JP2006347500A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an airbag device capable of stably moving a door portion to an open position that allows deployment of an airbag bag body.
A hood airbag device 10 has an opening formed when an airbag bag body 14 in an inflating process is pressed against a door portion 42 provided on a hood outer panel 16, and air bulging out of the vehicle through the opening. The bag bag body 14 is deployed outside the vehicle. A lid fixing portion 50 </ b> A located at one end side of the hinge member 46 supported by the hood inner panel 18 is fixed to the door portion 42, and an intermediate portion of the hinge member 46 is fixed to the hood outer panel 16. The panel adhering portion 50B is positioned.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an airbag apparatus including an airbag bag body that is deployed outside a vehicle body such as a hood airbag apparatus.

A technique for inflating and deploying an airbag bag body on the outside of the engine hood or roof is known in order to protect the engine hood or roof collision body in the event of a vehicle collision (see, for example, Patent Document 1). For example, a roof airbag device is configured by covering an opening provided in a roof with a lid and storing an airbag bag body in a folded state under the lid. In the event of a vehicle collision, the inflating airbag bag body moves the door portion to open the opening portion, and the airbag bag body inflating from the opening portion is deployed on the roof. . Moreover, the lid is connected to the vehicle body via a hinge member, and the opening can be opened without falling off the vehicle body.
Japanese Patent No. 3127683

  However, the conventional techniques as described above have a problem that the movement trajectory (posture) of the lid to the open position tends to vary because the plastic deformation hinge has a wide deformable range. This problem causes the separation of the lid from the vehicle body outer plate and the vehicle body outer plate to be lifted when the door portion is integrated with the vehicle body outer plate.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain an airbag device that can stably move a door portion to an open position that allows deployment of an airbag bag body.

  In order to achieve the above object, an airbag device according to the invention described in claim 1 is directed outwardly by moving a door portion provided along a vehicle body outer plate to an open position by an airbag bag body in an inflating process. An airbag device in which an opening is opened and the airbag bag body that has passed through the opening is deployed outside the vehicle body, one end side being supported by the vehicle body and the other end side being fixed to the door portion, A hinge member that allows the door portion to move to the open position while holding the door portion with respect to the vehicle body by plastic deformation is provided, and an intermediate portion of the hinge member is fixed to the vehicle body outer plate. ing.

  In the airbag device according to claim 1, when the airbag bag body is inflated by operating, the door portion is pressed by the airbag bag body and the door portion moves to an open position while plastically deforming the hinge member, and the door portion is hinged. An opening is formed in the vehicle body outer plate while being held by the vehicle body via the member (the opening is opened). Through this opening, the airbag bag body expands and expands outside the vehicle body outer plate. Here, since the intermediate part of the hinge member is fixed to the vehicle body outer plate, in other words, the hinge member supported on the vehicle body at one end side is substantially the same as the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate. Since the hinge member is fixed to both the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate across the boundary portion, the hinge member mainly suppresses the deformation of the vehicle body outer plate, and at the portion straddling the boundary portion between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate. Deform. For this reason, the door portion rotates stably with the vicinity of the boundary with the vehicle body outer plate on which the hinge member deforms (strides) as the rotation axis, and moves to the open position.

  Thus, in the airbag device according to the first aspect, the door portion can be stably moved to the open position that allows the airbag bag body to be deployed.

  The airbag device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the airbag device according to the first aspect, wherein the hinge member is such that a portion straddling the boundary between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate protrudes inward of the vehicle body. It is set as the curved part curved so that it may become.

  In the airbag device according to claim 2, since the portion of the hinge member that mainly deforms across the boundary portion between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate is a bent portion, the door portion is smoothly rotated by bending deformation. be able to.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the airbag apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the door portion is formed integrally with the vehicle body outer plate, and is formed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body outer plate. It is configured such that it can be separated from the outer plate of the vehicle body and moved to the open position by breaking at a thin-walled portion that is annularly recessed.

  In the airbag device according to the third aspect, the door portion, which is the inside of the thin wall portion that is annularly recessed on the inner surface of the vehicle body outer plate, is formed integrally with the vehicle body outer plate. For this reason, the boundary between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body. The door portion pressed by the inflating airbag bag body is separated from the vehicle body outer plate by breaking the thin wall portion, reaches the open position, and forms an opening. Since the hinge member is supported by the vehicle body independently of the fixing portion to the vehicle body outer plate, the deformation of the vehicle body outer plate is suppressed when the door portion is pressed against the airbag bag body, and the thin wall portion (door Can be reliably broken. Thereby, in a configuration in which the door portion is integrated with the vehicle body outer plate, the door portion can be stably moved to the open position.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the airbag device according to the third aspect, wherein a portion of the vehicle body outer plate opposite to the fixed portion of the hinge member across the door portion is connected to the vehicle body. The connecting member is further provided.

  In the airbag device according to claim 4, the deformation of the opposite side portion of the vehicle body outer plate with respect to the fixed portion with respect to the hinge member is suppressed by the connecting member, and the thin-walled portion can be more reliably broken. it can.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the airbag apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the door portion is moved toward the open position accompanying the deformation of the hinge member. The edge located on the rotation axis side during rotation is formed in a straight line along the rotation axis.

  In the airbag device according to claim 5, the edge portion of the door portion located on the rotation axis side of the rotation accompanying the plastic deformation of the hinge member, that is, the edge portion of the door portion straddled by the hinge member is along the rotation axis ( Since it is formed in a straight line shape, interference between the vehicle body outer plate and the door portion due to the rotation is suppressed. Therefore, the door portion reaches the open position more stably and smoothly.

  In order to achieve the above object, an airbag device according to the invention described in claim 6 is provided integrally with the vehicle body outer plate as an inner portion of an annular thin portion recessed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body outer plate. A door portion, an airbag bag body disposed on the inner side of the door portion, the door portion and the vehicle body are connected, and the door portion holds the vehicle body while the door portion has a predetermined rotation axis. A hinge member that is guided so as to rotate around, and an edge portion of the door portion that is positioned on a rotation axis side of the rotation guided by the hinge member is linear along the rotation axis. Is formed.

  In the airbag device according to the sixth aspect, the door portion, which is the inside of the thin wall portion that is annularly recessed in the inner surface of the vehicle body outer plate, is formed integrally with the vehicle body outer plate. For this reason, the boundary between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body. When the airbag bag body is inflated by operating, the door portion is separated from the vehicle body outer plate by breaking the thin wall portion and held by the vehicle body via the hinge member. Move to the open position. Thereby, an opening is formed in the vehicle body outer plate. Through this opening, the airbag bag body expands and expands outside the vehicle body outer plate. Here, since the edge part located in the rotation axis line side of the rotation by the guidance of the hinge member in the door part is formed in a straight line along (in parallel with) the rotation axis line, Interference between the plate and the door portion is suppressed. Therefore, the door portion stably reaches the open position smoothly.

  Thus, in the airbag device according to the sixth aspect, the door portion can be stably moved to the open position that allows the airbag bag body to be deployed.

  The airbag apparatus according to claim 7 is the airbag apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the door portions has a plurality of unit doors having different rotation axis directions due to deformation of the hinge member. Part.

  In the airbag device according to claim 7, by combining a plurality of unit door portions whose edges are formed in a straight line, the door portion is maintained as a whole while maintaining the function of the door portion stably reaching the open position. It can be formed in a shape corresponding (approximate) to the vehicle body shape.

  An airbag device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the airbag device according to the seventh aspect, wherein the airbag bag body is provided on a hood member disposed in front of the front windshield glass in the vehicle traveling direction. The door part is moved to the open position and deployed to cover the front windshield glass and the left and right front pillars, and the hinge member is located behind the door part in the vehicle traveling direction. It is fixed to the outer plate, and the door portions are formed symmetrically with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction so that the outer sides in the vehicle width direction are located rearward in the vehicle traveling direction than the center side in the vehicle width direction. It is comprised by a pair of inclined unit door parts.

  In the airbag device according to claim 8, when the airbag bag body is inflated in a predetermined case, each unit door portion integrally provided in the hood member moves to each open position, and as a whole, a single opening portion is formed. Formed on the hood member. The opening is inclined in a substantially V shape so that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is located behind the center part, and is generally curved so that the outside in the vehicle width direction is located behind the center. The distance of each part in the vehicle width direction is made uniform with respect to the shield glass. Accordingly, the front windshield glass and the left and right front pillars can be effectively covered without increasing the size of the airbag bag body (capacity of the gas supply device).

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that the door portion can be stably moved to the open position that allows the airbag bag body to be deployed.

  A hood airbag device 10 as an airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. In addition, arrow FR, arrow UP, and arrow LE appropriately described in each figure respectively indicate the forward direction (traveling direction), the upward direction, and the left direction of the automobile S to which the hood airbag device 10 is applied.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the automobile S to which the hood airbag device 10 is applied. As shown in this figure, the hood airbag device 10 deploys an airbag bag body 14 accommodated in an engine hood 12 as a hood member in a predetermined case described later on the outside of the engine hood 12. This is a device that covers the front windshield glass G and the left and right front pillars P. This will be specifically described below.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the front portion of the automobile S to which the hood airbag device 10 is applied. FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the hood airbag device 10. It is shown. As shown in these drawings, the main portion of the hood airbag device 10 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the hood airbag device 10) is disposed at the rear end portion of the engine hood 12 that covers the engine room of the automobile S from above. It is arranged. The engine hood 12 is formed by joining a hood outer panel 16 as a vehicle body outer plate and a hood inner panel 18 as a vehicle body. The hood outer panel 16 and the hood inner panel 18 are each made of a metal plate (for example, an aluminum alloy, an iron alloy, or the like). An arrangement space R for arranging the hood airbag device 10 is formed between the hood outer panel 16 and the hood inner panel 18 at the rear end 12A of the engine hood 12.

  The rear end of the engine hood 12 is supported from below by the cowl portion 20. The cowl portion 20 is configured by joining a cowl outer panel 24 that opens upward to the front side of a cowl inner panel 22 joined to an upper portion of a dash panel (not shown), and a closed section 20A that forms a vehicle body skeleton at the rear portion. Is formed. The front and lower ends of the front windshield glass G are fixed to the upper side of the closed section 20A by bonding or the like. Further, the cowl box portion 20B opened upward is covered with a resin cowl louver 26 at its open end. The cowl louver 26 is provided with a plurality of slits (not shown) so as to introduce air into the cowl box portion 20B. The cowl louver 26 supports the rear end of the engine hood 12 through a seal member 28 at the front end 26A. And the hood airbag apparatus 10 is arrange | positioned in the vicinity (this embodiment substantially right above) of this support part.

  The hood inner panel 18 is provided with a mounting hole 18 </ b> A communicating with the arrangement space R around the support portion by the cowl portion 20, and the mounting hole 18 </ b> A is blocked by the cover member 30. Yes. In the cover member 30, bolts 34 passing through the cover member 30 and the hood inner panel 18 are screwed into a plurality of weld nuts 32 fixed to the inner surface side of the hood inner panel 18 (a base portion 48 of a hinge member 46 described later). This is fixed to the hood inner panel 18.

  The hood airbag device 10 arranged in the arrangement space R includes a case 36 that opens upward, and the bottom plate 36 </ b> A of the case 36 is fixed to the upper surface side of the cover member 30. An inflator 38 and an airbag bag body 14 are accommodated in the case 36. The inflator 38 is configured to contain an igniter, an igniting agent, a gas generating agent (one that burns to generate a gas, or one that burns to open a flow path of a compressed inert gas), and the like. . In the inflator 38, when the igniter is ignited by the igniter, the gas generating agent burns to generate a large amount of gas. In this embodiment, a pair of left and right (two) inflators 38 are provided.

  The airbag bag body 14 accommodates each inflator 38 in an airtight state at a base end portion thereof so as to be expanded and deployed by the gas generated by the pair of inflators 38. The airbag 14 is fixed to the bottom plate 36A of the case 36 together with each inflator 38, and is folded in a bellows shape and stored in the case 36. As shown in FIG. 2, a door portion 42 is provided in the engine hood 12 in order to form an opening 40 for deploying the airbag bag body 14 on the upper side (outside the vehicle body) of the engine hood 12.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the door portion 42 is formed integrally with the hood outer panel 16 as a part of the hood outer panel 16. Specifically, a notch portion (tear line) 44 as a thin portion is provided on the inner surface of the hood outer panel 16. As shown in FIG. 5, the notch portion 44 is formed in an oblong shape that is long in the vehicle width direction, and a portion surrounded by the notch portion 44 in the hood outer panel 16 is a door portion 42. The door portion 42 is pressed from the lower side by the inflating airbag bag body 14 and the notch portion 44 is broken, so that the door portion 42 is separated from the hood outer panel 16 to form the opening 40 as shown in FIG. Has been. Note that the position of the door portion 42 shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as an open position.

  The door portion 42 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view that is slightly larger than the opening end of the case 36 in both the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the rear edge 42A is a straight line along the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. It is formed in a shape. Note that the notch portion 44 that is recessed on the inner surface side of the hood outer panel 16 is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, so that the shape of the door portion 42 cannot be viewed from the outside of the vehicle body.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the hood airbag device 10 includes a hinge member 46 for preventing the door portion 42 separated from the hood outer panel 16 from falling off the hood outer panel 16. The hinge member 46 is formed in a substantially “U” shape that opens forward in a side sectional view as a whole, and a base portion 48 positioned at the lower end thereof is fixedly supported by the hood inner panel 18. In this embodiment, the base 48 is fastened together with the cover member 30 to the hood inner panel 18 by a bolt 34 that is screwed into the weld nut 32.

  On the other hand, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4A, the hinge portion 50 located at the upper end of the hinge member 46 is a lid fixing portion 50A whose front end side is fixed to the rear end portion of the door portion 42. The rear portion of the lid fixing portion 50A is a panel fixing portion 50B fixed to the hood outer panel 16. Therefore, the hinge portion 50 of the hinge member 46 is fixed to both sides of the hood outer panel 16 across the rear edge (notch portion 44) of the door portion 42. In this embodiment, both the lid fixing portion 50A and the panel fixing portion 50B are laser welded from the vehicle body inner side.

  A bent portion 50C is formed between the lid adhering portion 50A and the panel adhering portion 50B of the hinge portion 50 so as to protrude downward (inward of the vehicle body) directly below the notch portion 44. . The bent portion 50C is a deformed portion that is mainly plastically deformed when the door portion 42 is moved to the open position. The bent portion 50C is easily deformed by this shape, as shown in FIG. A configuration that allows rotation in the direction of arrow A is realized. That is, the hinge member 46 has a rear hinge structure for the door portion 42 with respect to the hood outer panel 16, and guides the door portion 42 from the state before breaking of the notch portion 44 shown in FIG. It is like that.

  In this embodiment, three hinge members 46 are provided at substantially equal intervals along the vehicle width direction as shown in FIG. Therefore, the rotation of the door portion 42 in the direction of arrow A is the rotation around the rotation axis along the vehicle width direction, and the rear edge 42A of the door portion 42 is formed in a straight line parallel to the rotation axis. It can be said that Note that two or more hinge members 46 may be provided, and the number of installations can be changed as appropriate according to the dimensions of the door portion 42.

  Further, in this embodiment, each hinge member 46 is suspended from the lower half 46 </ b> A having the base portion 48 and the connecting portion 52 erected from the rear end of the base portion 48, and the hinge portion 50 and the rear end of the hinge portion 50. The upper half 46 </ b> B having the connecting portion 53 is divided. The lower half 46 </ b> A and the upper half 46 </ b> B are connected with play by a stepped bolt 54 that passes through the connecting portions 52, 53 and a nut 55 that is screwed to the stepped bolt 54. Thereby, the dimensional error of the hinge member 46 fixed to the vehicle body side at the base portion 48 and the panel fixing portion 50B is absorbed. It should be noted that the base member 48 is fixed last when the hinge member 46 is assembled.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the hood airbag device 10 includes a front collision sensor 56 for detecting a collision of a building, a pedestrian, and the like with the front bumper B, a front collision sensor 56, and a vehicle speed sensor (not shown). An airbag ECU 58 that operates the igniter of each inflator 38 based on the signal is provided. The front collision sensor 56 has a long shape extending from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the front bumper B. For example, the front collision sensor 56 detects acceleration in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle caused by a collision with the front bumper B and contact with a collision target. It is supposed to be. The airbag ECU 58 determines that the collision target is a pedestrian based on the output signal (time change) of the front collision sensor 56 and the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, 20 km / h). In addition, the igniter of each inflator 38 is operated.

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

  In the hood airbag apparatus 10 having the above configuration, when a pedestrian collides with the front bumper B of the applied automobile S, the airbag ECU 58 operates each inflator 38 by a signal from the front collision sensor 56, and the airbag bag body. A large amount of gas is generated in 14. The airbag bag body 14 starts to expand by the gas pressure of the gas. Then, the door part 42 provided in the hood outer panel 16 is pressed from the lower side by the airbag bag body 14, and the notch part 44 is broken.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the door portion 42 is separated from the hood outer panel 16 and is further pressed upward by the airbag bag body 14, thereby rotating in the arrow A direction while being guided by the hinge member 46. As a result, the opening 40 is opened. As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag bag body 14 inflated and deployed to the outside of the hood outer panel 16 through the opening 40 is disposed at the rear part of the engine hood 12 (upper part of the cowl part 20) and the front windshield glass G. The left and right front pillars P are covered from the front side.

  As described above, the pedestrian who collided with the front bumper B is prevented from directly colliding with the rear portion of the engine hood 12, the lower portion of the front windshield glass G, and the left and right front pillars P, and the pedestrian has developed. The impact is absorbed and protected by the airbag bag body 14.

  Here, in the hood airbag device 10, the panel fixing portion 50 </ b> B fixed to the hood outer panel 16 is provided between the lid fixing portion 50 </ b> A and the base 48 of the hinge member 46. A hinge member 46 supported by the inner panel 18 is fixed to both the door portion 42 and the hood outer panel 16 across a notch portion 44 that is a boundary portion between the door portion 42 and the hood outer panel 16 that are substantially flush with each other. Therefore, the hinge member 46 is mainly deformed at the bent portion 50 </ b> C straddling the notch portion 44 while suppressing upward deformation of the rear portion of the door portion 42 in the hood outer panel 16. For this reason, the door portion 42 has less variation in the movement locus (posture) to the open position guided by the plastic deformation of the bent portion 50C in which the upward displacement is suppressed by the hinge member 46, and the notch portion 44 is stabilized. Then, it is ruptured (the load required for rupture is small) and reaches the open position reliably and smoothly.

  Thus, in the hood airbag apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to the open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed.

  Further, since the plastic deformation portion of the hinge member 46 which is a plastic deformation hinge is a bent portion 50C which is curved so as to protrude in the direction away from the notch portion 44, the plastic deformation range of the hinge member 46 (hinge portion 50). Thus, a configuration has been realized in which the bent portion 50C is easily plastically deformed with a relatively small load to obtain a hinge function. Thereby, in the hood airbag apparatus 10, the force required for the deformation of the hinge member 46 is suppressed, and the door portion 42 can be moved to the open position more stably.

  Furthermore, in the hood airbag device 10, the rear edge 42A of the door portion 42 is formed in a straight line along the rotation axis of the hinge member 46, and therefore the door portion 42 that rotates in the direction of arrow A has a rear edge 42A. Smoothly reach the open position without interfering with the hood outer panel 16 (inner edge of the opening 40). Thereby, in the hood airbag apparatus 10, the door part 42 can be moved to an open position more stably.

  In the hood airbag device 10, since the door portion 42 is integrally provided on the hood outer panel 16 by providing the notch portion 44 on the inner surface side of the hood outer panel 16, the boundary between the door portion 42 and the hood outer panel 16 is provided. A good appearance can be obtained without being exposed outside the vehicle body. That is, in the configuration in which the opening provided in advance in the hood outer panel is closed with the lid of another member, these boundaries (either one of the edges) are exposed, and the design is restricted. For example, if the rear edge 42A of the door portion 42 is curved along the rear end of the engine hood 12 (the front edge of the front windshield glass G) due to restrictions on the design, smooth deployment of the door portion 42 is hindered. However, in the hood airbag device 10, as described above, the rear edge 42 </ b> A of the door portion 42 is formed in a straight line to ensure smooth deployability of the door portion 42.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. Parts and portions that are basically the same as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment or the previous configuration, and description thereof is omitted (not shown). May be omitted).

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a door portion 62 constituting a hood airbag device 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the door part 62 is divided into a left door part 64 and a right door part 66 as the “unit door part” in the present invention, respectively, and as a whole, substantially V opens in a plan view. It is formed in a letter shape. The left door portion 64 and the right door portion 66 have a front portion 68A in which an inner portion of a notch portion 68 formed in a substantially V-order annular shape that forms the outer edge of the door portion 62 is long in the vehicle width direction of the notch portion 68. In addition, the rear portion 68B is divided by a longitudinal notch portion 69 in the front-rear direction connecting the center in the vehicle width direction and formed symmetrically. That is, each of the left door portion 64 and the right door portion 66 is formed in a substantially parallelogram shape that is inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction so that the vehicle width direction outer side portion is located on the rear side of the vehicle width direction center portion. .

  A pair of hinge members 46 are attached to the left door portion 64 and the right door portion 66, respectively. Although illustration is omitted, the attachment structure of each hinge member 46 to the door portion 62 is the same as the structure of the first embodiment. The hinge member 46 that supports the left door portion 64 is inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction so that the left door portion 64 rotates about a rotation axis parallel (substantially coincident) with the rear edge 64A to reach the open position. The hinge member 46 that supports the right door portion 66 is rotated about a rotation axis that is parallel (substantially coincident) with the rear edge 66A to reach the open position. In this manner, the vehicle is inclined with respect to the vehicle width direction.

  Other configurations of the hood airbag device 60 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the hood airbag device 10. Therefore, the hood airbag device 60 according to the second embodiment can obtain the same effects as the effects of the first embodiment. That is, in the hood airbag device 60, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to an open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed.

  Further, in the hood airbag device 60, the door portion 62 is divided into left and right door portions 64 and 66, so that the rear edges 64A and 66A maintain the configuration along the rotation axis by the guidance of the hinge member 46, The door portion 62 as a whole could be formed in a substantially V shape that approximates the shape of the rear end of the engine hood 12. Thus, the arrangement space R that is covered by the door portion 62 and accommodates the airbag bag body 14 is arranged close to the front windshield glass G and the left and right front pillars P covered by the deployed airbag bag body 14. It was realized. For this reason, size reduction of the hood airbag apparatus 60 airbag bag body 14 and the capacity | capacitance of the inflator 38 are achieved. Moreover, the time until the airbag bag body 14 is fully deployed is shortened.

  In this embodiment, the door part 62 is divided into two parts. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the door part 62 may be divided into three or more unit door parts. .

(Third embodiment)
8 shows a hood airbag device 70 according to the third embodiment in an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the hood airbag device 70 includes a notch cover 72 that covers a front portion 44A, which is formed along the vehicle width direction of the notch portion 44 formed in a substantially rectangular shape, from below. Yes. The notch cover 72 is formed so that the flat plate is curved upwardly in a concave arc shape, and covers the front portion 44A of the notch portion 44 in a non-contact state over substantially the entire length in the vehicle width direction. The rear end (thickness portion) of the notch cover 72 is smoothly rounded. The notch cover 72 is supported by the hood outer panel 16 by fixing a flat plate-like fixing portion 74 extending forward from the front end to the front portion of the door portion 42 of the hood outer panel 16 by laser welding. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the notch cover 72 covers the front edge 40A of the opening 40 formed after the door portion 42 in the hood outer panel 16 is separated from the lower side, and the airbag bag body 14 to the front edge 40A. To prevent contact. For this reason, in the hood airbag device 70, even when the front edge 40 </ b> A is sharply formed or a burr or the like is generated as the notch portion 44 is broken, the airbag bag bulges from the opening 40 onto the hood outer panel 16. The body 14 is prevented from contacting and being damaged.

  Other configurations of the hood airbag device 70 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the hood airbag device 10. Therefore, the hood airbag device 70 according to the third embodiment can obtain the same effects as the effects of the first embodiment. That is, in the hood airbag device 70, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to an open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed.

(Fourth embodiment)
10 shows a hood airbag device 75 according to the fourth embodiment in an enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the hood airbag device 75 is a hood airbag according to the third embodiment in that a connecting portion 76 extends from the front edge of the notch cover 72 instead of the fixed portion 74. Different from the device 70. The connecting portion 76 includes a flat plate-like fixing portion 76A that is fixed to the lower surface of the hood outer panel 16 by laser welding, and a leg portion 76B that is suspended from the front edge of the fixing portion 76A. “L” shape. The leg portions 76B are supported by the hood inner panel 18 via brackets 78 at a plurality of locations in the vehicle width direction.

  Specifically, one end of the bracket 78 is fixed to the hood inner panel 18 by welding or the like, and the other end is provided with an attachment piece 78A that contacts or faces the leg portion 76B. The connecting portion 76 and the bracket 78 have play at a plurality of locations in the vehicle width direction due to the stepped bolt 54 penetrating the leg portion 76B and the mounting piece 78A and the nut 55 screwed to the stepped bolt 54. Are connected. Thereby, in the hood airbag device 75, the front portion of the door portion 42 in the hood outer panel 16 is connected to the hood inner panel 18 via the connecting portion 76 and the bracket 78. The connecting portion 76 corresponds to a “connecting member” in the present invention. The bracket 78 may be understood as a “connecting member” or a “vehicle body”.

  In this embodiment, the hinge member 46 includes a bracket portion 46C instead of the lower half 46A. The bracket portion 46C is formed substantially symmetrically with the bracket 78 on the paper surface of FIG. 10, and one end is fixed to the hood inner panel 18 by welding or the like. A flat plate-like mounting piece 46D is provided at the other end of the bracket portion 46C, and the mounting piece 46D is joined to the connecting portion 52 with play by a stepped bolt 54 and a nut 55.

  Other configurations of the hood airbag device 75 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the hood airbag device 70. Therefore, the hood airbag device 75 according to the fourth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the effects of the third embodiment. That is, in the hood airbag device 75, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to an open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed, and the door portion 42 is deployed in a configuration that is integrally formed with the hood outer panel 16. The airbag bag body 14 to be protected can be protected.

  In particular, in the hood airbag device 75, the front portion of the door portion 42 in the hood outer panel 16 is connected to the hood inner panel 18 by the connecting portion 76 and the like, so the door portion 42 is pressed against the airbag bag body 14 from below. In this case, in the hood outer panel 16, the upward deformation of the rear portion of the door portion 42 is restricted by the hinge member 46, and the upward deformation of the front portion of the door portion 42 is restricted by the connecting portion 76. . That is, the strength around the door portion 42 (opening portion 40) of the hood outer panel 16 is improved, and the door portion 42 is pressed against the airbag bag body 14, so that the notch portion 44 is further smoothly broken, and the door portion 42 is pressed. Can be moved more stably by the open position allowing the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 11 shows a hood airbag device 80 according to a fifth embodiment in a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. As shown in this figure, the hood airbag device 80 includes a lid cover 82 provided at the front end of the door portion 42 and covering the front portion 44A of the notch portion 44, according to the third embodiment. Different from 70. The lid cover 82 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and covers the front portion 44A of the notch portion 44 from the lower side in a non-contact state over substantially the entire length in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 12, the lid cover 82 has a fixing portion 84 extending rearward from the rear end thereof fixed to the lower surface of the door portion 42 by laser welding, and after the door portion 42 is separated from the hood outer panel 16. The airbag bag body 14 is prevented from contacting the front edge 42B. In this embodiment, the notch cover 72 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape and covers the front portion 44 </ b> A of the notch portion 44 from the lower side of the lid cover 82.

  Other configurations of the hood airbag device 80 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the hood airbag device 70. Therefore, the hood airbag device 80 according to the fifth embodiment can obtain the same effects as the effects of the third embodiment. That is, in the hood airbag device 70, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to an open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed, and the door portion 42 is deployed in a configuration formed integrally with the hood outer panel 16. The airbag bag body 14 to be protected can be protected.

  In particular, in the hood airbag device 80, since the lid cover 82 that covers the front edge 42B of the door portion 42 is provided, the front edge 42B of the door portion 42 is sharply formed or burrs or the like occur as the notch portion 44 breaks. Even in this case, since the airbag bag body 14 does not come into contact with the front edge 42B, the airbag bag body 14 is further effectively prevented from being damaged.

(Sixth embodiment)
13 shows a hood airbag device 85 according to the sixth embodiment in a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, and FIG. 14 shows the operating state of the hood airbag device 85 corresponding to FIG. Is shown in a cross-sectional view. As shown in these drawings, the hood airbag device 85 is different from the hood airbag device 80 according to the fifth embodiment in that it includes bag protection cloths 86 and 88.

  One end of each of the bag protection cloths 86 and 88 is fixed to the base end portion of the airbag bag body 14 (near the connection end with the inflator 38 and the case 36) by sewing or the like, and the other end side is fixed to the airbag bag body 14. It is folded in a bellows shape on the top (between the door part 42). The middle part of the bag protection cloth 86 is located on the front side of the airbag bag body 14, and the middle part of the bag protection cloth 88 is located on the rear side of the airbag bag body 14. The bag protection cloth 86 covers the front edge 40A of the opening 40 as the airbag bag body 14 bulges, and the bag protection cloth 88 covers the door portion 42 as the airbag bag body 14 bulges. The front edge 42B is covered.

  Other configurations of the hood airbag device 85 are the same as the corresponding configurations of the hood airbag device 80. Accordingly, the hood airbag device 85 according to the sixth embodiment can also obtain the same effects as the effects obtained by the hood airbag device 80 according to the fifth embodiment. That is, in the hood airbag device 85, the door portion 42 can be stably moved to an open position that allows the airbag bag body 14 to be deployed, and the door portion 42 is deployed in a configuration that is integrally formed with the hood outer panel 16. The airbag bag body 14 to be protected can be protected.

  In particular, in the hood airbag device 85, since the bag protective cloths 86 and 88 are provided, the front edge 40A of the opening 40 and the front edge 42B of the door 42 are sharply formed or burrs or the like with the break of the notch portion 44. Even if this occurs, the airbag bag body 14 does not come into contact with the front edges 40A, 42B, so that the airbag bag body 14 is further effectively prevented from being damaged.

  In addition, although the said 3rd thru | or 6th embodiment showed the example applied to the structure which has the door part 42, it cannot be overemphasized that these structures may be applied to the structure which has the door part 62. FIG. . Moreover, you may apply the bag protection cloth 86 and 88 in 6th Embodiment to the structure which does not have the notch cover 72 and the lid cover 82. FIG.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the hinge member 46 showed the example which is a plastic deformation hinge, this invention is not limited to this, For example, the door parts 42 and 62 are integrally provided in the hood outer panel 16, and are linear form. In the configuration having the rear edges 42A, 64A, and 66A, a hinge member such as a hinge having a hinge shaft may be used. Further, in the configuration including the plastic deformation hinge (hinge member 46) having the lid fixing portion 50A and the panel fixing portion 50B across the notch portion, the door portion 42 and the like may be configured as a separate member from the hood outer panel 16. .

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the airbag device of the present invention is applied to the hood airbag device 10 and the like has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the airbag device deployed on the outside of the vehicle body may Can be applied.

1 is a side sectional view of a hood airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the operation state of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a side sectional view showing a front structure of an automobile to which a hood airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a figure which expands partially and shows the hinge member which comprises the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, (A) is a sectional side view before operation | movement, (B) is the side after operation | movement. It is sectional drawing. It is a perspective view which shows the door part which comprises the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an automobile airbag bag body in which a hood airbag device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the door part which comprises the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the operation state of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the operation state of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a sectional side view which shows the operation state of the hood airbag apparatus which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10 Hood airbag device (airbag device)
12 Engine hood (hood member)
14 Air bag body 16 Hood outer panel (vehicle body outer plate)
18 Hood inner panel (vehicle body)
40 opening part 42 door part 42A rear edge (edge part on the rotation axis side)
44 Notch (boundary between door and body plate, thin wall)
46 Hinge member 48 Base (one end of hinge member)
50A lid fixing part (the other end side of the hinge member)
50B Panel fixing part (middle part of hinge member)
50C Bent part 60/70/75/80/85 Hood airbag device 62 Door part 64 Left door part (unit door part)
64A, 66A trailing edge (edge on the rotation axis side)
66 Right door (unit door)
68/69 Notch part (boundary between door part and body plate, thin part)
76 Connecting part (connecting member)

Claims (8)

The door portion provided along the vehicle body outer plate is moved to the open position by the airbag bag body in the inflating process so that the opening portion is opened outwardly of the vehicle body, and the airbag bag body that has passed through the opening portion is An airbag device that is deployed outside of
A hinge member that has one end side supported by the vehicle body and the other end side fixed to the door portion, and plastically deforms to allow the door portion to move to the open position while holding the door portion against the vehicle body. Prepared,
And the airbag apparatus by which the intermediate part of the said hinge member is being fixed to the said vehicle body outer plate | board.   2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the hinge member is a curved portion that is curved so that a portion straddling a boundary between the door portion and the vehicle body outer plate is convex inward of the vehicle body.   The door portion is formed integrally with the vehicle body outer plate, and can be separated from the vehicle body outer plate and moved to the open position by breaking at a thin-walled portion annularly formed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body outer plate. The airbag apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag apparatus is configured.   The airbag device according to claim 3, further comprising a connecting member that connects a portion of the vehicle body outer plate opposite to the fixed portion of the hinge member across the door portion to the vehicle body.   The edge part located in the rotation axis line side at the time of the said door part rotating to the said open position side accompanying the deformation | transformation of the said hinge member is formed in the linear form along this rotation axis line. The airbag apparatus of any one of thru | or 4 thru | or 4. As an inner portion of an annular thin portion recessed on the inner surface side of the vehicle body outer plate, a door portion provided integrally with the vehicle body outer plate,
An airbag bag body disposed on the vehicle interior side of the door portion;
A hinge member that connects the door portion and the vehicle body, and guides the door portion to rotate about a predetermined rotation axis while holding the door portion with respect to the vehicle body;
An airbag device in which an edge portion of the door portion, which is positioned on the rotation axis side of the rotation guided by the hinge member, is formed linearly along the rotation axis.   The airbag device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein each of the door portions includes a plurality of unit door portions having different directions of a rotation axis due to deformation of the hinge member. The airbag bag body is moved by moving the door portion provided on a hood member arranged in front of the front windshield glass in the vehicle traveling direction to an open position, and the front windshield glass It covers the front pillar,
The hinge member is fixed to the vehicle body outer plate behind the door portion in the vehicle traveling direction,
The door portions are formed symmetrically with respect to the center in the vehicle width direction, and are each a pair of unit door portions inclined such that the outer side in the vehicle width direction is located behind the vehicle traveling direction than the center in the vehicle width direction. The airbag device according to claim 7 configured.

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