JP2001055107A - Air bag cover with emblem - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag cover with an emblem inexpensively attached to it without requiring a special device. SOLUTION: An emblem is attached to this air bag cover 20 by impacting a side rim 12 formed by practically perpendicularly bending a circumferential rim part of an emblem body 11 into an engagement groove 21 of the air bag cover 20, inserting a locking pawl formed so as to extend from one part of the side rim 12 through a through hole 22 formed on the engagement groove 21, and bending a locking pawl end part 13b projecting from the through hole 22 toward the emblem body 11 side so that a bending angle formed with a locking pawl base part 13a is an acute angle. Also, a recessed part 26 is formed on a back face of the air bag cover 20 nearer to a center than the through hole 22, the locking pawl is bent in a U-shape, and a locking pawl tip 13c is bent inside the recess part 26. A stage part 24 of a depth more than a thickness of the locking pawl is formed on the back face of this air bag cover 20 abutted by the locking pawl end part 13b for enhancing a rigidity of a periphery of the engagement groove 21 of the air bag cover 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag cover for an automobile airbag device, and more particularly to an airbag cover with an emblem having an emblem attached thereto.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an airbag device for a driver's seat, there is provided an airbag device in which an airbag device is attached to a central portion (pad portion) of a steering wheel. An emblem having a mark such as a mark on its surface is attached to the airbag cover of the airbag device.

Conventionally, as an airbag cover to which an emblem is attached, there is known an airbag cover described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-50055. This is to incorporate the emblem into the airbag cover in a step of mounting the emblem in a mold and injection molding the airbag cover in the mold. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-257308, the emblem has a tubular rivet. The emblem is made to penetrate the airbag cover, and the end of the emblem is fixed on the back side of the airbag cover by expanding roll processing. Are disclosed.

[0004]

However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H4-50055 has a problem that the emblem is liable to be discolored or deformed and the emblem must be able to withstand the temperature of the mold. Had. Further, in the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-257308, when the emblem is enlarged, a plate for sandwiching the airbag cover is required separately from the emblem in order to secure a strength that does not come off due to an impact when the airbag is deployed. Had the problem of becoming As described above, the conventional fixing method of attaching the emblem to the airbag cover has a problem that a special device is required and the cost is increased.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive emblem with an emblem attached thereto without requiring any special device. It is intended to provide an airbag cover.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an emblem main body and a side formed by bending a peripheral portion of the emblem main body substantially vertically. An emblem having an edge, a plurality of locking claws extending from a part of the side edge, and a fitting groove for closely fitting the side edge of the emblem in the center portion, and the emblem of the emblem in the fitting groove. An airbag cover having a through hole through which the locking claw is inserted is provided, and the locking claw of the emblem is inserted into the through hole of the airbag cover, and the end of the locking claw that emerges from the through hole, The emblem is characterized by being bent toward the emblem main body side so that the bending angle formed by the locking claw base is acute.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an emblem body, a side edge formed by bending a peripheral edge of the emblem body substantially vertically, and a plurality of locking members extending from a part of the side edge. An emblem having a claw, and a fitting groove for closely fitting a side edge of the emblem in the center portion, and a through hole for inserting the locking claw of the emblem into the fitting groove, and An airbag cover having a recess formed on the back surface of the center cover, wherein the locking claw of the emblem is inserted into the through hole of the airbag cover, and the end of the locking claw that comes out of the through hole is engaged. The fold is bent toward the emblem body so that the bending angle that forms the base of the locking claw is approximately a right angle, and the tip of the locking claw is bent into a concave portion so that the bending angle that forms the end of the locking claw is approximately a right angle. The emblem is attached.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first or second aspect of the present invention, a depth greater than the thickness of the locking claw is provided on the back surface of the airbag cover where the bent locking claw end comes into contact. It is characterized in that a step portion is formed. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first, second, or third aspect, the rigidity of a peripheral portion of the fitting groove of the airbag cover is increased.

The emblem according to the present invention is made of metal, and a mark such as a mark or an emblem is provided on the surface of the emblem body. The emblem is formed with a side edge that is bent almost vertically at the periphery of the emblem body, so the emblem is not easily deformed, and the emblem is tightly fitted into the fitting groove of the airbag cover, so that the emblem covers the airbag cover. Can be attached closely to the center of the The airbag cover may be formed of a thermoplastic elastomer resin or the like.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the end of the locking claw protruding from the through hole is bent toward the emblem main body such that the bending angle formed with the locking claw base is acute. Since the emblem is attached to the airbag cover, the emblem can be fixed to the airbag cover, so that the emblem is not easily detached and there is no danger of catching the airbag. In addition, when the airbag is deployed, the tear line or the like formed on the airbag cover is torn and the airbag cover is partially or wholly curved, so that the fitting groove presses against the side edge of the emblem. Thus, the emblem is firmly held by the fitting groove of the airbag cover. Therefore, even when the airbag is deployed, the emblem is firmly fixed to the airbag cover.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the concave portion formed in the airbag cover only needs to have a depth capable of accommodating the tip of the locking claw, and may be a concave hole that penetrates the airbag cover. According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the first aspect of the present invention, the bending angle between the end of the locking claw protruding from the through hole and the locking claw base is substantially a right angle. The emblem is attached to the airbag cover while the tip of the locking claw is bent into a concave portion so that the bending angle formed by the locking claw end is substantially perpendicular to the emblem body. Therefore, when the emblem tries to come off the airbag cover, the tip of the locking claw shifts the portion of the airbag cover between the through hole and the recess toward the fitting groove. As a result, the locking claw base of the emblem
The airbag cover is sandwiched between the side walls forming the through holes. Therefore, the emblem can be more firmly fixed to the airbag cover as compared with the first aspect of the invention.

When a step having a depth greater than the thickness of the locking claw is formed on the back surface of the airbag cover where the bent locking claw end comes into contact, the locking claw end comes into contact with the airbag. The airbag can be more effectively prevented from being broken. Also,
When the rigidity of the peripheral portion of the fitting groove of the airbag cover is increased, the deformation of the emblem can be suppressed, so that the emblem is less likely to come off.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of the emblem, FIG. 2 is a front view of an airbag cover with the emblem attached, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, FIG. Main part enlarged sectional view of another embodiment,
6 and 7 are explanatory views showing the deformed state of the airbag cover and the emblem when the airbag is deployed.

An emblem 10 is attached to the airbag cover 20. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 0 denotes an emblem body 11, a side edge 12 formed by bending a peripheral portion of the emblem body 11 substantially vertically,
And a plurality of locking claws 13, 13... Marks such as marks and emblems are provided on the surface of the emblem body 11.

The airbag cover 20 according to the present invention is used in an airbag device for a driver's seat, and is attached to a central portion of a steering wheel and also functions as a pad portion.

At the center of the airbag cover 20, there is formed a fitting groove 21 into which the side edge 12 of the emblem 10 fits closely. In the fitting groove 21, a plurality of through holes 22, 22 for inserting the locking claws 13, 13, ... are formed corresponding to the locking claws 13, 13, ... of the emblem 10. A tear line 23 is formed in the inner wall surface of the airbag cover 20 by forming a thin groove in the inner wall surface so as to easily break the airbag cover 20 when the airbag (not shown) is deployed. It is.

In order to attach the emblem 10 to the airbag cover 20, first, the side edge 12 is fitted into the fitting groove 21, and the locking claws 13, 13 are inserted through the through holes 22, 22,. Next, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, the bending angle α that forms the end portion 13 b of the locking claw protruding from the through hole 22 with the base portion 13 a of the locking claw fitted into the through hole 22 is formed. The emblem is bent toward the emblem body 11 (the center of the emblem 10) so as to form an acute angle.

If a stepped portion 24 having a depth greater than the thickness of the locking claw 13 is formed on the back surface of the airbag cover 20 where the bent locking claw end 13b contacts, the locking claw end is formed. Part 13b
Is accommodated in the step portion 24. And the locking claw end 13b
Does not come into contact with the airbag.
The airbag will not be broken due to the contact with the airbag.

When the emblem 10 is attached to the airbag cover 20, the side edges 12 are closely fitted in the fitting grooves 21, so that the emblem 10 is fixed to the airbag cover 20 and the direction in which the emblem 10 comes off. Is hardly applied. Further, the emblem main body 11 is hardly deformed due to the presence of the side edge 12 at the peripheral edge, and the airbag cover 20
It is fixed in close contact with the central part.

When deploying the airbag, tear line 2
The airbag cover 20 broken along 3 is partially or wholly curved, and at the center thereof, as shown in FIG. 6, the side edges 12 of the emblem 10 are arranged as shown in FIGS. The emblem 10 is pressed against the fitting groove 21 and is deformed.
5 so that it is difficult for the airbag cover 20 to come off.

Further, even after the airbag cover 20 is completely opened, the end 13b of the locking claw protruding from the through hole 22 is formed.
However, the emblem 10 is not disengaged from the airbag cover 20 because it is bent toward the emblem main body 11 so that the bending angle α formed with the base 13a of the locking claw becomes an acute angle. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the end 13b of the locking claw may catch the airbag, and the airbag can be deployed without being damaged.

If the rigidity is increased by increasing the thickness of the peripheral portion of the fitting groove 21 of the airbag cover 20, for example, a portion such as the fitting groove side wall 25, than the other portions, the emblem 1
0 can be suppressed and the emblem 10
Is less likely to come off.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the emblem 10 is attached to the airbag cover 20 by bending the locking claw 13 twice so as to have a U-shaped cross section.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a concave portion formed on the back surface of the airbag cover 20 on the center side of the through hole 22. This recess 26
It is sufficient if the locking claw end 13b has a depth capable of accommodating the tip 13c which is further bent toward the emblem main body 11, and may be a concave hole that penetrates the airbag cover 20. A step portion 24 may be formed in a portion between the through hole 22 and the concave portion 26 as in the above-described embodiment.

In this embodiment, the bending angle α between the end portion 13b of the locking claw projecting from the through hole 22 and the base portion 13a of the locking claw fitted into the through hole 22 is substantially a right angle. Is bent toward the emblem body 11 (the center of the emblem 10), and the bending angle β between the tip 13c of the locking claw 13 and the locking claw end 13b becomes substantially a right angle. Thus, it is bent in the concave portion 26. That is,
The locking claw 13 is bent twice at the end portion 13b and the tip portion 13c, and the locking claw 13 is
It is bent into a U-shape in cross section and integrated.

When deploying the airbag, tear line 2
The airbag cover 20 broken along 3 is curved,
As in the above-described embodiment, the emblem 10 is sandwiched between the side walls 25, 25 of the fitting groove 21, and is not easily detached from the airbag cover 20. Then, even if the airbag cover 20 stops being cleaved, the emblem 10 moves in a direction in which the emblem 10 comes off due to the inertial force, and the locking claw tip portion 13 c is moved through the through hole 22 and the concave
Is moved to the fitting groove side. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the base 13a of the locking claw 13 having a U-shaped cross section is sandwiched between the side walls forming the through holes 22, and the emblem 10 is attached to the airbag cover. 20 hardly comes off.

Further, the locking claw 13 is attached to the airbag cover 20.
Is bent into a U-shape in cross section, and the tip 13c of the locking claw
Is the emblem body 11 (the surface of the airbag cover 20)
Since the airbag is oriented in the direction, there is no possibility that the tip 13b of the locking claw will catch the airbag, and the airbag can be deployed without being damaged. Further, if a step portion 24 is formed at a portion between the through hole 22 and the concave portion 26, the locking claw end portion 13b is housed in the step portion 24, and the locking claw end portion 1 is formed.
3b does not come into contact with the airbag, so that the locking claw end 1
There is no possibility that the airbag is broken due to the contact with 3b.

The fitting groove 21 of the airbag cover 20
By increasing the rigidity of the peripheral portion of the emblem, the portion other than the peripheral portion of the fitting groove 21 is deformed when the airbag is deployed, so that the emblem 10 is less likely to be partially deformed.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, only the emblem can be fixed to the airbag cover by retrofitting, so that a separate fixing part is not required. An inexpensive airbag cover with an emblem can be provided. Moreover,
At the time of mounting the emblem, the emblem can be easily mounted on the airbag cover without fear of discoloration or deformation due to heat. Also, the side edges of the emblem are closely fitted into the fitting grooves of the airbag cover, and the rim of the emblem body does not deform or float, so attach the emblem to the airbag cover with good appearance. Can be. Furthermore, since the end of the locking claw is bent toward the emblem main body so that the bending angle formed with the locking claw base becomes an acute angle and attached to the airbag cover, the emblem may come off when the airbag is deployed. Not safe.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the emblem main body side is formed such that a bending angle between an end of the locking claw and a base of the locking claw is substantially a right angle. And the front end of the locking claw is bent into a recess so that the bending angle between the locking claw end and the end of the locking claw is approximately a right angle. Can be increased. Further, since the tip of the locking claw faces the emblem body side, it is possible to prevent the tip of the locking claw from interfering with the airbag, and the airbag is not broken.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the locking claw end is housed in the step, the airbag does not catch on the locking claw end and the airbag is not broken. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the rigidity of the peripheral portion of the fitting groove of the airbag cover is increased, the deformation of the emblem when the airbag is deployed can be reduced, and the emblem is more difficult to come off. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an emblem.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an airbag cover to which an emblem is attached.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a deformed state of the airbag cover and the emblem when the airbag is deployed.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a deformed state of an airbag cover and an emblem when an airbag is deployed in another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Emblem 11 Emblem main body 12 Emblem side edge 13 Emblem locking claw 13a Locking claw base 13b Locking claw end 13c Locking claw tip 20 Airbag cover 21 Fitting groove 22 Through hole 24 Step 26 Depression Angle angle β Angle angle

Claims (4)

[Claims] An emblem having an emblem main body, a side edge formed by bending a peripheral edge of the emblem main body substantially vertically, and a plurality of locking claws extending from a part of the side edge;
An airbag cover is formed at the center portion, which has a fitting groove for tightly fitting the side edge of the emblem, and a through-hole formed in the fitting groove for inserting a locking claw of the emblem. Insert the claw into the through hole of the airbag cover, and bend the end of the locking claw that comes out of the through hole toward the emblem body so that the bending angle formed with the locking claw base is acute.
An airbag cover with an emblem, with an emblem attached. 2. An emblem having an emblem body, a side edge formed by bending a peripheral edge of the emblem body substantially vertically, and a plurality of locking claws extending from a part of the side edge.
At the center, a fitting groove for tightly fitting the side edge of the emblem is formed, and a through hole is formed in the fitting groove for inserting the locking claw of the emblem, and a concave portion is formed on the back surface of the cover closer to the center than the through hole. And an airbag cover formed with a bent portion, wherein the locking claw of the emblem is inserted through the through hole of the airbag cover, and the end of the locking claw that comes out of the through hole is formed as a base of the locking claw. The emblem was bent by bending it toward the emblem body so that the angle was substantially right, and bending the tip of the locking claw into a recess so that the bending angle formed by the locking claw end was substantially right. An airbag cover with an emblem. 3. A step having a depth greater than the thickness of the locking claw is formed on the back surface of the airbag cover where the bent locking claw end abuts. Airbag cover with emblem. 4. The airbag cover with an emblem according to claim 1, wherein the rigidity of the periphery of the fitting groove of the airbag cover is increased.