JP5408081B2 - Airbag device for passenger seat - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger's seat, and in particular, provided at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction formed so as to protrude toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle between an upper portion and a lower portion of an instrument panel. The present invention relates to a mid-mount passenger-side airbag device.

  Conventionally, the following technology is known in the field of passenger-side airbag devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1). That is, Patent Document 1 discloses a passenger seat occupant protection device that includes a bag member that is inflated and deployed in front of a passenger seat and that is provided at the upper portion of the instrument panel. In this passenger seat protection device, the bag member is configured to interfere with the windshield glass provided above the instrument panel during inflation and deployment.

JP 2007-22416 A JP 2006-256381 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-94029 JP 2001-88647 A

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a top-mounted passenger-side airbag device provided on the top of an instrument panel as described in Patent Document 1, a sufficient reaction force is secured to restrain an occupant when the airbag is inflated and deployed. For this reason, windshield glass was used to receive reaction force from the airbag.

  However, in the mid-mount passenger-side airbag device provided at the middle in the vertical direction of the instrument panel, as with the top-mounted passenger-side airbag device, the reaction force from the airbag with the windshield glass In order to receive it, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the airbag.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a mid-mount passenger-side airbag device capable of reducing the capacity of the airbag.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the passenger seat airbag device according to claim 1 is formed to be curved between the upper portion and the lower portion of the instrument panel so as to protrude toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle. A pair of airbag doors that are formed side by side in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle and that can be opened to the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lower side, respectively, with the ends on the sides as open ends, A pair of airbag doors is provided in a folded state on the back side of the airbag door, receives the supply of gas, presses and opens the pair of airbag doors, is inflated and deployed on the front side of the instrument panel, and the contact portion between the back surface of the airbag being curved respectively so as to match the curvature of the back surface of the pair of air bag doors, air vehicle upper of the pair of air bag doors The door is releasably supported with respect to the instrument panel, is made of sheet metal, and receives a reaction force from the airbag on the back surface of the airbag door on the vehicle upper side when the airbag is deployed and inflated. As described above, the hinge member that holds the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle at an intermediate position in the opening direction and the rear surface of the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle among the pair of airbag doors when the airbag is deployed and inflated. A holding portion that holds the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle in an open state so as to receive a reaction force from the airbag .

  According to the airbag device for a passenger seat, when the airbag receives supply of gas and starts to inflate and deploy toward the front side of the instrument panel, the pair of airbag doors are pressed by the airbag and opened. Further, at this time, the opening degree of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is regulated by the hinge member made of sheet metal, and the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is held at an intermediate position in the opening direction without being fully opened. By receiving a reaction force from the airbag on the back surface of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle held in the intermediate position in the opening direction in this way, sufficient reaction to restrain the occupant when the airbag is inflated and deployed. Power is secured.

In addition, since the reaction force can be received by the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle arranged in a position closer to the airbag in this way, when the reaction force is received by the windshield glass instead of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle. In comparison, the capacity of the airbag can be reduced. Further, according to the passenger seat airbag device, the reaction force from the airbag can be received on the back surface of the airbag door on the vehicle lower side. Therefore, the reaction force can be received at a position closer to the airbag as compared with the case where the reaction force is received at the lower part of the instrument panel instead of the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle. This can be further reduced. Furthermore, the abutting portions (reaction-applying portions) of the airbag with the back surfaces of the pair of airbag doors are respectively curved so as to match the curvature of the back surfaces of the pair of airbag doors. Therefore, since the airbag is brought into close contact with the back surfaces of the pair of airbag doors, the reaction force from the airbag can be more effectively received.

The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 2 is configured such that a vehicle upper and lower sides are formed at a middle portion in a vertical direction that is curved so as to protrude toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle between an upper portion and a lower portion of an instrument panel. A pair of airbag doors that are formed side by side and that can be opened to the upper side and the lower side of the vehicle, respectively, with the ends on the sides being open ends, and folded to the back side of the pair of airbag doors Provided in a state, receives the supply of gas, presses and opens the pair of airbag doors, is inflated and deployed on the front side of the instrument panel, and a contact portion with the back surface of the pair of airbag doors is An airbag formed in a curved shape so as to match the curvature of the back surface of the pair of airbag doors, and provided to each of the pair of airbag doors. The airbag door on the vehicle upper side is supported so that the airbag door on the vehicle upper side of the door can be opened with respect to the instrument panel and the airbag door on the vehicle upper side is held at an intermediate position in the opening direction. The hinge member, in which only one provided is made of sheet metal, and when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the reaction force from the airbag is received on the back surface of the airbag door on the vehicle lower side of the pair of airbag doors. And a holding portion for holding the airbag door on the vehicle lower side in an open state.

According to the passenger seat airbag device, when the airbag is inflated and deployed upon supply of gas and the pair of airbag doors are pressed and opened by the airbag, the hinge member made of sheet metal is used to move the upper side of the vehicle. The opening degree of the airbag door is regulated, and the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is held at an intermediate position in the opening direction without being fully opened. In this case, since only the hinge portion of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is made of sheet metal, the bending rigidity is higher than that of resin, so that the reaction force from the airbag can be received more effectively. Can do.

The passenger seat airbag device according to claim 3 is the passenger seat airbag device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hinge member includes an upper portion of the instrument panel and the pair of airbags. When the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is opened to the upper side of the vehicle, the opening of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is regulated by a portion of the door located on the back side of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle. Thus, a pair of convex portions are formed on the upper portion and the airbag door side, respectively .

According to the passenger seat airbag device, when the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is pressed by the airbag and opened to the upper side of the vehicle , the pair of convex portions are brought into contact with each other to open the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle. It is configured to regulate the degree. Therefore, since the opening degree of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle can be more effectively regulated, the reaction force from the airbag can be more effectively received on the back surface of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the capacity of the airbag can be reduced in the mid-mount passenger-side airbag device.

It is the side view which looked at the instrument panel by which the passenger-side airbag device concerning one embodiment of the present invention was applied, and its peripheral part from the side, and is a figure showing the state where the airbag was inflated and deployed. . It is a principal part expanded sectional view seen from the side of the airbag apparatus for passenger seats shown by FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state by which the airbag was folded. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a state where the airbag shown in FIG. 2 is inflated and deployed. It is a top view which shows the state which expand | deployed a pair of side panel and center panel which comprise the airbag shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modification of the hinge member shown in FIG. 2, (A) is a diagram showing a state in which the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is closed, and (B) is an airbag inflated and deployed It is a figure which shows the state by which the airbag door of the vehicle upper side was open | released.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In addition, arrow UP and arrow FR shown in each figure have each shown the vehicle up-down direction upper side and the vehicle front-back direction front side.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 12 has a vertical intermediate portion 18 formed between the upper portion 14 and the lower portion 16 so as to be curved so as to protrude toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle. Is formed. The airbag device 10 for a passenger seat according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided in front of a passenger seat (not shown) and at the intermediate portion 18 in the vertical direction. That is, the passenger seat airbag device 10 is a so-called mid-mount passenger seat airbag device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the passenger seat airbag apparatus 10 includes a pair of airbag doors 20, 22, a retainer 24, a case 26, an inflator 28, a bracket 30, an airbag 32, and a hinge. And a member 34.

  The pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 are formed in the vertical direction intermediate portion 18 of the instrument panel 12 side by side in the vehicle vertical direction. The pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 can be opened to the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lower side, respectively, with the ends on the mutual sides (the planned fracture portion 40 side described later) as open ends. In other words, a connecting portion 36 is formed between the upper portion 14 and the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle, and extends in the vehicle width direction and is thinner than the upper portion 14 and the airbag door 20. The airbag door 20 is connected to the upper portion 14 by the connecting portion 36 so as to be openable.

  Similarly, a connecting portion 38 that extends in the vehicle width direction and is thinner than the lower portion 16 and the airbag door 22 is formed between the lower portion 16 and the airbag door 22 on the vehicle lower side. The airbag door 22 is connected to the lower portion 16 by the connecting portion 38 so as to be openable.

  Further, between the pair of connecting portions 36 and 38, there is formed a planned fracture portion 40 that extends in parallel with the pair of connecting portions 36 and 38 and is thinner than the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22. ing. And the edge part of the mutual side in a pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 is connected by this fracture | rupture scheduled part 40. FIG. The pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 are formed to have substantially the same lengths L1 and L2 from the base end portion to the end portion (open end) on each side.

  The retainer 24 is provided on the back side of the instrument panel 12 and includes a flange portion 42, a frame portion 44, a reinforcing portion 46, and a hinge portion 48. The flange portion 42 is formed in a frame shape along the periphery of the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 in the instrument panel 12, and is joined to the back surface 12A of the instrument panel 12 by welding or the like, for example.

  The frame portion 44 is formed in a frame shape along the inner side of the flange portion 42, and protrudes from the flange portion 42 toward the back side of the instrument panel 12. The pair of side wall portions 44A and 44B facing the vehicle vertical direction in the frame portion 44 are respectively formed with locking holes 50 penetrating in the thickness direction.

  The reinforcing portion 46 is formed in substantially the same size and shape as the airbag door 22 on the vehicle lower side, and is joined to the back surface 22A of the airbag door 22 by welding or the like, for example. The reinforcing portion 46 is connected to a side portion 42A on the vehicle lower side of the flange portion 42 formed in a frame shape via a hinge portion 48. The hinge portion 48 is formed such that a cross-sectional shape cut along the vehicle vertical direction forms a U-shape.

  The case 26 is provided on the back side of the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22, and is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement (both not shown) via a bracket or the like. The case 26 has a main body 52 formed in a box shape. The main body 52 has an opening 52A on the side of the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22, and a bottom 52B on the opposite side of the opening 52A. Further, the main body 52 is disposed inside the frame portion 44, and the peripheral wall 52C formed in the main body 52 has a locking end extending toward the side walls 44A and 44B at the end on the opening 52A side. Each part 54 is formed. The locking part 54 is locked in the locking hole 50.

  The inflator 28 is a longitudinal cylindrical cylinder type, and is arranged with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction. The inflator 28 is fixed to the bottom 52B by the bracket 30. Further, the inflator 28 is configured to supply gas into the airbag 32 so that the airbag 32 is inflated and deployed when a signal output from a control device (not shown) is input. Yes. The control device (not shown) is configured to output a signal to the inflator 28 when it is detected that a frontal collision has actually occurred in the vehicle, or when it is predicted that a frontal collision will occur in the vehicle. Has been.

  The airbag 32 is accommodated in a folded state inside the case 26, and the base end portion 32A is fixed to the bottom portion 52B. Further, the airbag 32 is configured to be inflated and deployed on the front side of the instrument panel 12 by receiving a gas supply from the inflator 28 to press and open the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22. .

  The hinge member 34 is made of sheet metal such as steel. The hinge member 34 is provided between the vehicle upper side portion 42B and the upper portion 14 of the flange portion 42, and extends over the vehicle upper side wall portion 44A of the frame portion 44 from the rear surface 14A of the upper portion 14 to the airbag door 20. It is provided over the back surface 20A. The hinge member 34 is fixed to the side portion 42B of the flange portion 42, the back surface 14A of the upper portion 14, and the back surface 20A of the airbag door 20, for example, by being integrally formed with the instrument panel 12. And thereby, the hinge member 34 is supporting the airbag door 20 with respect to the upper part 14 so that opening is possible.

  Further, as will be described later, when the airbag door 20 is pressed by the airbag 32 and opened to the upper side of the vehicle, the hinge member 34 regulates the opening degree of the airbag door 20 (the direction in which the airbag door 20 is opened). The thickness, material, shape, and the like are set so that they can be held at an intermediate position. In the passenger seat airbag apparatus 10, as shown in FIG. 3, when the airbag 32 is deployed and inflated, the airbag 30 is opened from the airbag 32 by the rear surface 20 </ b> A of the airbag door 20 whose opening degree is regulated by the hinge member 34. The reaction force F1 is received.

  Further, in the passenger seat airbag device 10, as shown in FIG. 1, when the airbag door 22 is pressed by the airbag 32 and opened to the lower side of the vehicle, the airbag door 22 is moved to the instrument panel. 12, the airbag door 22 is held in a fully open state. When the airbag 32 is deployed and inflated, the reaction force F <b> 2 from the airbag 32 is also received on the back surface 20 </ b> A of the airbag door 20 held in the fully opened state by the lower portion 16.

  In addition, the lower part 16 of the instrument panel 12 is corresponded to the holding | maintenance part in this invention. Further, in the airbag device 10 for the passenger seat, when the airbag 32 is inflated and deployed, not only the rear surface 20A of the airbag door 20 and the rear surface 22A of the airbag door 22, but also the upper portion 60A of the windshield glass 60. The reaction force F3 from 32 is received.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the airbag 32 described above is formed by sewing a pair of side panels 62 and a central panel 64 together. Further, the abutment portion 66 (the portion giving the reaction force) of the airbag 32 with the rear surface 20A (see FIG. 3) of the airbag door 20 is curved so as to match the curvature of the rear surface 20A of the airbag door 20. Is formed. Similarly, the contact portion 68 of the airbag 32 with the back surface 22A (see FIG. 3) of the airbag door 22 is curved so as to match the curvature of the back surface 22A of the airbag door 22.

  Next, the operation and effect of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  According to the passenger airbag device 10 shown in FIG. 1, when the airbag 32 receives supply of gas from the inflator 28 and starts to inflate and deploy toward the front side of the instrument panel 12, the pair of airbag doors 20. , 22 are pressed by the airbag 32 and released. Further, at this time, the opening degree of the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle is regulated by a hinge member 34 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) made of sheet metal, and the airbag door 20 is not fully opened but is intermediate in the opening direction. Held in position. On the other hand, the airbag 32 on the lower side of the vehicle is held in a fully open state by contacting the lower portion 16 of the instrument panel 12.

  The rear surface 20A of the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle held at the intermediate position in the opening direction in this way, the rear surface 20A of the airbag door 20 on the lower side of the vehicle held in the fully opened state, and the windshield glass 60. The reaction force F1 to F3 from the airbag 32 is received at the upper portion 60A of the vehicle. As a result, a sufficient reaction force for restraining the occupant when the airbag 32 is inflated and deployed can be secured.

  Moreover, the reaction forces F1 and F2 from the airbag 32 can be received by the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 disposed at positions closer to the airbag 32 as described above. Therefore, for example, the capacity of the airbag 32 is increased as indicated by the imaginary lines La and Lb, and instead of the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22, the central portion 60B of the windshield glass 60 and the instrument panel 12 The capacity of the airbag 32 can be reduced as compared with the case where each of the lower portions 16 receives a reaction force.

  Further, the contact portions 66 and 68 of the airbag 32 with the back surfaces 20A and 22A are curved so as to match the curvature of the back surfaces 20A and 22B. Therefore, since the airbag 32 is closely attached to the back surface 20A and the back surface 22A, the reaction force from the airbag 32 can be more effectively received.

  In addition, the hinge member 34 is made of sheet metal and has higher bending rigidity than that of resin, so that the reaction force from the airbag 32 can be received even more effectively.

  Next, a modification of one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the hinge member 34 is provided for the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle, but may be provided for both the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22. In this case, in order to make the opening degree of the pair of airbag doors 20, 22 different, the shape, material, plate thickness, etc. of the pair of hinge members provided for the pair of airbag doors 20, 22 are different. It may be different.

  Further, the passenger seat airbag device 10 includes the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 that are partitioned by the planned break portion 40 that extends in parallel with the pair of connecting portions 36 and 38. In addition to the pair of upper and lower airbag doors 20 and 22, a pair of left and right airbag doors may be provided.

  Further, the hinge member 34 may be configured as follows. That is, in the modification shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the hinge member 34 is formed with a pair of convex portions 70 at portions located on the back side of the upper portion 14 and the airbag door 20. The pair of convex portions 70 are convex toward the upper portion 14 and the airbag door 20 side, and as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the airbag door 20 is pressed by the airbag 32 so as to be located on the upper side of the vehicle. When opened, they are in contact with each other to regulate the opening degree of the airbag door 20.

  With such a configuration, the opening degree of the airbag door 20 can be more effectively regulated, so that the reaction force F1 from the airbag 32 is more effectively applied to the back surface 20A of the airbag door 20. Can receive.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pair of airbag doors 20 and 22 are formed with substantially the same lengths L1 and L2 from the base end portion to the end portions on the other side. The airbag door 20 may be formed longer than the airbag door 22 on the vehicle lower side from the base end portion to the end portion on the side (L1> L2 may be satisfied).

  With this configuration, the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle is more difficult to open than the airbag door 22 on the lower side of the vehicle, so that the rear surface 20A of the airbag door 20 on the upper side of the vehicle is separated from the airbag 32. The reaction force can be received even more effectively.

  Further, the airbag door 22 on the lower side of the vehicle is held in the fully opened state by being brought into contact with the lower portion 16 of the instrument panel 12, but may be opened by, for example, the hinge member 34 or other restriction structure described above. You may hold | maintain in the intermediate position of an open direction, without completing. In this case, the structure that holds the airbag door 22 at an intermediate position in the opening direction corresponds to the holding portion in the present invention.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and other various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It is.

10 Airbag device for passenger seat 12 Instrument panel 14 Upper part 16 Lower part (holding part)
18 Intermediate portions 20 and 22 in the vertical direction Airbag door 32 Airbag 34 Hinge members 66 and 68 Abutting portions

Claims (3)

The instrument panel is formed between the upper and lower parts of the instrument panel so as to be convex toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle. A pair of airbag doors that can be opened to the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lower side, respectively, with the part as an open end;
Provided in a folded state on the back side of the pair of airbag doors, receives the supply of gas, presses and opens the pair of airbag doors, is inflated and deployed on the front side of the instrument panel, and The abutting portion with the back surface of the airbag door is curved and formed to match the curvature of the back surface of the pair of airbag doors, and
Among the pair of airbag doors, the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle is supported so as to be openable with respect to the instrument panel, and is made of sheet metal, and when the airbag is deployed and inflated, the airbag on the upper side of the vehicle A hinge member that holds the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle at an intermediate position in the opening direction so as to receive a reaction force from the airbag on the back surface of the door;
When the airbag is deployed and inflated, the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle is opened so that the reaction force from the airbag is received on the back surface of the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle among the pair of airbag doors. Holding part to hold;
Air bag device for passenger seat equipped with The instrument panel is formed between the upper and lower parts of the instrument panel so as to be convex toward the rear side and the upper side of the vehicle. A pair of airbag doors that can be opened to the vehicle upper side and the vehicle lower side, respectively, with the part as an open end;
Provided in a folded state on the back side of the pair of airbag doors, receives the supply of gas, presses and opens the pair of airbag doors, is inflated and deployed on the front side of the instrument panel, and The abutting portion with the back surface of the airbag door is curved and formed to match the curvature of the back surface of the pair of airbag doors, and
Each of the pair of airbag doors is provided in each of the pair of airbag doors, and supports the airbag door on the vehicle upper side of the pair of airbag doors so as to be openable with respect to the instrument panel, and opens the airbag door on the vehicle upper side. A hinge member in which only one of the airbag doors on the upper side of the vehicle is made of sheet metal so as to be held at an intermediate position of
When the airbag is deployed and inflated, the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle is opened so that the reaction force from the airbag is received on the back surface of the airbag door on the lower side of the vehicle among the pair of airbag doors. Holding part to hold;
Air bag device for passenger seat equipped with In the hinge member, an upper door of the vehicle and an airbag door on the upper side of the pair of airbag doors are located on the rear side of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle. A pair of convex portions that are convex on the upper side and the airbag door side are formed so as to abut each other and regulate the opening degree of the airbag door on the upper side of the vehicle.
The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 1 or 2.