JP3200589B2 - Arrangement structure of front pillar garnish containing head protection airbag bag - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a curtain-shaped head protection airbag which inflates and deploys gas from an inflator along a pillar and a roof side rail when a predetermined high load acts on a vehicle body side. The present invention relates to an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish storing a bag body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the protection performance of an occupant's head when a predetermined high load is applied to a side portion of a vehicle body, an airbag bag stored in a folded state over a front pillar and a roof side rail is used. An occupant protection device that expands in a curtain shape along a window glass has already been proposed. Hereinafter, WO 96 which discloses this type of occupant protection device is disclosed.
No./26087 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 13, an occupant protection device 100 is a long duct 1 disposed from a front pillar 102 to a roof side rail 104.
06, an airbag bag body 112 stored in a folded state along the roof side rail section 104 from the front pillar section 102 and fixed to the vehicle body at a front end fixing point 108 and a rear end fixing point 110, and a hose 114 The inflator 11 is connected to the rear end of the duct 106 through the inflator 11 and ejects gas when a predetermined high load acts on the side of the vehicle body.
6 and a belt-shaped strap 118 having one end fixed to the vehicle body and the other end fixed to the rear end of the airbag body 112 as main components. Furthermore, the above-described airbag bag body 112 is formed by connecting a plurality of cells 120 each formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and arranged with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction.

According to the above configuration, when a predetermined high load is applied to the side of the vehicle body, gas is ejected from the inflator 116. Therefore, the ejected gas is supplied to the hose 114.
Then, the air flows into each cell 120 of the folded airbag bag 112 via the duct 106. As a result, each cell 120 expands in a substantially cylindrical shape with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle vertical direction, whereby the airbag bag body 112 expands in a curtain shape along the window glass 122. Further, the rear end of the airbag bag body 112 has a strap 118.
Connected to the vehicle body through the front end fixed point 10
A predetermined tension is applied to a line connecting the rear end fixing point of the strap 118 and the rear end fixing point of the strap 118, and the airbag bag 11
The rear end side of the center pillar 2 is surely arranged inside the upper part of the center pillar portion 124.

[0005]

However, in such an arrangement structure of a vehicle occupant protection device, the pillar garnish in which the airbag bag is housed by the inflation pressure of the airbag when the airbag is deployed. The airbag bag can be deployed in the vehicle interior by deploying the predetermined portion of the airbag. For this reason, it is conceivable to increase the gas pressure of the inflator 116 in order to rapidly deploy the airbag bag body 112. However, if the gas pressure of the inflator 116 is too high, the airbag bag body 112 may be unfolded and inflated. , The pillar garnish may be damaged or come off. On the other hand, if the upper and lower ends of the pillar garnish are fastened with bolts or the like, the pillar garnish is less likely to be deformed according to the deployment of the airbag bag,
It is also conceivable that the airbag body does not deploy smoothly.

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention accommodates a head protection airbag bag that can prevent the pillar garnish from being damaged or dislodged when the airbag bag is deployed, and can smoothly deploy the airbag bag. The purpose is to obtain the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a front pillar garnish in which a curtain-shaped head protection airbag bag mounted over a front pillar and a roof side rail is stored. In the structure, one end of the front pillar garnish is fixed to the front pillar by fastening means, and the other end of the front pillar garnish is fixed to the front pillar within a predetermined range toward the longitudinal center when the airbag body is deployed. The front pillar garnish is held so as to be slidable, and the longitudinal center of the front pillar garnish is curved and deformed in a V-shape toward the passenger compartment when the airbag bag is deployed.

Therefore, when the front pillar garnish is pressed toward the vehicle compartment by the inflation force of the airbag bag when the airbag bag is deployed, the longitudinal center of the front pillar garnish is formed in a rectangular shape in the vehicle compartment direction. It bends and deforms .
At this time, the other end of the front pillar garnish slides within a predetermined range toward the center in the longitudinal direction with respect to the front pillar, so that a large load can be suppressed from acting on a specific portion of the front pillar garnish. As a result, breakage and detachment of the pillar garnish when the airbag bag is deployed can be suppressed. Also, the other end of the front pillar garnish is in the longitudinal center direction with respect to the front pillar.
To slide within a predetermined range toward the front pillar garnish can be increased bending, the opening area of the front pillar garnish and the front pillar inner panel increases. As a result, the airbag bag can be deployed smoothly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish storing the head protection airbag bag according to the first aspect, wherein the front pillar garnish is provided.
The lower end of the nish is inserted into the instrument panel
When the airbag bag is deployed, the sliding amount at the lower end of the front pillar garnish is
Of the front pillar garnish lower end with respect to the
When exceeding the insertion amount, the front pillar garnish lower end, characterized in that there is a detachable from the instrument panel.

Therefore, in addition to the contents described in the first aspect, when the airbag bag is deployed, the sliding amount of the lower end of the front pillar garnish is adjusted with respect to the instrument panel.
When the insertion amount of the lower part of the front pillar garnish exceeds
The lower end of the front pillar garnish separates from the instrument panel. As a result, the application of a large load to a specific portion of the front pillar garnish can be effectively suppressed, and breakage and detachment of the pillar garnish during deployment of the airbag bag can be further effectively suppressed. Further, since the lower end of the front pillar garnish is detached from the instrument panel, the opening area between the front pillar garnish and the front pillar inner panel is further increased, so that the airbag bag can be deployed more smoothly.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a structure for arranging a front pillar garnish accommodating a head protection airbag bag according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the drawings, an arrow FR indicates a vehicle forward direction, an arrow UP indicates a vehicle upward direction, and an arrow IN indicates a vehicle width inside direction.

As shown in FIG. 8, a head protection airbag device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a sensor 12 for detecting a side collision state, a cylindrical inflator 14 for ejecting gas when activated, And an airbag body 16 as main components. The sensor 12 is disposed near the lower end of the center pillar (B pillar) 18 and detects a side collision state when a side collision load of a predetermined value or more acts on the vehicle body side.

The inflator 14 is disposed near the connection between the front pillar (A-pillar) 20 and the instrument panel 22, and is connected to the sensor 12 described above. Therefore, when the sensor 12 detects the side collision state, the inflator 14 is operated.

At the middle of the airbag 16 in the vertical direction when viewed from the side, a tension line T connecting the front end fixed point and the rear end fixed point of the airbag 16 is traversed, and the vertical direction of the airbag is set in the longitudinal direction. Are formed at predetermined intervals, and these non-inflated portions 24 form a plurality of substantially parallel cylindrical inflatable portions that cross the tension line T when the airbag body is deployed. It has become.

Further, a front end portion 16A of the airbag bag body 16 is provided.
Are arranged at the inflator arrangement position so that gas ejected from the inflator 14 flows in. The upper end edge of the intermediate portion 16B is arranged along the front pillar 20 and the roof side rail 28, and the rear end The upper edge of 16C is arranged near quarter pillar (C pillar) 30.

As shown in FIG. 9, the air bag 16
Is folded in a bellows shape in a substantially vertical direction to be elongated, and is housed over a front pillar garnish 26 (hereinafter simply referred to as a garnish 26) and a roof head lining 27.

As shown in FIG. 7, the air bag 16
Is formed by folding a single base cloth 17 at the lower end, and sewing the upper end edge 17A and the rear part 17B, which are overlapped, with a suture thread 19. Airbag bag 16
Is formed in a substantially parallelogram shape, and the upper edge portion 17A
Is formed with a rectangular tongue-shaped mounting portion 35. At the substantially central portion of these mounting portions 35, mounting holes 36 are formed. The pitch of these mounting holes 36 is longer than the pitch of the mounting holes on the body side, and when the airbag bag is deployed. The length is set to a length that can cover the front pillar 20 and the roof side rail 28 without any gap.
The non-inflated portion 24 of the airbag bag 16 is
5 and formed by applying a sealant.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front pillar 20
Is a pillar outer panel 32 having a hat-shaped cross section disposed outside the vehicle compartment, a substantially flat pillar inner panel 34 disposed inside the vehicle compartment, and front and rear end portions between the pillar outer panel 32 and the pillar inner panel 34. A pillar reinforcement 33 having a substantially hat-shaped cross section,
And has a closed cross-sectional structure. An opening weather strip 38 (hereinafter simply referred to as a weather strip 38) is provided on the rear end flange portion of the front pillar 20.
Are elastically fitted.

A garnish 26 made of resin is disposed on the vehicle interior side of the pillar inner panel 34 of the front pillar 20 described above. The garnish 26 is made of a base material 44 made of a resin material that is easily elastically deformed and hardly damaged.
And a skin 4 covering the surface of the base material 44 (the surface on the vehicle interior side).
And 8. Garnish 2
The terminal portion 6 is elastically locked to the weather strip 38 described above.

The rear portion 26A of the garnish 26, which is deployed toward the vehicle interior when the airbag bag is deployed, is arranged at a predetermined distance from the pillar inner panel 34 toward the interior of the vehicle. A predetermined rear space portion 50 is formed between the inner space 34 and the pillar inner panel 34. In the rear space portion 50, a front portion 16A of the airbag bag body 16 folded into a rectangular cross section in a predetermined folding manner is stored together with a case 23 which is deployed at a predetermined inflation pressure. A fin-shaped bag fixing portion and a case fixing portion are integrally formed at appropriate portions of the front portion 16A of the airbag bag body 16 and the case 23, and these bag fixing portion and the case fixing portion are pillar inner. It is adapted to be fixed to the panel 34. The airbag bag 16 may be taped or wrapped so that the case 23 is omitted.

The front portion 26B of the garnish 26 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the pillar inner panel 34 on the vehicle interior side.
A predetermined front space portion 56 is formed between 6B and the pillar inner panel 34. The front space portion 56 is used as a space for arranging a drain hose and a wire harness. The thickness of the rear part 26A of the garnish 26 may be smaller than the thickness of the front part 26B, so that the rear part 26A of the garnish 26 can be further developed. Further, it is preferable to form a concave groove forming a hinge portion on the inner wall surface of the garnish 26.

As shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular recess 58 is formed in the design surface near the upper end of the garnish 26, and a cap 76 is fitted in the recess 58.

As shown in FIG. 2, a mounting boss 26C having the mounting hole 21 is formed on the back surface of the concave portion 58 of the garnish 26. A metal sleeve 29 is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 21 so as to secure the tightening force of the bolt 72 when the garnish 26 is fastened and fixed to the pillar inner panel 34. Garnish 26
The pillar inner panel 34 is provided through the mounting boss 26C.
The bolt 72 and the weld nut 7 as fastening means
4 fixed.

Further, a flange 72B is formed on the head 72A of the bolt 72.
The cap 76 is fixed by engaging the engaging claw 76A of the cap 76 with B. A connecting portion 78 for connecting the cap 76 and the base material 44 of the garnish 26 is integrally formed on the back side of the cap 76. The connecting portion 78 is formed in a string shape, and the tip portion is a T-shaped (see FIG. 1) engaging portion 78A.

The connecting portion 78 is provided in the concave portion 5 of the garnish 26.
8 is inserted through the notch 80 formed in the engaging portion 78A.
Is set to a size that engages with the outer peripheral portion of the notch 80. That is, when passing the engaging portion 78A through the notch 80, it is necessary to elastically deform the connecting portion 78 so that the engaging portion 78A at the tip thereof faces the notch 80.
When the cap 76 is removed from the garnish 26, the engaging portion 78A engages with the outer peripheral portion of the notch 80, so that the cap 76 can be prevented from falling off the garnish 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, an engagement pin 82 is provided on the back surface near the lower end of the garnish 26, and a large-diameter portion 82 formed at one end of the engagement pin 82.
A is fixed to the base material 44 by insert molding. A small-diameter portion 82C is formed near the other end 82B of the engagement pin 82, and the end 82B is engaged with a peripheral edge of a mounting hole 84 formed in the pillar inner panel 34.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting hole 84 has a large-diameter portion 84A through which the end portion 82B of the engaging pin 82 penetrates, and a large-diameter portion 84A extending from the large-diameter portion 84A toward the longitudinal center of the pillar inner panel 34 (FIG. And a small-diameter portion 84B extending in the direction of arrow A). For this reason, when deploying the airbag bag,
When the garnish 26 is bent at the central portion in the longitudinal direction and becomes a U-shape, the engagement pin 82 is formed together with the garnish 26.
Move in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 with respect to the pillar inner panel 34. That is, the lower end of the garnish 26 can slide with respect to the front pillar 20 within a predetermined sliding range L determined by the length of the small diameter portion 84B.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower end 26D of the garnish 26 is inserted into a recess 22A formed at the end of the instrument panel 22 in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end 26D of the garnish 26 is inserted by the insertion amount S from the design surface 22B of the instrument panel 22. This insertion amount S
Is set shorter than the slide range L (S <
L), the lower end portion 26A of the garnish 26 is detached from the concave portion 22A of the instrument panel 22 when it moves beyond the length S in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, an insertion portion 26E is formed at the lower end of the garnish 26.
By inserting the insertion portion 26E into an opening (not shown) formed in the insert of the instrument panel 22, the garnish 26 is moved from the regular installation position to the inclined position at a predetermined angle substantially rearward of the vehicle at the time of assembly. Temporary storage is possible.

The garnish 26 is fixed to the pillar inner panel 34 by fixing the large-diameter portion 8 in the mounting hole 84.
After inserting the locking end portion 82B of the engaging pin 82 into the 4A (at the position indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 4), slide the locking end portion 82B toward the small diameter portion 84B (upward) (see FIG. 4). Slide to the position indicated by the solid line). Further, the bolt 72 is inserted through the insertion sleeve 29 into the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 21 of the mounting boss 26C.
Is screwed into the weld nut 74. Then, the cap 76 previously connected to the garnish 26 is
By engaging with the second flange portion 72B, the assembling operation can be completed.

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

When a predetermined high load acts on the side of the vehicle body,
This state is detected by the sensor 12 and output to the center control unit. For this reason, an operating current is supplied from the center control unit to the squib of the inflator 14 to operate the inflator 14. As a result, a predetermined amount of gas is ejected from the inflator 14 and flows into the airbag bag 16 from the front end.
As a result, the airbag body 16 starts to inflate, and the case 23 is broken at the corner by the inflation pressure at that time, and is deployed as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Thereafter, the airbag bag body 16 is inflated in a curtain shape while pushing and opening the rear part 26A of the garnish 26 and the lower part of the roof head lining 27 located on the roof side rail 28.
Thereby, the inflated airbag body 16 is interposed between the vehicle body side portion and the occupant head, and the occupant head is protected by the airbag bag body 16.

In the present embodiment, as described above, a plurality of non-inflating portions 24
Is formed, the gas ejected from the inflator 14 flows in from the front end of the airbag bag body 16,
The flow is divided vertically by the non-expandable portion 24 located at the forefront end. For this reason, the outer periphery of the airbag bag body 16 is inflated so as to form a frame-shaped frame, and subsequently gas flows into the non-inflated portion 24 to inflate the portion in the bag thickness direction. As a result, a predetermined tension acts between the non-inflating portions 24, and finally, the airbag 16 is substantially parallel with a large tension acting along a tension line T connecting the front end fixed point and the rear end fixed point. Expands into a quadrilateral shape.

Here, in the present embodiment, when the garnish 26 is pressed in the vehicle compartment direction by the inflation force of the airbag bag body 16, the middle part of the garnish 26 in the vertical direction projects in the vehicle compartment direction. And bend into a U-shape. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the garnish 26 slides within the predetermined range L with respect to the front pillar 20 in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
6 can prevent a large load from acting on a specific portion. As a result, breakage and detachment of the garnish 26 can be suppressed.

Further, the lower end of the garnish 26 slides in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 4 with respect to the front pillar 20, and the garnish 26 can be largely bent, so that the opening area between the garnish 26 and the front pillar inner panel 34 increases. I do. As a result, the airbag bag 16 can be deployed smoothly.

In this embodiment, when the lower end 26D of the garnish 26 moves beyond the length S in the direction of arrow A with respect to the front pillar 20 when the airbag bag is deployed, the lower end of the garnish 26 The portion 26D is separated from the concave portion 22A of the instrument panel 22. For this reason, even with this detachment, it is possible to suppress a large load from acting on a specific portion of the garnish 26, and it is possible to further effectively prevent the garnish 26 from being damaged or detached. Further, since the lower end portion 26D of the garnish 26 is separated from the concave portion 22A of the instrument panel 22, the opening area between the garnish 26 and the front pillar inner panel 32 further increases. As a result, the airbag bag 16 can be deployed more smoothly.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an engaging pin 82 is provided on the garnish 26, and a mounting hole 84 with which the engaging pin 82 is engaged is formed in the pillar inner panel 34. Instead of this, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the engagement pin 82 is attached to the pillar inner panel 34.
And a mounting hole 84 may be formed in the convex portion 26F having a U-shaped cross section provided on the back surface side of the garnish 26.

As shown in FIG. 12, a front pillar inner panel 34 is provided near the lower end of the garnish 26.
And the garnish 26 may be slidably attached to the front pillar inner panel 34 near the upper end thereof. However, in this case, the small diameter portion 84B of the mounting hole 84 is separated from the large diameter portion 84A by the pillar inner panel 3.
4, the longitudinal direction, that is, the direction opposite to that of FIG.
To be extended.

Further, the fastening point of the lower end portion of the garnish 26 is preferably located before above the slide mounting point in you facilities embodiment. This is the air bag 16
This is because the lower end of the garnish 26 can be easily detached from the concave portion 22A of the instrument panel 22 by utilizing the deformation of the lower end of the garnish 26 due to the expansion force of the garnish 26.

In the above, the present invention has been described in detail with respect to a specific embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various other embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that is possible.

[0043]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish in which a curtain-shaped head protection airbag bag mounted over a front pillar and a roof side rail is stored. One end of the pillar garnish is fixed to the front pillar by fastening means, and the other end of the front pillar garnish is slidably held within a predetermined range toward the longitudinal center when the airbag body is deployed on the front pillar. Middle of the front pillar garnish when the bag is deployed
The front pillar garnish is damaged when the airbag bag is deployed, so that the center is curved in the shape of a V-shape toward the passenger compartment.
It has an excellent effect that disengagement can be suppressed and the airbag body can be deployed smoothly.

[0044] According to a second aspect of the invention, the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish which stores the head-protecting air bag body according to claim 1, front pillar gar Stevenage
The lower end of the shoe is inserted into the instrument panel
When the airbag bag is deployed, the amount of sliding at the lower end of the front pillar garnish is relative to the instrument panel.
Exceeds the insertion amount of the lower end of the front pillar garnish
If, because the front pillar garnish lower portion is a detachable from the instrument panel, in addition to the effect of claim 1, wherein, an excellent effect that the air bag body can be further expanded smoothly Have.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish in which a head protection airbag bag according to an embodiment of the present invention is stored, as viewed obliquely from the front inside the vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG.

4 is a side view seen from the vehicle interior side showing the engaging portion of the mounting structure of the front pillar garnish which stores the head protection air bag body according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish in which a head protection airbag bag according to one embodiment of the present invention is stored, as viewed from a vehicle interior side.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view showing a deployed state of the airbag bag in the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish storing the head protection airbag bag according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing an inflated and deployed state of the airbag body in the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish storing the head protection airbag body according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view showing the state of storing the airbag bag in the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish storing the head protection airbag bag according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish accommodating a head protection airbag bag according to a modified example of one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front inside the vehicle.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 of an arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish storing a head protection airbag bag according to a modified example of one embodiment of the present invention.

12 is an exploded perspective view obliquely from the front inside the vehicle showing the arrangement structure of the front pillar garnish which stores the head protection air bag body according to another modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view showing a completed deployment state of an airbag body in a head protection airbag device according to a conventional embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 head protection airbag device 14 inflator 16 airbag bag body 20 front pillar (A pillar) 22 instrument panel 26 front pillar garnish 26E garnish insertion part 34 pillar inner panel 72 bolt (fastening means) 74 weld nut (fastening means) ) 82 engaging pin 84 mounting hole

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Fumitake Kobayashi 1 Ochiai Ogai Nagahata, Kasuga-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Inside Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. (56) References 6-247220 (JP, A) JP-A-7-228201 (JP, A) JP-A-6-18091 (JP, U) JP-A-6-22106 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/16-21/32

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish in which a curtain-shaped head protection airbag bag mounted over a front pillar and a roof side rail is stored, wherein one end of the front pillar garnish is fastened by fastening means. By fixing the front pillar garnish to the front pillar, the other end of the front pillar garnish is slidably held in the front pillar within a predetermined range toward the longitudinal center when the airbag bag is deployed, and the front pillar garnish is closed when the airbag bag is deployed. An arrangement structure of a front pillar garnish containing a head protection airbag bag, wherein a longitudinal center of the front pillar garnish is curved and deformed in a V-shape toward a vehicle compartment. 2. A lower end portion of the front pillar garnish is inserted into an instrument panel, and the amount of sliding of the lower end portion of the front pillar garnish when the airbag body is deployed differs from the lower end portion of the front pillar garnish with respect to the instrument panel. 2. The front pillar according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the front pillar garnish is detachable from the instrument panel when the amount of the airbag bag exceeds the insertion amount. Garnish arrangement structure.