JP2002002434A - Air bag door part structure for instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag door part structure wherein a crack or the like hardly occurs even when a load is applied onto an instrument panel from an outer face side, considering that a tear line for partitioning an air bag door part is provided in the instrument panel. SOLUTION: A hinge member 10 is connected ranging over from a reverse face side of the air bag door part 2 to a reinforcing wall part 3, which is a door supporting part, of the instrument panel 1. A protruded part 12c projected outside the air bag door part 2 over the tear line 5 is provided in a door side portion 12 of the hinge member 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a tear line for defining an airbag door portion on an instrument panel, and connects a hinge member to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. The present invention relates to an airbag door structure of an instrument panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When an airbag is inflated, the airbag door structure tears an instrument panel at a tear line by this force to push open the airbag door.
As a result, the airbag is deployed indoors from the airbag deployment port of the instrument panel that is opened. At this time, due to the action of the tear line, the instrument panel is smoothly torn and the airbag door portion is quickly opened, and it is difficult to form a sharp projection that breaks the airbag at the cleavage portion. It works reliably. Further, the open airbag door portion is supported by a hinge member so as not to come off from the instrument panel.

[0003]

When the instrument panel is made of a hard resin, a kerf is formed by laser processing to form a tear line, and the thickness at the part where the tear line is provided is 0.3 to 0.4 mm. It may be. That is, in the instrument panel provided with the tear line in this manner, the strength at the portion provided with the tear line is considerably lower than that of the other portions. For this reason, conventionally, when an impact is applied to the instrument panel from the outside surface, such as when a sudden braking operation is performed and the occupant's head hits the instrument panel, a problem occurs that a tear or a crack occurs at the tear line portion. There was something.

An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag door structure of an instrument panel capable of simply suppressing the above-mentioned damage trouble of the instrument panel.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an instrument panel is provided on a door side portion of the hinge member connected to the airbag door portion, outside the airbag door portion beyond the tear line. Since the projection is provided along the rear surface, the door-side portion of the hinge member extends across the tear line and exists on both lateral sides thereof. As a result, even if the above-described load is applied to the instrument panel, stress concentration at the tear line portion is suppressed due to the hinge member straddling the tear line and along the back surface side, and cracks due to the presence of the tear line are suppressed. Or cracks are less likely to occur.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the projection is provided at a portion other than the airbag door portion of the instrument panel, and the projecting portion is provided with a support portion for receiving and acting from the side opposite to the airbag door portion. When the above-mentioned load is applied to the instrument panel, the protrusion of the hinge member is received and supported by the support from the side opposite to the airbag door. As a result, even if the above-mentioned load is applied to the instrument panel, the airbag door portion is firmly supported by the support portion via the door-side portion of the hinge member, and cracks and cracks are less likely to occur at the tear line portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, since an annular reinforcing wall surrounding the airbag door is projected from the back side of the instrument panel, the airbag door of the instrument panel is provided. Is reinforced by the reinforcing wall portion so that the panel portion located around the periphery is not easily deformed or cracked. That is, when the airbag is inflated, the airbag door portion is flexed and deformed to the outer surface side due to the inflation force of the airbag, thereby being split and opened at the tear line portion. If the door support portion of the instrument panel cracks or bends and deforms to the same extent together with the airbag door portion, stress concentration hardly occurs at the tear line portion, and the airbag door portion does not easily split, Takes more time. However, even if the airbag door is flexed and deformed, the door support is difficult to crack due to reinforcement and it is difficult to bend and deform.Thus, stress concentration tends to occur at the tear line part, and the airbag door part quickly moves at the tear line part. Cleavage makes it easier to open.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, since the reinforcing wall portion is provided with a mounting portion for connecting an airbag device,
The airbag device is supported by the reinforcement wall, and when the airbag is inflated, the door support located around the airbag door of the instrument panel is pulled back to the back of the instrument panel by the reaction force of the airbag inflation. The airbag door is opened and operated. This makes it possible to apply a pushing / opening operation force due to inflation of the airbag to the airbag door portion while suppressing the door support portion from bending and deforming together with the airbag door portion, thereby easily causing stress concentration at the tear line portion. The airbag door portion is quickly opened by tearing.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an instrument panel 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as an instrument panel 1).
At one end in the lateral direction of the instrument panel 2
A plurality of rectangular airbag doors 2 are provided, a hinge member 10 supporting each airbag door 2, and a reinforcing wall formed in an annular shape surrounding both airbag doors 2 and protruding from the back side of the instrument panel 1. Part 3, an airbag 2 inside the reinforcing wall 3
Each of the airbag devices 20 in which the airbag devices 1 are located is provided on the back side of the instrument panel 1 to constitute an airbag system on the passenger seat side. The details are configured as follows.

The instrument panel 1 is made of a polypropylene resin (P
P) and made of a hard-type resin instrument panel. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, etc., on the back side of the instrument panel 1, a first lateral cut 4 in a direction along the instrument panel lateral direction, and a left and right end of the first lateral cut 4, in the instrument panel longitudinal direction. A longitudinal cut 5 along
A front-rear cut 5 extending in the front-rear direction of the instrument panel through a right end of the first lateral cut 4;
By providing a second lateral cut 6 parallel to the first lateral cut 4 on the instrument panel front side and the instrument panel rear side of the lateral cut 4 by laser processing,
The two airbag door sections 2 are defined.

That is, the cutting depth of the first horizontal cut 4 and the left and right front cuts 5 becomes deeper than the cut depth of the two second horizontal cuts 6, and the first horizontal cut 4 and the two horizontal cuts 5 are formed. Front and rear notch 5
The thickness of the instrument panel 1 at the portion where
The depths of the cuts 4, 5, 6 are set so as to be 0.4 mm. As a result, the first lateral cut 4 becomes a tear line that is a planned tear line in the instrument panel sideways, and the two front and rear cuts 5 become a tear line that is a planned tear line in the instrument panel front and rear direction. Therefore, hereinafter, the first lateral cut is referred to as a lateral tear line 4, and the two longitudinal cuts are referred to as a longitudinal tear line 5. The lateral tear line 4 and a portion of the two frontward tear lines 5 located on the front side of the instrument panel with respect to the lateral tear line 4 define the front side airbag door portion 2. The part of the front-rear tier line 5 located on the rear side of the instrument panel with respect to the horizontal tier line 4 defines the rear airbag door portion 2. A second lateral cut 6 located on the front side of the instrument panel of the lateral tear line 4 sets a pivot point when the airbag door portion 2 on the front side of the instrument panel opens, and a second lateral cut 6 located on the instrument panel rear side of the lateral tear line 4. The two lateral cuts 6 define a pivot point when the airbag door portion 2 on the rear side of the instrument panel opens.

As shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the hinge member 10 for supporting each airbag door portion 2 has a door-side portion 12 having a plurality of connecting holes 11 arranged in the lateral and longitudinal directions of the instrument panel 1 at one end. 1 is a sheet metal member press-formed so as to have a support portion side portion 14 having a plurality of mounting holes 13 arranged in the lateral direction of the instrument panel 1 at the other end side. 2 is connected to the back side of the airbag door portion 2 by the connection structure shown in FIG. 2, and the support portion side portion 14 is attached to the front side portion 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 and the inner surface side of the rear portion 3a by the attachment structure shown in FIG. , The back side of the airbag door portion 2 and the front portion 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 as a door support portion of the instrument panel 1.
It is connected to the rear part 3a.

The connecting structure for connecting the door-side portion 12 of each hinge member 10 to the airbag door portion 2 is formed integrally with the airbag door portion 2 so as to protrude to the rear side of the airbag door portion 2. The door-side part 12 is formed by the plurality of connecting protrusions 2a and a caulking part provided on the front end side of the door-side part 12 of each connecting protrusion 2a protruding from the connection hole 11. 2 is configured to be attached to the back surface side.

The mounting structure in which the support portion side portion 14 of each hinge member 10 is mounted on the reinforcing wall portion 3 includes a plurality of laterally and outwardly protruding side walls of the airbag case 22 of the airbag device 20. The airbag device 20 is connected to the reinforcing wall portion 3 by a mounting projection 22a and a retaining bracket 23 configured to be detachably connected to a bottom portion of the airbag case 22 by a connecting bolt 26 at a base end side.
The support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10 is attached to the front / rear side portion 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 using an airbag device attachment structure attached to the front / rear side portion 3a.

That is, the airbag device mounting structure is as follows:
The mounting portion 3 includes a plurality of through holes provided in the front and rear portions 3a of the reinforcing wall portion 3.
b, respectively, and the retaining tongue pieces 23a provided on the distal end side of the retaining bracket 23 corresponding to the plurality of mounting projections 22a, respectively, are attached to the mounting projections 22a.
At the end protruding outward from the reinforcing wall portion 3a, enters the through hole 22b of the mounting projection 22a, and
It is configured to prevent the a from coming off the reinforcing wall portion 3a. The plurality of mounting projections 22a are individually inserted through the plurality of mounting holes 13 in the support portion side portion 14 of the hinge member 10 to lock the support portion side portion 14 to the reinforcing wall portion 3a. I have.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer peripheral portion of the door-side portion 12 of each hinge member 10 projects outward from the airbag door portion 2 from the lateral edge of the instrument panel of the airbag door portion 2. And the protruding edge 12b is the hinge member 1
The door-side protruding portion 12a, which is a chamfered edge that hardly damages the airbag 21 by the bending process of the sheet metal member forming 0, and the airbag door portion 2 from the front-rear end edge of the instrument panel of the airbag door portion 2 The instrument panel-side protruding portion 12c is a chamfered edge that protrudes outward and has a protruding edge 12d that is less likely to damage the airbag 21 by bending the sheet metal member forming the hinge member 10.
And the door-side protruding portion 12a exists along the back surface of the airbag door portion 2 on the back surface side of the other airbag door portion 2 beyond the lateral tear line 4,
When a load is applied to the instrument panel 1 from the front side, stress concentration is hardly generated at the portion of the lateral tear line 4, and the left and right instrument panel side protrusions 12 c are provided on the lateral instrument panel of the airbag door 2. On the back side of the instrument panel along the back side of the instrument panel portion, so that when a load is applied to the instrument panel 1 from the front side, stress concentration is less likely to occur at the portion of the front-back tear line 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the airbag device 20 is configured such that the front side of the side wall portion is attached to the mounting portion 3 b of the front portion 3 a of the reinforcing wall portion 3 and the rear side portion of the reinforcing wall portion 3. The rear side of the side wall portion is connected to the mounting portion 3b in 3a by the mounting structure shown in FIG. 1, respectively, and the bottom portion is connected via a mounting arm 24 to the lateral support bar 9 connected to the vehicle body. The airbag case 22 includes the airbag 21 housed in the airbag case 22 in a folded state, and an inflator 25 attached to the airbag case 22.

As described above, in the normal state where the inflator 25 of the airbag device 20 does not operate, the airbag 21 of the airbag device 20 is in a folded state, and the two airbag doors 2 are closed. At this time, even if a load is applied to the front side of the instrument panel 1 such as the head of the occupant hitting the instrument panel 1 due to the brake operation, each hinge member 10
The door-side portion 12 is prevented from stress concentration at the lateral tear line 4 and the front-rear tear line 5 by the door-side protrusion 12a and the instrument panel-side protrusion 12c. And cracks are less likely to occur.

When an impact is applied to the vehicle body, the airbag device 20
When the inflator 25 is operated, the airbag 21 is inflated by the operation of the inflator 25 and presses against the back surface side of each airbag door portion 2. Cleavage occurs at the tear line 5 site. After this, the airbag 21
Presses both the front airbag door portion 2 and the rear airbag door portion 2 by the inflation force, and the door-side portion 1 of the hinge member 10 connected to each airbag door portion 2.
The left and right instrument panel-side protrusions 12c of the instrument panel 2
While passing through the opening peripheral portion of the instrument panel 1 from the rear surface side to the front surface side while elastically deforming by contact with the opening peripheral portion of the instrument panel 1, and comes out to the front surface side of the instrument panel 1. Thereby, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, the front airbag door portion 2 opens to the front of the instrument panel, the rear airbag door portion 2 opens to the rear of the instrument panel, and the airbag deployment port 1a of the instrument panel 1 opens. Open,
The airbag 21 is deployed from the airbag deployment port 1a into the vehicle interior. At this time, each airbag door 2 is
It is supported by the hinge member 10 so as not to be separated from it. In addition, even if the airbag 21 comes into contact with the protruding edges 12b and 12d of the door-side protruding portion 12a and the instrument panel-side protruding portion 12c of the hinge member 10, the door-side portion 12 protrudes from the airbag door portion 2. Protruding edge 12
Since b and 12d are chamfered edges, the airbag 21 is hardly damaged.

[Other Embodiment] FIG. 6 shows the structure of an airbag door portion provided with another embodiment. In this airbag door structure, the base portion of the left and right side portions 3c of the reinforcing wall 3 is used. In addition, a recessed groove 7 into which the end of the instrument panel-side protrusion 12c of the hinge member 10 enters is formed in a portion along the left and right sides of the door-side portion 12 of each hinge member 10 to form the instrument panel-side protrusion 12c. When a load is applied to the instrument panel 1 from the front side, the instrument panel-side protruding portion 12c of the hinge member 10 is received and supported by the support portion 8 from the side opposite to the airbag door portion 2. 1 through the door-side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 so that the airbag door portion 2 of the instrument panel 1 and the portion located on the lateral outside thereof are unlikely to bend behind the instrument panel 1. It is configured to be supported received by the support portion 8 Te.

As the support portion 8 for receiving and acting on the instrument panel-side protruding portion 12c of the door side portion 12 of the hinge member 10, in addition to being provided on the reinforcing wall portion 3 as in the above-described embodiment, an airbag deployment port of the instrument panel 1 is provided. The instrument panel 1 can be provided at a site merely located around the periphery of the instrument panel 1a.
The air bag door portion may be provided in any portion other than the air bag door portion. That is, it is possible to attain the object of receiving and supporting the airbag door portion 2 via the door-side portion 12 of the hinge member 10 regardless of whether the airbag door portion is provided at any portion other than the airbag door portion of the instrument panel 1. .

[0022]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the door portion is easy to open due to the tear line, and even if a load is applied to the front side of the instrument panel, the tear is reduced. Stress concentration at the line portion is suppressed by the door-side portion of the hinge member, and damage to the instrument panel is less likely to occur. In addition, since the hinge member is used as the reinforcing means, the door can be provided at a low cost with a simple structure having only a protruding portion at the door side.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, even if a load is applied to the front side of the instrument panel, the airbag door portion is firmly received and supported by the support portion via the door side portion of the hinge member, and the tear line Damage to the instrument panel such as cracking or cracking at the site is more unlikely to occur.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the airbag is inflated, the airbag door portion is quickly split and opened for reinforcement by the reinforcing wall of the door support portion, and the airbag is placed indoors. Deploy quickly.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the airbag is inflated, the door support portion is supported by the inflation reaction force of the airbag so that the door support portion is attached to the airbag door portion and is not easily deformed. The airbag can be quickly opened and opened, and the airbag can be quickly deployed into the room from this surface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical side view of an airbag system.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal rear view of the airbag system.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag system.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the hinge member in a closed state.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge member in an open state.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of an airbag door unit according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 2 Airbag door part 3 Reinforcement wall part 3a Door support part 3b Attachment part 4,5 Tear line 8 Support part 10 Hinge member 12 Door side part 12a, 12c Projection part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An instrument panel having a tear line defining an airbag door portion provided on an instrument panel, and a hinge member connected to a back side of the airbag door portion and a door support portion of the instrument panel. An airbag door structure of the above, wherein the hinge member protrudes along the rear surface of the instrument panel to the outside of the airbag door portion beyond the tear line at a door side portion connected to the airbag door portion. The airbag door structure of the instrument panel provided with a protruding part. 2. The instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a support portion provided at a portion of the instrument panel other than the airbag door portion, the support portion acting on the projecting portion from a side opposite to the airbag door portion. Panel airbag door structure. 3. The airbag door structure of an instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein an annular reinforcing wall surrounding the airbag door is projected from a back side of the instrument panel. 4. The airbag door structure of an instrument panel according to claim 3, wherein the reinforcing wall has a mounting portion for connecting an airbag device.