JP2008239065A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an airbag device enabling the smooth opening of a door panel. <P>SOLUTION: This airbag device comprises: a cover body 4 so installed as to cover the upper surface of an airbag 3 inflated and deployed by the high-pressure gas jetted from an inflator 7 at the time of collision of a vehicle and having a tear line to be cleaved by the inflation pressure of the air bag and formed in the rear surface of the airbag; a hinge 4c for hingedly joining a door panel part 4b upwardly opened by the airbag when the tear line 5 is cleaved to the cover body; and a frame-like body 4e projecting from the rear surface of the cover body. A hinge line 4d is curved to the center side of the door panel part beforehand so that the hinge line around which the hinge is rotated is generally straightened when the frame-like part is deformed outward by the inflation pressure of the airbag inflated in the frame-like part. Since the door panel part is opened while the hinge line is corrected generally straight, the door panel part can be smoothly opened with reduced energy. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device that can smoothly perform an opening operation of a door panel portion that is opened when an airbag is inflated and deployed.

  An airbag apparatus that absorbs an impact when a vehicle such as an automobile collides includes an airbag that is inflated and deployed by high-pressure gas ejected from an inflator when the vehicle collides.

  The airbag is compactly folded and modularized (integrated) with the inflator and installed inside a predetermined place, for example, an instrument panel, etc., and the upper surface of the airbag device is covered with a cover body. .

  Further, a tear line is formed in advance in the cover body so that the door panel provided in the cover body can be easily opened by the inflation pressure when the airbag is inflated.

  There are various shapes of tear lines that are formed in advance on the cover body. Recently, a seamless instrument panel that prevents the tear line from appearing on the surface of the cover body has been widely used.

  In this seamless instrument panel, a tear line made of a V-groove is recessed, for example, in an H shape on the back surface of the cover body that covers the airbag device, and the cover body that covers the airbag device is placed above and below the center tear line. When the airbag is inflated, the tear line is cleaved by the inflation pressure, and the hinge line is the pivot center of the hinge formed along the upper and lower sides of the tear line. The door panel portion is opened upward, and the airbag is deployed from the opening portion that is opened by opening the door panel portion, thereby absorbing an impact at the time of a vehicle collision.

  Moreover, as an airbag apparatus of the said structure, what was described, for example in patent document 1 and 2 is well-known.

  The airbag apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a cover body is attached to a member fixed on the instrument panel side via an engaging means that allows a predetermined range displacement.

  When the cover body receives the inflation pressure when the airbag is inflated, the predetermined range cover body is lifted from the upper surface of the instrument panel, thereby creating a gap between the opening inner edge of the instrument panel and the outer periphery of the cover body. When the cover body is torn and deployed from the thin wall portion (the tear line), the front and rear edges of the cover body and the inner edge of the opening do not interfere with each other, so that an effect of reducing the input load on the instrument panel can be obtained.

On the other hand, in the airbag device described in Patent Document 2, when an excessive stress is applied to the hinge portion in order to prevent the door panel portion opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag from breaking from the hinge portion in the middle of opening. The portion to be broken to break the door panel and the support frame portion is formed in advance between the door panel portion and the support frame portion.
JP-A-7-117609 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-220019

  In the case of an airbag device in which a tear line is formed in a substantially H shape on the back surface of the cover body that covers the airbag device installed in the instrument panel, the folded airbag projects from the inner surface of the cover body. It is stored in the frame-shaped part.

  For this reason, when the airbag starts to inflate, the rear surface of the cover body a is pushed up from below, and at the same time, the frame-like portion b is pressed in all directions.

  The door panel portion c formed on the cover body a has a structure in which the peripheral portion is connected to the upper end portion of the frame-shaped portion b via the hinge d, so that the inflation pressure of the airbag acts on the frame-shaped portion b from the inside. Then, the frame-shaped part b is deformed into a barrel shape as shown in FIG. 11, and accordingly, the hinge line that is the pivot center of the hinge d is also deformed outwardly into a convex arc shape.

  Thereafter, the central tear line f is cleaved and the door panel portion c is opened upward around the hinge line. At this time, since the hinge line has already been deformed into a convex arc shape, the door panel portion c is opened in a warped state. As a result, the input load to the instrument panel increases.

  That is, like the airbag device of Patent Document 1, when the airbag is inflated, the cover body is lifted from the instrument panel so that a gap is formed between the opening edge of the instrument panel and the outer peripheral edge of the cover body. When the door panel part c is opened from the hinge d, the door panel part c has already been deformed into a convex arc shape as shown in FIG. 11, so that the input load on the instrument panel may not be reduced.

  In order to solve such a case, it is sufficient to use a highly flexible material for the cover body. However, the highly flexible material is more likely to be deformed when subjected to the inflation pressure of the airbag, and the material cost is also increased. This increases the cost of the airbag device.

  On the other hand, the airbag device described in Patent Document 2 breaks the expected breakage portion when an excessive stress acts on the hinge because the door panel portion is opened with the hinge line of the door panel portion deformed outwardly in a convex arc shape. In order to separate the door panel portion and the support frame portion and prevent the hinge portion from breaking, there is no need to take a costly measure as in Patent Document 1, but there is a V near the base of the support frame portion. It is necessary to form a planned fracture portion made of a groove.

  For this reason, since the portion to be broken at the time of molding of the cover body is undercut, when producing a large amount of the cover body with resin, a mold having a complicated structure for molding the undercut is required, and the mold cost increases. There's a problem.

  In addition, it is necessary to use a resin that has high elongation at high temperatures and brittleness at low temperatures, and it is necessary to mold the cover body with a material having good cleavage performance in the normal temperature range. It is necessary to develop a new resin, and there is a problem that it takes time to put it into practical use.

  The present invention has been made in order to improve such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of smoothly opening the door panel.

  An airbag device of the present invention is provided so as to cover an inflator that ejects high-pressure gas at the time of a vehicle collision, an airbag that is inflated and deployed by the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator, and an upper surface of the airbag. A cover body having a tear line that is cleaved by the inflation pressure of the back surface, a door panel portion that is opened upward by an airbag when the tear line is cleaved, a hinge that hinges the door panel portion to the cover body, and a back surface of the cover body And a frame-shaped portion for housing the airbag in a folded state, and the frame-shaped portion by the inflation pressure of the airbag inflated in the frame-shaped portion When the door is deformed to the outside, the hinge line is curved in advance toward the center of the door panel so that the hinge line that is the pivot center of the hinge is substantially linear. It is obtained by forming Te.

  With the above configuration, when the door panel portion is opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag, the hinge line is corrected to a substantially straight line, so that the door panel portion is compared with the case where the door panel portion is opened with the hinge line curved. The air bag's inflation pressure can be drastically reduced when the air bag is opened, so that most of the energy of the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator can be used to inflate and deploy the air bag. Will be able to expand into.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to form a tear line that forms an undercut in the frame-shaped part, the cover body can be molded without using a mold having a complicated structure. Since it is not necessary to mold the cover body using a simple resin, it can be carried out easily.

  The airbag device of the present invention is provided with a lid having a slit formed at a position matching the tear line on the upper surface of the frame-shaped portion, and the lid is fixed to the back surface of the door panel portion, and the frame-shaped portion and the lid. The hinge line is curved in advance toward the center of the door panel portion to provide a hinge.

  With the above configuration, when the door panel portion is opened via the lid due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, the hinge line is corrected to a substantially straight line, so that the door panel portion is opened with the hinge line curved. In comparison, it is possible to greatly reduce the consumption of the inflation pressure of the airbag to open the door panel, and this allows most of the energy of the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator to be used for inflation and deployment of the airbag. Can be instantly developed into a predetermined shape.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to form a tear line that forms an undercut in the frame-shaped part, the cover body can be molded without using a mold having a complicated structure. Since it is not necessary to mold the cover body using a simple resin, it can be carried out easily.

  In the airbag device of the present invention, a rib that curves toward the center of the door panel portion is provided on the back surface of the cover body or lid body, and a hinge line is formed along the rib.

  With the above configuration, the door panel portion can be smoothly and reliably opened around the tear line as a rotation center.

  In the airbag device of the present invention, a concave groove that is curved toward the center of the door panel portion is formed on the back surface of the cover body or lid body, and a hinge line is formed along the concave groove.

  With the above configuration, the door panel portion can be smoothly and reliably opened around the tear line as a rotation center.

  In the airbag device of the present invention, a plurality of ridges are provided on the back surface of the cover body or lid body at intervals in the vehicle width direction so that the line connecting the front end portions is curved toward the center side of the door panel portion. A hinge line is formed along the tip of the ridge.

  With the above configuration, the door panel portion can be smoothly and reliably opened around the tear line as a rotation center.

  According to the airbag device of the present invention, when the door panel portion is opened due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, the door panel portion is opened with the hinge line corrected to a substantially straight line, so that the door panel portion is opened smoothly. In addition, the opening operation of the door panel portion can be performed with less energy, and this can greatly reduce the consumption of the inflation pressure of the airbag for opening the door panel portion. Most of the energy of the high-pressure gas can be used for inflating and deploying the airbag.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  1 is a plan view of the airbag device, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIGS.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes, for example, a main body (hereinafter referred to as “device main body”) of an airbag device for a passenger seat, and is provided in an instrument panel 2 installed in the front part of a passenger compartment of a vehicle not shown. Yes.

  The instrument panel 2 is formed with a substantially rectangular opening 2a in front of the passenger seat, and the opening 2a is formed by a cover body 4 having a similar shape formed slightly larger than the opening area of the opening 2a. Covered from above.

  The cover body 4 is integrally formed of a resin of the same color and the same material as the instrument panel 2 so as not to cause a sense of incongruity with the instrument panel 2. The tear line 5 is formed by a V groove.

  When the airbag 3 is inflated, the tear line 5 is cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag 3 to form an opening 4a in which the airbag 3 is deployed in the cover body 4. As shown in FIG. The horizontal tear line 5a formed in the horizontal direction and the vertical tear line 5b connected to both ends of the horizontal tear line 5a are formed in an approximately H shape, and these tear lines 5a and 5b are provided on the back surface of the cover body 4. Thus, a pair of door panel portions 4b are formed at positions facing each other across the horizontal tear line 5a.

  The vertical tear line 5b is curved so as to have a convex arc shape toward the center, and a hinge 4c is formed between both ends of the vertical tear line 5b so as to be parallel to the horizontal tear line 5a.

  The hinge 4c hinges the door panel portion 4b to the opening edge of the cover body 4 so that the door panel portion 4b smoothly opens upward after the tear line 5 is broken. As shown in FIG. It is formed by forming a concave groove and making a part of the cover body 4 thin.

  Further, the hinges 4c located on the upper side and the lower side of the door panel portion 4b are formed so as to be loosely convex arcuate toward the center side, and the hinge line 4d serving as the rotation center of the hinge 4c is the back surface of the cover body 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the curvature of the convex arc is such that the frame-shaped portion 4 e projecting from the inner surface is pressed from the inside by the inflation pressure of the airbag 3 and is deformed into a substantially barrel shape as shown in FIG. 3. It is set in advance.

  The frame-like portion 4e also serves as a part of the case for housing the airbag 3, and constitutes the upper portion of the apparatus main body 1. When the cover body 4 is molded from resin, it is integrally formed on the back surface of the cover body 4. Has been.

  The upper end of the frame-like part 4e is connected to the cover body 4 in the vicinity of the outside of the vertical tear line 5b and the hinge 4c, and a locking hole 4f made up of a plurality of elongated holes is horizontally spaced around the lower end side. A hook-like locking claw 6a protruding from the upper outer surface of the retainer 6 is engaged with the locking holes 4f from the inside.

  The retainer 6 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape whose upper surface is opened by a metal plate, and an inflator mounting hole 6c is opened at the substantially center of the bottom plate 6b. A gas jet of the disk-type inflator 7 is injected into the inflator mounting hole 6c. The part 7a is fitted from below.

  A plurality of gas ejection holes 7b are formed in the gas ejection portion 7a of the inflator 7 in the circumferential direction, and high-pressure gas ejected from these gas ejection holes 7b is ejected into the airbag 3 from the gas introduction port 3a. It has come to be.

  The airbag 3 is formed by sewing a woven fabric such as nylon into a bag shape, and the periphery of the gas inlet 3a is hermetically sealed around the inflator mounting hole 6c by a fixing tool 8 that fixes the inflator 7 to the retainer 6. And is housed in the frame-like portion 4e in a folded state as shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The apparatus main body 1 is inserted into the instrument panel 2 through the opening 2a of the instrument panel 2 in the state of being modularized together with the cover body 4 as shown in FIG. By attaching (not shown) to the vehicle body side, it is installed, for example, in front of the passenger seat in the instrument panel 1, and at this time, the airbag 3 is projected from the back surface of the cover body 4 in a folded state. The frame-like portion 4e and the retainer 6 are accommodated.

  On the other hand, when a collision sensor (not shown) detects that the vehicle has collided, the inflator 7 operates and high pressure gas is ejected into the airbag 3 from the gas ejection hole 7b of the inflator 7.

  As a result, the airbag 3 starts to expand in the frame-shaped portion 4e, and simultaneously pushes up the door panel portion 4b formed on the cover body 4 from below, and simultaneously presses the frame-shaped portion 4e from the inside to the four directions.

  As a result, the frame-shaped portion 4e formed of the resin is deformed in a barrel shape outwardly as indicated by a broken line C shown in FIG. 3, but the vertical tear line 5b of the tear line 5 and the hinge line 4d of the hinge 4c are previously shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the cover body 4 is formed so as to have a convex arc shape toward the center side. To be corrected.

  Thereafter, the vertical and horizontal tear lines 5b, 5a of the tear line 5 are cleaved, and the door panel portion 4b is opened around the hinge 4c as shown by an arrow E in FIG. 3, so that the opening of the cover body 4 formed by opening the door panel portion 4b. The airbag 3 inflated from the portion 4a is deployed toward the occupant as shown in FIG. 4 to restrain the occupant, and the airbag 3 absorbs the impact when the vehicle collides.

  Further, when the door panel portion 4b is opened by the inflation pressure of the airbag 3, the hinge line 4d of the hinge 4c is corrected to a substantially straight line, so that the door panel portion 4b is opened with the hinge line 4d curved. In comparison, it is possible to greatly reduce the consumption of the inflation pressure of the airbag 3 to open the door panel portion 4 b, whereby most of the energy of the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator 6 can be utilized for the inflation and deployment of the airbag 3. Therefore, the airbag 3 can be instantly deployed into a predetermined shape.

  In the first embodiment, hinges 4c are provided at two upper and lower portions of the cover body 4, and the door panel 4b is opened upward around the hinge line 4d of the hinges 4c. As in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the cover body 4 is provided with one hinge 4c, and the door panel portion 4b is opened upward around the hinge line 4d, which is the pivot center of the hinge 4c. In the following, the second embodiment will be briefly described.

  The same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The cylindrical inflator 7 is used, and the inflator 7 is housed in the inner bottom portion of the retainer 6. The function of the inflator 7 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment, a tear line 5 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape on the back surface of the cover body 4, and the inside surrounded by the tear line 5 is a single door panel portion 4 b.

  Also, a lid 4g is provided on the upper surface of the frame-like portion 4c, and slits 4h are formed in the lid 4g in the portion matching the upper and lower sides and the left and right sides of the tear line 5, and the door panel portion 4b and the frame-shaped part 4a are provided with a hinge 4c, and the upper surface of the lid 4g is fixed to the back surface of the door panel part 4b by means such as friction welding.

  In addition, the lower side of the tear line 5 and the hinge line 4d of the hinge 4c are substantially chevron-shaped so that the center of the frame 4a is not affected even if the frame-shaped portion 4a is deformed to a barrel shape outwardly by the inflation pressure of the airbag 3. The shape is a convex arc (FIG. 5 shows a mountain shape).

  In the airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment configured as described above, when the airbag 3 starts to inflate, the tear line 5 is cleaved by the inflation pressure, and at the same time, the frame-like portion 4b is deformed outward in a substantially barrel shape. As a result of this deformation, the hinge line 4d of the hinge 4c is corrected to a substantially straight line as shown by an imaginary line F in FIG.

  Thereafter, since the airbag 3 pushes up the door panel portion 4b together with the lid 4g, the door panel portion 4b is opened upward around the hinge line 4d that has been linearly modified, and the airbag 3 is deployed to the passenger side. As in the first embodiment, the door panel portion 4b can be opened smoothly, and the inflation pressure of the airbag 3 can be greatly reduced to open the door panel portion 4b. Since most of the energy of the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator 6 can be used for inflating and deploying the airbag 3, effects such as the ability to instantly deploy the airbag 3 into a predetermined shape can be obtained.

  In the first and second embodiments, the cover 4 is formed with the hinge 4c and the center of the hinge 4c is the hinge line 4d. However, as in the first modification shown in FIG. A rib 4j having a convex arc shape toward the center may be provided on the back surface of the body 4 so that a hinge line 4d is formed along the rib 4j, as in the second modification shown in FIG. A shallow concave groove 4k having a convex arc shape toward the center may be formed on the back surface of the cover body 4, and the hinge line 4d may be formed by the concave groove 4k.

  Further, as in the third modified example shown in FIG. 9, a plurality of protrusions 4m are provided on the back surface of the cover body 4 so as to be parallel to each other at intervals in the width direction. The hinge lines 4d may be formed along the tip of each protrusion 4m so as to form a convex arc.

  Further, the tear line 5 formed on the back surface of the cover body 4 is formed by forming a vertical tear line 5d orthogonal to the center tear line 5a at the center of the center tear line 5a as in the first modification shown in FIG. Even if the tear line 5 is formed as described above, the same effect as in the first and second embodiments can be obtained.

  When the door panel portion is opened due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, the airbag device of the present invention opens the door panel portion smoothly with the hinge line being corrected in a substantially straight line. It is ideal for an airbag device that absorbs shock when a vehicle collides.

1 is a plan view of an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing when the airbag provided in the airbag apparatus which becomes the 1st Embodiment of this invention inflates. FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view showing an inflated and deployed state of the airbag provided in the airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the airbag apparatus which becomes the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the BB line of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st modification of the hinge line provided in the airbag apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd modification of the hinge line provided in the airbag apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd modification of the hinge line provided in the airbag apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the 1st modification of the tear line provided in the airbag apparatus which becomes embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the conventional airbag apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 3 Air bag 4 Cover body 4b Door panel part 4c Hinge 4d Hinge line 4e Frame-shaped part 5 Tear line 7 Inflator

Claims (5)

  An inflator that ejects high-pressure gas at the time of a vehicle collision, an airbag that is inflated and deployed by the high-pressure gas ejected from the inflator, and a cover that covers the upper surface of the airbag and that is cleaved by the inflation pressure of the airbag A cover body having a tear line formed on the back surface thereof, a door panel portion that is opened upward by the airbag along with the tearing of the tear line, a hinge that hinges the door panel portion to the cover body, and a back surface of the cover body And a frame-like portion that houses the airbag in a folded state, and is formed by the inflation pressure of the airbag inflated in the frame-like portion. The hinge line is preliminarily placed on the door so that the hinge line that is the center of rotation of the hinge is substantially linear when the shape part is deformed outward. Airbag device characterized by being formed by bending toward the center of the panel portion.   A lid having a slit formed at a position matching the tear line is provided on the upper surface of the frame-shaped portion, and the lid is fixed to the back surface of the door panel portion, and between the frame-shaped portion and the lid. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hinge is provided by bending the hinge line in advance toward the center of the door panel portion.   The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a rib that curves toward the center side of the door panel portion is provided on the back surface of the cover body or the lid body, and the hinge line is formed along the rib. .   The airbag according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a concave groove that is curved toward the center of the door panel portion is formed on the back surface of the cover body or the lid body, and the hinge line is formed along the concave groove. apparatus. A plurality of ridges are provided on the back surface of the cover body or the lid body at intervals in the vehicle width direction so that a line connecting the front end portions is curved toward the center side of the door panel portion. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge line is formed along the airbag.

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