JP3772439B2 - Airbag module - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an airbag module including an ornament in which a bag cover is separately formed.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, the airbag module integrally holds the airbag, the pad, and the inflator, a folded airbag, a bag pad that covers the airbag, an inflator that is connected to the airbag so that air can flow into the airbag module, and the airbag. It is the structure provided with the bag holder (refer Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 63-184548 etc.).
[0003]
Ordinarily, an ornament part (decoration mark part) is provided on the upper surface of the bag pad.
[0004]
In recent years, in order to increase the designability and design diversity (degree of freedom) of the decorative mark portion, some attempts have been made to form the ornament portion with a separately formed ornament body instead of printing. .
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, it is necessary to rivet and sew the pad body so that the ornament body does not scatter when the bag pad is deployed, which contributes to an increase in production man-hours (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-81351).
[0006]
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag module that can reliably prevent the ornament body formed separately from the bag pad main body from being scattered and has good productivity.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The airbag module according to the present invention solves the above problems by the following configuration.
[0008]
An airbag module comprising a folded airbag, a bag pad that covers the airbag, an inflator that is connected to the airbag so that air can flow in, and a bag holder that integrally holds the airbag, the pad, and the inflator. And
The bag pad has a separate molded ornament,
The ornament is characterized in that the ornament is held by the pad main body so that it can be deployed independently, and is connected to the bag holder through a flexible coupling member so as not to be scattered during deployment.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
(1) FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011]
The airbag module 12 of the present embodiment includes a folded airbag 14, a bag pad 16 that covers the airbag 14, an inflator 18 that is connected to the airbag 14 so that air can flow into the airbag 14, the airbag 14, and a bag pad. The structure provided with the bag holder 20 which hold | maintains 16 and the inflator 18 integrally is made into a premise structure. As an integral holding mode, the airbag 14 is fastened together with a retainer 22 at the opening thereof to the bottom wall 20a of the bag holder 20 together with a flange portion 18a of the inflator 18 with a bolt (not shown) or the like. Further, the airbag 14 is fixed to the peripheral standing wall 20b of the bag holder 20 with a rivet 23 or the like via a mounting leg portion 17 (a mounting hole 17a is formed). Further, the airbag module 12 is fixed to the steering wheel body B side using a bag holder 20 or the like. In the example shown, 24 is a lower cover.
[0012]
In the present embodiment, the bag pad 16 includes a pad main body 26 and an ornament 28 formed separately from the pad main body 26.
[0013]
The pad body 26 is formed by injection molding with a material such as soft foamed polyurethane or thermoplastic elastomer using the mounting leg 17 as an insert. In order to reliably prevent the pad main body 26 from being crushed and scattered, when the pad main body 26 is a soft foamed polyurethane molded body or the like, the net insert 30 is usually embedded. Further, the upper wall of the pad main body 26 is formed with a planned breaking portion 32 that is thin in a substantially H shape as shown in FIG. 2 so as to be easily broken when the airbag is inflated. .
[0014]
The ornament 28 is, for example, a soft plastic material (ex. Olefin-based thermoplastic elastomer, etc.) as a whole, the surface of which is a transparent plastic layer from the standpoint of decorativeness, and a metal vapor deposition layer or metal foil is laminated inside. Is formed.
[0015]
The ornament 28 is held so as to be deployable independently of the pad main body 26 and is connected to the bag holder 20 through a flexible connecting member 36 so as not to be scattered during deployment.
[0016]
Specifically, the ornament 28 is held on the back side of the periphery of the ornament assembly opening 19 of the pad main body 26 with a double-sided tape or an adhesive so as not to be detached in normal handling. Further, the connecting end portion 28a of the ornament 28 is fixed to one end of the string member (connecting member) 36 by means such as a rivet 21 stop or sewing . The other end of the string member 36 is fastened together with the rivet 23 to the bag holder 20. The string member 28 is desirably formed of the same material as the airbag base fabric in order to ensure the prevention of scattering.
[0017]
(2) The usage mode of the above embodiment will be described.
[0018]
When the airbag is inflated, the scheduled break portion 34 of the upper wall of the pad main body 26 is broken, and the airbag opening doors 26a and 26a are opened, and the airbag 14 is deployed and bulged. At this time, the ornament 28 may also be detached from the pad main body 26, but it is not scattered because it is firmly connected to the bag holder 28 by the string member 36 that is a flexible connecting member.
[0019]
(3) FIGS. 3 to 4 show another embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
The basic configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, but the bag pad and the ornament are held and connected differently. Corresponding portions are prefixed with the same reference numeral “1”, and a three-digit number is omitted as a part or all of the description.
[0021]
A folded-up airbag 114, a bag pad 116 covering the airbag 114, an inflator 118 connected to the airbag 114 so as to allow air to flow in, and a bag holder that integrally holds the airbag 114, the bag pad 116, and the inflator 118. 120, and the bag pad 116 includes a pad main body 126 and an ornament 128 formed separately from the pad main body 126. Here, a plurality of locations on the peripheral wall (attachment wall) 127 of the pad main body 126 are provided with locking holes 127a.
[0022]
In this embodiment, the ornament 128, as shown in FIG. 4, the ornament body portion 129 and the locking base 131, connecting the two, the flexibility in cross-section does not inhibit the expansion of the airbag when the airbag is bulged It is an integrally molded product that is injection-molded with a thermoplastic elastomer or the like, which includes an L-shaped connecting portion (connecting member) 136 having a cross section. Specifically, the L-shaped corner portion (bent portion) C is thin and easily deployed when the airbag is inflated.
[0023]
The bag holder 120 includes a holder main body 133 and an annular clip body 135. Holder body 133 and a side wall 133b projecting downward from the peripheral wall of the base wall 133a and the base wall 133a, side wall 133b in a plurality of locations, and a lead counter claw 133c. On the other hand, the annular clip body 135 is substantially the same shape as the base wall 133a of the holder main body 133 and has a width capable of screwing the flange portion 118a of the inflator 118, and substantially the entire outer peripheral edge of the annular base portion 135a. And a clip portion 135b extending downward in a U-shaped cross section over the circumference.
[0024]
And the assembly | attachment in this embodiment is performed as follows, for example.
[0025]
First, the airbag 114 in a folded state is fastened together with a bolt (not shown) or the like to the base wall 133a of the holder main body 133 by the retainer 22 to form an airbag / holder main body assembly. The bag pad 116 assembled by setting the ornament 128 on the pad body 126 is inverted, and the airbag / holder body assembly is incorporated. At this time, since the peripheral wall 127 outside towards the pad body 126 has no member to constrain, the locking hole 127a of the outer peripheral wall 127, nonreturn pawl 133c of the holder body 133 is engaged. The annular clip body 135 in which the inflator 118 is set via the flange portion 118a is assembled by sandwiching the peripheral wall portion 117 of the bag pad 116 and the connecting portion 136 of the ornament body 129 with the clip portion 135b. Then, the locking base portion 131 of the ornament 128 is engaged with the side wall of the holder body 133, that is, the undercut is stopped and cannot be removed.
[0026]
In the case of this embodiment, it is not necessary to attach the ornament main body 129 simultaneously using another fixing means such as rivets or sewing at the time of assembling the airbag module, and the productivity of the airbag module is also good.
[0027]
(4) The usage mode of the above embodiment will be described.
[0028]
When the airbag is inflated, the planned break portion 132 of the upper wall of the pad main body 126 is broken, and the ceiling wall 126a that is an opening door portion for the airbag is opened in a single-open manner, and the airbag 14 is deployed. Bulge. At this time, the ornament 128 is detached from the pad main body 26, but is scattered because it is firmly connected to the bag holder 128 via the connecting portion 136 and the locking base portion 131 which are flexible connecting members. There is nothing.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
In the airbag module of the present invention, the ornament is held by the pad main body so as to be independently deployable, and is connected to the bag holder so as not to be scattered during deployment via a flexible connecting member .
Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the ornament body formed separately from the bag pad main body from being scattered and to provide an air bag module with good productivity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag module showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a bag pad in the embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an airbag showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a module. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an ornament in the embodiment of FIG.
12, 112 Airbag module 14, 114 Airbag 16, 116 Bag pad 18, 118 Inflator 20, 120 Bag holder 26, 126 Pad body 28, 128 Ornament 36, 136 Connecting member (connecting portion)
133 Holder body 135 Annular clip body

Claims (1)

An airbag comprising: a folded airbag; a bag pad that covers the airbag; an inflator connected to the airbag so as to allow air to flow; and a bag holder that integrally holds the airbag, the bag pad, and the inflator. A module,
The bag pad includes a pad main body and an ornament molded separately from the pad main body,
The airbag module is held by the pad main body so as to be independently deployable, and is connected to the bag holder through a flexible connecting member so as not to be scattered when deployed. .

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