JP3348623B2 - Airbag device for passenger seat - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an airbag door disposed on a passenger seat top of an instrument panel when a predetermined high load is applied to a front portion of a vehicle, and is deployed toward a windshield glass. The present invention relates to an airbag device for a passenger seat, in which a deployment angle of an airbag door is regulated by a long regulating means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a so-called top dash type airbag device for a passenger seat, an airbag door is normally deployed in a single-opening manner toward a windshield glass side. For this reason, it has already been proposed to use a strap in order to minimize interference between the airbag door and the windshield glass. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-3 is disclosed as an example of this type of structure.
No. 23800, which will be briefly described below.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an airbag device 150 for a passenger seat is provided with a substantially rectangular flat airbag door 154 disposed on the top passenger seat side of an instrument panel 152. Airbag case 156 disposed below bag door 154 and supported on the vehicle body side
And The airbag case 156 accommodates an inflator 158 that ejects gas when a predetermined high load is applied to the front portion of the vehicle, and a bag 160 that is arranged in a folded state and is inflated by the ejected gas.

[0004] On the back surface of the above-described airbag door 154, arch portions 162 and 164 formed in a substantially U-shape are formed integrally at the center on the front end side and on both sides on the rear end side. One end of a relatively short band-shaped first strap 166 is locked to the arch portion 162 arranged at the center of the front end side.
The other end of the first strap 166 is supported at the center of the upper end of the front wall of the airbag case 156 via the first anchor 168.

On the other hand, a pair of relatively long belt-like second straps 17 are provided on a pair of arch portions 164 arranged on both sides on the rear end side.
0 is inserted. Loop portions 170A are formed at both ends of the second strap 170 by sewing, respectively, and the loop portions 170A are respectively supported at the center of the upper end of the side wall portion of the airbag case 156 via the second anchor 172. .

According to the above configuration, when a predetermined high load acts on the front portion of the vehicle, gas is blown from the inflator 158 and the bag 160 is inflated. For this reason, the airbag door 154 is pressed by the bag 160 and slightly lifts off the instrument panel 152, and then is unfolded toward the windshield glass 174 with the first strap 166 as a fulcrum. At this time, with the deployment operation of the airbag door 154, the second strap 1
70 is pulled, whereby the deployment angle of the airbag door 154 is regulated. As a result, the airbag door 15
4 and the windshield glass 174 can be prevented from interfering with each other.

That is, in the above configuration, the first strap 166 is used for hinges of the airbag door 154, and the second strap 170 is used for regulating the deployment angle of the airbag door 154.

[0008]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned structure, the deployment load of the airbag door 154 is transmitted to the pair of arches 164 provided on the back side thereof.
Since the structure is supported by the strap 170, the stress is most concentrated on the pair of arch portions 164. For this reason, in order to secure the rigidity of the arch portion 164, it is necessary to take measures such as connecting the pair of arch portions 164 with a band-shaped iron plate and embedding the iron plate in the airbag door 154 by insert molding. However, if such reinforcement measures are taken, there is a disadvantage that the inertial mass of the airbag door 154 increases. The airbag door 154 having the above-described configuration has a single-layer resin structure, but there is also an airbag door having a three-layer structure in which a foam layer is filled between a door base material and a skin. When the above strap structure is applied to this type of airbag door,
It is conceivable that the strap deteriorates due to aging due to the influence of the constituent material of the foam layer. Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem that the inertial mass of the airbag door increases when reinforcement measures are taken, it is necessary to consider this point as well.

In view of the above facts, the present invention can reliably control the deployment angle of the airbag door without increasing the inertial mass of the airbag door, and further prevent deterioration of the control means due to aging. It is an object of the present invention to obtain a passenger-seat airbag device that can perform the operation.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an instrument panel, which is disposed on a top portion of a passenger side of an instrument panel so as to face a windshield glass and can be deployed.
A door base constituting the back side of the door, a skin arranged apart from the door base and constituting a design surface, and a foam layer filled between the door base and the skin. An airbag door constituted by a layer, an inflator supported by a vehicle-side component member and arranged below the airbag door to inject gas when a predetermined high load is applied to a front portion of the vehicle, and inflated by the gas An airbag case for accommodating a bag for deploying the airbag door to the windshield glass side, and connecting the airbag door and the airbag case or a vehicle-side component member, and adjusting the deployment angle of the airbag door to the windshield glass. And a long restricting means for restricting to a predetermined angle in the relationship of, a passenger airbag device comprising: The restricting means is inserted into the opening, and an intermediate portion of the restricting means is arranged between the openings on both sides of the surface of the door base material. Slidably covered by the deterioration preventing means having the following characteristics.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013] Claim 2 passenger airbag apparatus according to the present invention described is the invention according to claim 1, together constituting said regulating means by a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends The heat-shrinkable tube constitutes the deterioration preventing means, and is further slidably inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube in a state where the loop-shaped string is in close contact with the heat-shrinkable tube.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the airbag device for a passenger seat according to the second aspect of the present invention, the airbag case is made plastic by applying a load equal to or more than a predetermined value to both side walls of the airbag case. The deformable substantially U-shaped brackets are fixed to each other, and the open ends of the brackets are connected to each other by connecting means in a state where both ends of the loop-shaped string are passed through both brackets. Features.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device for a passenger seat according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, wherein the front side of the door base material extends substantially along the vehicle width direction. And a recessed groove-like reinforcing rib extending substantially toward the lower side of the vehicle, and an intermediate portion of the regulating means is housed in the reinforcing rib.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device for a passenger seat according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the instrument panel has an instrument panel base on a back surface side thereof. The airbag, which is constituted by three layers consisting of a material, a skin that is spaced apart from the instrument panel base material and forms a design surface, and a foam layer filled between the instrument panel base material and the skin. The door is formed integrally with the instrument panel.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a predetermined high load acts on the front portion of the vehicle, gas is blown from the inflator housed in the airbag case. Therefore, the bag is inflated and the airbag door is deployed toward the windshield glass. At this time, the deployment angle of the airbag door is controlled by the elongated regulating means connecting the airbag door and the airbag case or the vehicle-side component supporting the airbag case. At a predetermined angle. Thereby, interference between the airbag door and the windshield glass is prevented as much as possible.

Here, in the present invention, openings are provided on both sides on the rear end side of the door base material constituting the back side of the airbag door, and the restricting means described above is inserted into these openings. At the same time, since the intermediate portion of the regulating means is arranged between the openings on both sides of the surface of the door base material, the bag inflation pressure acting on the door base material is supported in a wide range of the intermediate portion of the regulating means. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the pressing load due to the bag acting on the door base material from being locally concentrated. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a reinforcing material separately on the door base material as a measure against stress concentration.
The inertial mass of the airbag door also does not increase.

Further, in the present invention, the above-described airbag door is provided with a door base material constituting the back side of the door, a skin arranged apart from the door base material to constitute a design surface, and a door base material. And a foam layer filled between the skin and the skin. On this premise, if the regulating means is not covered with the deterioration preventing means, the regulating means may be deteriorated due to aging due to the influence of the constituent material of the foam layer. However, according to the present invention, since the regulating means is covered with the deterioration preventing means having the performance of protecting the constituent material of the foamed layer, the influence of the constituent material of the foamed layer does not reach the regulating means.

Further, according to the present invention, since the regulating means is slidably covered by the deterioration preventing means, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, since the present invention is based on the first aspect of the present invention, the foam layer and the deterioration preventing means are bonded to each other after the airbag door is formed. The deterioration preventing means does not slide. However, since the deterioration preventing means and the elongated regulating means covered by the deterioration preventing means are not bonded, if a relatively large load is applied to the restricting means, the restricting means slides with respect to the deterioration preventing means. be able to. Therefore, when the airbag door is connected to the airbag case or the vehicle body side component by the regulating means, the longitudinal dimension of each end of the regulating means pulled out from the opening on both sides of the door base material varies. Even if (deviation) occurs, when the airbag door is deployed, the regulating means slides in the deterioration preventing means until the longitudinal dimensions of the respective ends become equal.

That is, according to the present invention, even if the longitudinal dimension of each end of the regulating means varies when the airbag door is connected to the airbag case or the vehicle-side constituent member by the regulating means. By using the deployment load of the airbag door to slide the regulating means in the deterioration preventing means, the variation can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned restricting means is constituted by a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends, and the deterioration preventing means is constituted by a heat-shrinkable tube. Since the loop-shaped string is slidably inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube in a state of being closely attached, the following operation is obtained.

That is, by forming the above-described regulating means with a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends, the knot of the string becomes one place. Furthermore, by inserting the loop-shaped string in a slidable manner into the heat-shrinkable tube constituting the deterioration preventing means in a state where the loop-shaped string is tightly attached, the door base material can be assembled from the end of the string having no knot when assembling. Can be sequentially passed through the opening. For this reason, in comparison with the case where a straight string is passed through the opening of the door base material as it is without looping the string and each end is tied in a loop shape, It is no longer necessary to tie the string after passing through, and the work of tying the string is completed only once.

Further, the use of the heat-shrinkable tube allows the intermediate portion of the loop-shaped string to be in close contact with no gap. The diameter also becomes constant.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, substantially U-shaped brackets which are plastically deformed when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied are fixed to both side walls of the airbag case. Since the open ends of the bracket were joined to each other by joining means in a state where both ends of the loop-shaped string described above were respectively passed through the bracket,
When the airbag door is deployed by the inflation pressure of the bag, a tensile load acts on the bracket through which the end of the loop-shaped string is passed. When the tensile load exceeds a predetermined value, the bracket is plastically deformed. Therefore, the tensile load is absorbed in the process of plastic deformation of the bracket.

Also, the bracket has a substantially U-shape before the end of the string is passed, and both open ends are joined by joining means after the end of the string is passed.
The end of the string can be connected to the airbag case or the vehicle-side component without using a separate tab or the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a groove-like reinforcing rib is formed on the front side of the door base material so as to extend substantially in the vehicle width direction and protrude substantially toward the lower side of the vehicle. In addition, since the intermediate portion of the restricting means is accommodated in the reinforcing rib, a difference in plate thickness between a portion of the airbag door where the restricting means is disposed and a general portion where the restricting means is not disposed. Can be suppressed. For this reason, the influence on the surface (design surface) of the airbag door (such as sink and bulge) can be suppressed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the instrument panel has an instrument panel base material that constitutes the back side thereof, a skin that is invented separately from the instrument panel base material and constitutes a design surface, The airbag door is constituted by a three-layer structure composed of an instrument panel base material and a foam layer filled between the skin, and the airbag door is formed integrally with the instrument panel, so that it can be easily manufactured.

That is, foaming molding is performed after setting the door base material and the instrument panel base material to which the regulating means have been assembled in advance in a molding die, and setting the outer skin away from the door base material and the instrument panel base material. Accordingly, an instrument panel having an airbag door integrally can be easily manufactured.

[0031]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a portion of the instrument panel 10 on the passenger seat side, and FIG. 3 is a passenger airbag described later disposed on the passenger seat portion. The longitudinal section of the device 18 is shown.

As shown in these figures, the instrument panel 10 is arranged on the inside of the vehicle interior and is provided with an instrument panel skin 12 made of a soft resin material and at a predetermined interval from the instrument panel skin 12. Instrument panel base material 14 arranged and made of a hard resin material,
A urethane foamed foam layer 16 filled between the instrument panel skin 12 and the instrument panel substrate 14.

On the other hand, an airbag device 18 for a passenger seat includes an airbag door 20 disposed at the top of the instrument panel 10 on the passenger seat side, and the airbag door 20.
And a main body 22 disposed on the back side of the main body.

More specifically, a substantially rectangular opening 24 is provided at a predetermined position on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel base material 14.
The main body 22 is disposed substantially below the opening 24 on the vehicle side. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 22 is made of a metal formed in a substantially box shape by a front wall 26 </ b> A and a rear wall 26 </ b> B whose lower end also serves as a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls 26 </ b> C. An airbag case 26 is provided. A pair of mounting brackets 30 to which weld nuts 28 are fixed are fixed to both lower sides of the front wall portion 26A of the airbag case 26. Correspondingly, a pair of mounting seats 34 are formed on the high-strength instrument panel reinforcement 32 which is arranged on the inner side of the instrument panel 10 with the longitudinal direction substantially in the vehicle width direction. The mounting brackets 30 are attached to these mounting seats 34.
The airbag case 26 is fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 32 by screwing the fixing bolt 36 to the weld nut 28 in correspondence with the above.

A substantially cylindrical inflator 38 is provided below the inside of the airbag case 26. To briefly explain an example of the configuration of the inflator 38, a plurality of gas ejection holes (not shown) are formed in a peripheral wall portion of the inflator 38. Further, inside the inflator 38, a squib which is connected to a center control unit disposed below the console box and functions as an ignition device, an ignition material which is ignited when a predetermined current is supplied to the squib, and an ignition material There is a transmission material that propagates a flame to the gas generating agent when it is ignited, a gas generating agent that generates a large amount of gas by burning, a filter that removes debris of the gas generating agent after combustion, etc. Is housed. The center control unit is
Sensors (not shown) that are disposed on both sides of the front portion of the vehicle and detect a predetermined high load acting state on the front portion of the vehicle are connected.

A bag 40 folded in a predetermined folding manner is provided on the upper side inside the airbag case 26. Therefore, the bag 40 is
8 and the airbag door 20. Note that the terminal portion of the bag 40 is fixed to the front wall portion 26A and the rear wall portion 26B of the airbag case 26 by a bolt 41 and a nut 43 via a retainer (not shown).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the airbag door 20 that closes the main body 22 of the passenger airbag device 18 is arranged to face the windshield glass 42. More specifically, the airbag door 20
A door skin 44 disposed on the vehicle interior side and made of a soft resin material that is the same material as the instrument panel skin 12,
A metal and rectangular door base material 46 arranged at a predetermined distance from the door skin 44, and an instrument panel 10 filled between the door skin 44 and the door base material 46. Foam layer 4 which is also a part of foam layer 16
8 (only the sign is changed for distinction). In addition, the periphery of the door skin 44 is bent substantially to the lower side of the vehicle together with the periphery of the instrument panel skin 12 to be in close contact therewith.

As shown in FIG. 1, the door base 46 is
A door base supporting part 50 having a substantially rectangular frame shape, and a door base body 52 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape disposed inside the door base supporting part 50 with a predetermined gap therebetween are provided. I have.
Concave portions 54 are respectively formed at both sides of the front end of the door base material supporting portion 50 and at the center of the rear end. Weld bolts 56 are welded to these recesses 54 from the upper surface side. Correspondingly, a bolt insertion hole is formed on the periphery of the opening 24 of the instrument panel base material 14 coaxially with the weld bolt 56. Further, bolt insertion holes such as circular holes or elongated holes for assembling error absorption are provided in the center of the upper end sides of the front wall portion 26A and the upper end center of the rear wall portion 26B of the airbag case 26. The mounting flange 58 (see FIG. 4) formed with is formed integrally.

Then, the weld bolt 56 on the door base material 46 side is sequentially inserted into the bolt insertion hole of the instrument panel base material 14 and the bolt insertion hole of the mounting flange 58 of the airbag case 26, and from the back side of the mounting flange 58. Nut 60
Are screwed together, so that the door base material supporting portion 50 of the door base material 46 and the mounting flange 58 of the airbag case 26 are fastened to the periphery of the opening 24 of the instrument panel base material 14 (see FIG. 3). .

Further, the front end of the door base body 52 and the front end of the door base support 50 arranged inside the door base support 50 are hinged to the door skin 44 side by a hinge 62. Are linked. Therefore, the door base body 52 is
It is cantilevered by the door base member support portion 50 via the hinge portion 62. The peripheral end portion (edge) of the door base body 52 is folded back to the upper surface side. In addition, a pair of convex portions 64 that protrude toward the door skin 44 side are provided in a wide range on the front and rear portions of the door base body 52. A concave groove-shaped reinforcing rib 6 extending substantially in the vehicle width direction and projecting toward the airbag case 26 is provided at an intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of each convex portion 64.
6 are formed respectively. Further, the front and rear convex portions 64
The airbag case 26 extends substantially in the vehicle width direction.
A concave rib-like reinforcing rib 68 that is convex toward the side is formed.

Here, both sides on the rear end side of the door base material 46 (specifically, both ends of the reinforcing rib 68 formed between the front and rear convex portions 64 of the door base body 52).
Are each formed with a circular hole. Metal eyelets 70 and 72 for preventing a strap 76 and a heat-shrinkable tube 78 to be described later from being caught on the inner peripheral edge of the circular hole are attached to the respective circular holes (also shown in FIG. 7). Has been).

The pair of eyelets 70 and 72 in the above-described door base material 46 has a strap 76 made of a single cord inserted therethrough. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
The strap 76 is formed in a loop shape having a knot 76A at one place by aligning and rotating one end of a single string woven with, for example, a polyester thread having a predetermined diameter.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a thin and transparent cylindrical body made of a material such as PVC, for example, is provided at an intermediate portion 76B (excluding the both ends 76C and 76D) of the strap 76. Is covered with a heat-shrinkable tube 78. Note that the strap 76 is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube 78 from the end 76C where the knot 76A is not formed, and the heat-shrinkable tube 78 is placed in the middle portion 76B of the strap 76 and heat-shrinked. The conductive tube 78 is contracted by heating. Middle part 7 of strap 76
In a state where the heat-shrinkable tube 78 is covered with the heat-shrinkable tube 6 </ b> B, the two straps 76 that are in close contact with each other do not slide in the heat-shrinkable tube 78 even if a slight force is applied to the strap 76 and pulled. When a load equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied, the strap 76 can slide in the heat-shrinkable tube 78.

The strap 76 covered with the heat-shrinkable tube 78 is passed through the end 76C where the knot 76A is not formed into one of the eyelets 70 of the door base material 46, and the above-described concave groove is formed. An intermediate portion 76B is arranged along the reinforcing ribs 68 in the shape of a circle, and the end portion 76C is further passed through the other eyelet 72, so that both eyelets 7
Both ends 76C and 76D of the strap 76 are suspended from 0 and 72. In this state, the longitudinal dimension of the heat-shrinkable tube 78 is determined so that the vicinity of both ends of the heat-shrinkable tube 78 exists in both the eyelets 70 and 72.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8,
On both side walls 26C of the airbag case 26 described above,
Metal support brackets 80 for locking both ends 76C and 76D of the strap 76 are provided respectively. The support bracket 80 includes a locking portion 80A formed in a substantially U-shape that opens downward, and a pair of connecting pieces 80 extending outward from the case from the open end side of the locking portion 80A.
B, 80C, and a pair of rectangular mounting pieces 80D extending in directions away from each other from the upper front and rear ends of the locking portion 80A,
80E.

The support bracket 80 includes a pair of mounting pieces 80.
D and 80E are fixed to the side wall 26C of the airbag case 26 by spot welding. A long bolt-shaped insertion hole is formed coaxially in the coupling pieces 80B and 80C opposed to each other vertically, and a weld nut 82 is previously welded to the upper surface of the coupling piece 80B located on the upper side. I have. Then, both ends 76 of the strap 76
C and 76D are respectively provided from the gaps between the coupling pieces 80B and 80C of the support bracket 80 provided correspondingly.
0A, and after being locked in, the two connecting pieces 80B,
80C are brought into close contact with each other, and the bolt 84 is connected to the weld nut 8
2, the airbag door 20 is connected to the airbag case 26 via the strap 76.

The support bracket 80 has a load above the predetermined value (a value that can prevent the strap 76 from being cut, for example, a certain value slightly lower than the tensile strength of the strap 76) through the strap 76. Locking part 80A
, The strength is set such that the locking portion 80A is plastically deformed.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described. When a predetermined high load acts on the front portion of the vehicle, that is, when the vehicle suddenly decelerates, the vehicle sudden deceleration state is detected by the sensor. As a result, a predetermined current is supplied from the center control unit to the squib of the inflator 38. For this reason, the inflator 38 operates, and gas is ejected from the gas ejection holes of the inflator 38.
As a result, gas flows into the bag 40, and the inflation pressure of the bag 40 causes the airbag door 20 to unfold open toward the windshield glass 42 side, and the bag 40 expands toward the passenger seat side. It is. At this time, the strap 76 connecting the airbag door 20 and the airbag case 26 is extended, whereby the deployment angle of the airbag door 20 is restricted. As a result, interference between the airbag door 20 and the windshield glass 42 is prevented.

In this embodiment, a pair of eyelets 70 and 72 are provided on both sides on the rear end side of the door base material 46 of the airbag door 20, and the heat shrinkage described above is inserted into these eyelets 70 and 72. The strap 76 covered with the tube 78 is inserted therethrough, and the intermediate portion 76B of the strap 76 is attached to the eyelets 70, 7 on the surface of the door base 46.
Since it is arranged between the two, the bag inflation pressure acting on the door base material 46 is supported in a wide range of the intermediate portion 76B of the strap 76. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the pressing load by the bag 40 acting on the door base material 46 from being locally concentrated. Therefore, as a measure against stress concentration,
In this case, it is not necessary to separately provide a reinforcing member, so that the inertial mass of the airbag door 20 does not increase. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the deployment angle of the airbag door 20 can be reliably restricted to a predetermined angle without increasing the inertial mass of the airbag door 20.

In the present embodiment, the airbag door 2
0 and the door base material 4
The airbag door 20 is constituted by a three-layer structure including a door skin 44 that is spaced from the door 6 and forms a design surface, and a foam layer 48 filled between the door base material 46 and the door skin 44. It is assumed that it is. On this assumption, suppose that the strap 76 is a heat-shrinkable tube 7.
In the case where the strap 76 is not covered with the rubber layer 8, the strap 76 may be deteriorated due to the influence of the constituent material of the foam layer 48 (so-called amine attack) due to aging. However, according to the present embodiment, the strap 76 is
Is covered by the heat-shrinkable tube 78 having a protective property against the material of the foam layer 48, so that the influence of the material of the foam layer 48 from the material of the strap 76 is not exerted. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the aging of the strap 76 from occurring.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the strap 76 is slidably covered with respect to the heat-shrinkable tube 78, the following operations and effects can be obtained. That is, in the state after the molding of the airbag door 20, the foam layer 4
8 and the heat-shrinkable tube 78 are bonded to each other, so that the heat-shrinkable tube 78
Does not slide. However, the heat-shrinkable tube 78
The strap 76 is not bonded to the heat-shrinkable tube 78 when a relatively large load is applied to the strap 76. Therefore, when the airbag door 20 and the airbag case 26 are connected by the strap 76, the eyelets 70 on both sides of the door base 46,
Even if the longitudinal dimension of each of the ends 76C and 76D of the strap 76 pulled out from the respective 72 is varied (deviation), when the airbag door 20 is deployed, the longitudinal direction of each of the ends 76C and 76D is increased. The strap 76 slides within the heat-shrinkable tube 78 until the dimensions are equal.

That is, according to this embodiment, the airbag door 20 and the airbag case 26
Even if there is a variation (deviation) in the longitudinal dimension of each end 76C, 76D of the strap 76 at the time of connection with the
By sliding the inside of the heat-shrinkable tube 78, the variation can be eliminated. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the airbag door 20 from expanding toward the windshield glass 42 while tilting.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the strap 76 is constituted by a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends, and the heat-shrinkable tube 78 is placed in a state in which the loop-shaped string is closely attached. The following operations and effects can be obtained because the slidable insertion is performed.

That is, by forming the strap 76 with a loop-shaped string formed by tying both ends, the knot 76A of the strap 76 becomes one place. Furthermore, by slidably inserting the loop-shaped string into the heat-shrinkable tube 78 in a state of being closely attached,
When assembling, the strap 76 without the knot 76A
From the end 76C of the door base material 46 into the eyelets 70 and 72 of the door base material 46 in sequence. For this reason, compared with a case where a straight string is passed through the eyelets 70 and 72 of the door base material 46 as it is without forming the string in a loop form, and then each end of the string is tied in a loop form. In addition, it is not necessary to tie the string after passing through the eyelets 70 and 72 of the door base material 46, and the operation of tying the string is only one time. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the workability of assembling the strap 76 to the door base material 46 can be improved.

Further, by using the heat-shrinkable tube 78, the strap 76 constituted by a loop-shaped string is used.
Of the strap 76 can be prevented from being loosened, and the diameter of the middle portion 76B of the strap 76 can be constant. Therefore, also in this respect, the strap 7
The workability of assembling the door 6 to the door base material 46 can be improved.

Further, since the position of the knot 76A of the string constituting the strap 76 can be regulated by the heat-shrinkable tube 78, the knot 76A is
Does not hinder the assembly of the support bracket 80 into the support bracket 80. Therefore, also in this respect, the workability of assembling the strap 76 to the door base material 46 and the support bracket 80 can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the substantially U-shaped locking portion 80A which plastically deforms when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to both side walls 26C of the airbag case 26.
, And both ends 76C, 76D of a strap 76 composed of a loop-shaped string are attached to the locking portions 80A of both support brackets 80.
Are connected to each other by the bolts 84 and the weld nuts 82, so that when the airbag door 20 is deployed by the inflation pressure of the airbag, the ends 76C of the strap 76, A tensile load is applied to the locking portion 80A of the support bracket 80 through which 76D is passed. When the tensile load exceeds a predetermined value, the support bracket 80 is plastically deformed. Therefore, the tensile load is absorbed in the process of plastic deformation of the support bracket 80. As a result, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the strap 76 from breaking.

The support bracket 80 is connected to the strap 7
Before the end portions 76C and 76D of the strap 76 are passed, the end portions of the strap 76 are substantially U-shaped and open downward.
After 6C and 76D are passed, both connecting pieces 80B and 80
C are connected to each other by bolts 84 and weld nuts 82, so that the ends 76C and 76D of the strap 76 are connected to the airbag case 26 without using a separate tab or the like.
Can be connected. For this reason, productivity can be improved.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the door substrate 4
6, a recessed groove-shaped reinforcing rib 68 extending substantially in the vehicle width direction and protruding substantially toward the vehicle lower side is formed on the front side of the strap 6, and an intermediate portion of the strap 76 is provided in the reinforcing rib 68. The portion where the strap 76 is disposed in the airbag door 20 and the strap 7
It is possible to suppress a difference in plate thickness from a general part in which 6 is not provided. For this reason, the door skin 44 of the airbag door 20 is provided.
The effect on the (design surface) (sink, swelling, etc.) can be suppressed. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the appearance quality of the airbag door 20 can be improved.

The reinforcing ribs 68 are connected to the straps 76.
Therefore, the strength of the door base material 46 can be increased without increasing the overall mass of the airbag door 20.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the instrument panel 10 has an instrument panel base material 14 forming the back side thereof, and an instrument panel skin 12 forming a design surface which is arranged separately from the instrument panel base material. And instrument panel substrate 1
Foam layer 16 filled between the instrument panel 4 and the instrument panel skin 12
And the airbag door 20 having the same three-layer structure as the instrument panel 10.
Since it is configured to be integrally formed with the, it can be easily manufactured.

That is, the door base material 46 and the instrument panel base material 14 to which the straps 76 are attached in advance are set in a molding die (not shown), and the door skin 44 and the instrument panel skin 12 are moved to the door base material 46 and the instrument panel base material. By performing foam molding after setting and separating, the instrument panel 10 integrally having the airbag door 20 can be easily manufactured. For this reason, according to this embodiment, productivity can be improved and cost can be reduced. In addition, since the airbag door 20 and the instrument panel 10 are integrally formed, the buildability of both is improved, so that the appearance quality of the instrument panel 10 can be improved.

In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the airbag door 20 which opens to the side of the windshield glass 42 around the hinge portion 62, and it seems that this case is most effective. The present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention may be applied to a double-opening type airbag door or a four-way opening type airbag door. Also in these cases, the deployed airbag door may interfere with the windshield glass depending on the arrangement position of the airbag door, the inclination angle and the radius of curvature of the windshield glass, etc. Makes the present invention meaningful. In this case, the object to which the strap is to be attached is a door portion that extends to the windshield glass side.

In the present embodiment, the airbag door 2
The length of the strap 76 and the amount of plastic deformation of the locking portion 80A of the support bracket 80 are adjusted so that the rear end of the airbag door 20 does not interfere with the windshield glass 42 when the 0 is deployed. It is not always necessary to make such a configuration, and the length of the strap 76 and the engagement of the support bracket 80 are set so that the rear end of the airbag door 20 slightly interferes with the windshield glass 42 when the airbag door 20 is deployed. The amount of plastic deformation of the stop 80A may be adjusted.

Also in this case, when the present invention is applied, since the inertial mass of the airbag door 20 does not increase, the contact load on the windshield glass 42 side is reduced, and the support bracket 80 Locking part 80A
Is plastically deformed, so that energy is further absorbed, so that the contact load on the windshield glass 42 side is further reduced. That is, in this specification, the description "to minimize the interference between the airbag door and the windshield glass" refers to the case where the airbag door is completely prevented from coming into contact with the windshield glass. Both include the case where the airbag door comes into contact with the windshield glass, provided that the contact load can be reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, a configuration is employed in which the airbag door 20 having the same three-layer structure is integrally formed with the instrument panel 10 having the three-layer structure. At this time, the door skin 44 and the instrument panel skin 12 are separated. The invention is not limited to this, and a single piece of skin may be used (ie, a so-called invisible type). In this case, it is sufficient to set a skin tearing portion at a site corresponding to the door skin 44 on the back surface of the single skin.

Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the airbag door 20 provided integrally with the instrument panel 10 having a three-layer structure. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
The present invention may be applied to a type in which an airbag door is attached separately from an instrument panel.

Further, in the present embodiment, support brackets 80 are provided on both side walls 26C of the airbag case 26, and the straps 76 are attached to these support brackets 80.
The two ends 76C and 76D of the airbag case 26 are locked, but the invention is not limited thereto. The strap 76 is attached to the instrument panel reinforcement 32, which is a vehicle body-side component supporting the airbag case 26.
The two ends 76C, 76D of the support bracket 8 directly or
A configuration may be adopted in which 0 is disposed and then locked.

Further, in this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which the strap 76 made of a single string is inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube 78 and heat-shrinks. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. A configuration may be adopted in which the longitudinal dimension is set to a predetermined dimension around the intermediate portion 76B of the strap 76, the covering material 90 made of slab urethane is wound, and the open ends are adhered to each other with an adhesive or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the strap 76
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a belt-shaped strap may be used.

[0071]

As described above, the passenger airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention allows the restricting means to be inserted into the openings respectively provided on both sides on the rear end side of the door base material. At the same time, since the intermediate portion of the regulating means is disposed between the openings on both sides of the surface of the door base material, the bag inflation pressure acting on the door base material can be supported in a wide range of the intermediate portion of the regulating means. As a result, there is an excellent effect that the deployment angle of the airbag door can be reliably restricted without increasing the inertial mass of the airbag door.

Further, in the airbag device for a passenger seat according to the present invention described in claim 1, the airbag door includes a door base material,
A skin that is arranged apart from the door base material and constitutes a design surface, and a foam layer filled between the door base material and the skin, is constituted by three layers, and further, a regulating means, Since the coating is performed by the deterioration preventing means having the protection performance for the constituent material of the foam layer, it is possible to prevent the influence from the constituent material of the foam layer from affecting the control means, and as a result, to prevent the control means from aging. It also has the excellent effect of being able to do so.

Further, the assistant according to the present invention described in claim 1
In the seat airbag device, the regulating means is
Having slidably covering Te, variations in the longitudinal dimension of each end of the regulating means when connecting the air bag door and the air bag case or the vehicle body side structural member by the restricting means (deviation)
Even if the occurrence occurs, the variation can be resolved,
As a result, there is an excellent effect that the airbag door can be prevented from deploying while tilting.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the passenger airbag device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the regulating means is constituted by a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends, and the heat is controlled by the heat. Degradation prevention means is constituted by the shrinkable tube, and furthermore, since the loop-shaped string is slidably inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube in a state of being in close contact, after passing through the opening of the door base material. It is not necessary to tie the string, and the work of tying the string is completed only once.Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the slack in the middle part of the string and to make the diameter of the middle part of the string constant. It has an excellent effect that the workability of assembling to the door base material can be greatly improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the airbag device for a passenger seat according to the second aspect of the present invention, a plastic load is applied to both side walls of the airbag case by a load of a predetermined value or more. The brackets are plastically deformed because the substantially U-shaped brackets are fixed to each other, and the open ends of the brackets are connected to each other by connecting means in a state where both ends of the loop-shaped string are passed through both brackets. In this process, the tensile load acting on the cord can be absorbed and the end of the cord can be connected to the airbag case or the vehicle body side component without using a separate tab or the like. And the productivity can be improved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device for a passenger seat according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the airbag device is provided on the front side of the door base material substantially along the vehicle width direction. Since a reinforcing groove in the form of a concave groove extending and protruding substantially toward the lower side of the vehicle is formed, and the intermediate portion of the regulating means is accommodated in the reinforcing rib, the surface of the airbag door (design Surface) can be suppressed (such as sink marks and bulges), and as a result, there is an excellent effect that the appearance quality of the airbag door can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an airbag device for a passenger seat according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, wherein the instrument panel has an instrument panel base material forming a back side thereof. The airbag door is constituted by three layers consisting of a skin that is arranged separately from the instrument panel base material and forms a design surface, and a foam layer that is filled between the instrument panel base material and the skin. Since it is configured to be formed integrally with the instrument panel, it has an excellent effect that it can be easily manufactured and productivity can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a strap is inserted into a door base material used for an airbag door of a passenger airbag device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an airbag door-integrated instrument panel provided with a passenger airbag device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, showing a longitudinal sectional structure of the airbag device for a passenger seat shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the airbag case shown in FIG. 3 is separated from an instrument panel reinforcement.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a loop-shaped string constituting the strap according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the heat-shrinkable tube is covered on the strap shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a state in which a strap covered with a heat-shrinkable tube is inserted into an eyelet of a door base material.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing the support bracket shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an embodiment using a covering material made of slab urethane instead of the heat-shrinkable tube shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a passenger seat airbag device according to a conventional example.

11 is an exploded perspective view of the passenger airbag device shown in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Instrument panel 12 Instrument panel skin 14 Instrument panel base material 16 Foam layer 18 Passenger-seat airbag device 20 Airbag door 26 Airbag case 26C Side wall 32 Instrument panel reinforcement (body-side component) 38 Inflator 40 Bag 42 Windshield glass 44 Door skin 46 Door base material 48 Foam layer 68 Rib 70 Eyelet (opening) 72 Eyelet (opening) 76 Strap (restriction means) 76B Intermediate part (intermediate part of restriction means) 78 Heat-shrinkable tube (deterioration prevention means) 80 Support bracket (bracket) 82 Weld nut (joining means) 84 Bolt (joining means) 90 Covering material (deterioration prevention means)

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An instrument panel, which is disposed at the top of a passenger seat on the front side of a passenger seat so as to be deployable so as to face a windshield glass, and is disposed at a distance from a door base material constituting a back surface side of a door, and the door base material. An airbag door configured by three layers including a skin constituting a design surface, and a foam layer filled between the door base material and the skin, and an airbag door supported by a vehicle body-side component member and an airbag door. An airbag case which is disposed on a lower side and which inflates an inflator which blows out gas when a predetermined high load is applied to a front portion of the vehicle, and an airbag case which houses a bag which is inflated by the gas and deploys an airbag door to the windshield glass side; The bag door is connected to the airbag case or the vehicle body side component, and the deployment angle of the airbag door is regulated to a predetermined angle in relation to the windshield glass. A passenger-side airbag device, comprising: a regulating member having a long shape; and a regulating member inserted into openings provided on both sides on the rear end side of the door base material. An intermediate portion of the regulating means is arranged between the openings on both sides of the surface of the door base material, and furthermore, the regulating means is slidably covered by a deterioration preventing means having a protection performance against the constituent material of the foam layer. An airbag device for a passenger seat, characterized in that: 2. The regulating means is constituted by a loop-shaped string formed by connecting both ends, and the deterioration preventing means is constituted by a heat-shrinkable tube. The passenger-side airbag device according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag device is slidably inserted into the heat-shrinkable tube in a state where the heat-shrinkable tube is in a retracted state. 3. A substantially U-shaped bracket which is plastically deformed when a load equal to or more than a predetermined value is applied to both side walls of the airbag case, and the loop-shaped string is attached to both brackets. 3. The airbag device for a passenger seat according to claim 2 , wherein the open ends of the brackets are connected to each other by connecting means in a state where both ends are passed through. 4. A reinforcing groove in the form of a concave groove extending substantially along the width direction of the vehicle and protruding substantially toward the lower side of the vehicle is formed on the front side of the door base material. The passenger-seat airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein an intermediate portion of the restricting means is accommodated in the airbag. 5. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein the instrument panel includes a back surface, an instrument panel base, a skin that is spaced apart from the instrument panel base, and forms a design surface, and a gap between the instrument panel base and the skin. is constituted by a foam layer and three-layer of which is filled in, the air bag door is formed integrally with the instrument panel, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Airbag device for passenger seat.