prevent the head or the like from directly colliding with a hard instrument such as the like, and protect the occupant.

In the first embodiment, the front and rear legs 28 and 29 projecting downward from the concave portion 14 formed in the instrument panel 13 and the airbag lid body 25.
An airbag body storage space 31 is formed inside the airbag body, and the airbag body 30 is stored in the airbag body storage space 31 in a folded state. Can be eliminated, so that a welded portion to the airbag main body storage space 31 can be eliminated. Moreover, the instrument panel 13 and the airbag grid body 25 are usually made of resin, but the wall of the airbag body storage space 31 has a double structure of the concave portion 14 and the front and rear legs 28 and 29. Therefore, sufficient strength can be ensured even with resin.

The inflator housing member 43 includes a base member 44 having a substantially inverted Ω shape in a side view and a base member 4.
Side plate 48 locked to side locking portion 46 of No. 4
And a bracket 50 welded and fixed to a lower portion of the outer surface of the base member 44, and the upper portion of the side plate 48 is pressed by the upper surface pressing portion 57 of the retainer 38 attached to the pressure gas introduction opening 37 of the airbag body 30. Along with
The upper part of the inflator 42 is moved to the inflator upper pressing part 58.
, So that the welded portion to the inflator housing member 43 is formed by the base member 44 and the bracket 5.
It can be eliminated except for the weld 49 with zero.

As described above, the number of welds can be reduced as much as possible to facilitate the production.

[0026]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the airbag body storage space is provided inside the recess formed in the instrument panel and the leg formed on the back surface of the airbag grid body. The airbag body is formed and stored in the airbag body storage space in a folded state, so that a metal container for housing the airbag body can be eliminated. It is possible to eliminate a welded portion with respect to the main body storage space. Moreover, the instrument panel and the airbag grid body are usually made of resin, but the wall of the airbag body storage space has a double structure of the concave portion and the front and rear legs, so it is made of resin. Also, sufficient strength can be secured.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inflator housing member includes a base member having a substantially inverted Ω shape when viewed from the side, and side plates locked on both sides of the base member. Since the upper portion is pressed by the upper surface pressing portion of the retainer attached to the pressure gas introduction opening of the airbag body, and the upper portion of the inflator stored in the inflator storing member is pressed by the inflator upper pressing portion, the inflator storing member is used. The practically useful effect that the welded portion can be substantially eliminated can be exhibited.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a bag body.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of a bolt fastening portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded side view of the inflator housing member.

FIG. 6 is an assembled side sectional view of the inflator storage member.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the inflator housing member.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 13 instrument panel 14 recess 25 air bag grid body 28 leg 29 leg 30 air bag main body 31 air bag main body storage space 37 pressure gas introduction opening 38 retainer 42 inflator 43 inflator storage member 44 base member 48 side plate 57 upper surface pressing portion 58 Inflator upper pressing part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An instrument panel having a recess formed therein and an airbag lid body for closing the recess provided.
An airbag body storage that has a leg that extends integrally along the inner surface of the recess on the back surface of the airbag lid body, and that can accommodate the airbag body folded inside the recess and the leg. An airbag device for a vehicle, wherein a space is formed, and an inflator housing member is mounted behind the airbag body housing space. 2. The inflator housing member comprises a base member having a substantially inverted Ω shape in a side view and side plates locked on both sides of the base member. The inflator is configured to be pressed by an upper surface pressing portion of a retainer attached to a pressurized gas introduction opening of a bag body, and that an upper portion of an inflator housed in the inflator housing member is pressed by an inflator upper pressing portion. 2. The vehicle airbag device according to claim 1.