JP5547584B2 - Assembly structure of airbag module cover - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembly structure of an air bag module cover, and is an air that can reduce noise generated between a retainer that accommodates an air bag and a module cover attached to the instrument panel side when the vehicle travels. The present invention relates to an assembly structure of a bag module cover.

  In general, an airbag module of an airbag device for a passenger seat of a vehicle is fixedly supported by a fixing portion such as a vehicle body side member, and is integrally or separately provided on an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as an instrument panel) in front of the passenger seat. Is attached to a module cover having a cleaving portion (air bag grid) formed as a structure having a relative movement (floating structure).

  14 and 15 are cross-sectional views showing a structure for attaching the airbag module cover 53 to the instrument panel 57 of the above-described passenger seat airbag device 51 (hereinafter referred to as the airbag device 51). FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the airbag device 51 before being attached to the instrument panel 57. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the airbag device 51 shown in FIG. 16 separated into a module cover 53 and an airbag module 52 for explanation.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the airbag device 51 has a module cover 53 supported so as to cover the upper portion of the airbag module 52 directly to the instrument panel 57 via a predetermined connecting means 58. Or indirectly or indirectly. In FIG. 14, an airbag module cover 53 (hereinafter simply referred to as a module cover 53) of the airbag device 51 includes a top plate portion 53 </ b> A in which a thin portion 56 serving as a cleavage portion is formed on the inner surface side of the center portion, It is composed of a module support wall 53B having a rectangular frame shape integrally formed on the lower surface of the top plate portion 53A. The upper surface of the top plate portion 53A is finished to the same specifications as the instrument panel 57, and constitutes a part of the instrument panel 57 when attached. The airbag module 52 is set so that the airbag module 52 is dropped from above into an airbag deployment opening formed in the instrument panel 57, and at that time, a locking hook 58 as a connecting means is provided at the opening edge of the instrument panel 57. The top panel 53A is attached so that the surface of the top panel 53A is flush with the instrument panel 57. On the other hand, the retainer 60 that functions as a holding portion of the airbag module 52 is fixed to a fixing portion 70 on the vehicle body side member side using a bolt or the like (not shown) via a bracket 66 formed in a part thereof. In the retainer 60, as shown in FIG. 14, a cylindrical inflator 62 fixedly held at the bottom and a gas supply port connected to a gas outlet (not shown) of the inflator 62 are connected. A passenger seat airbag 61 folded into a predetermined shape is accommodated. The airbag 61 for the passenger seat is folded in advance in a compact manner so that it can be efficiently inflated and deployed at the time of gas introduction, and can be efficiently accommodated in the small-capacity retainer 60, so that the folded shape is maintained. It is assembled to the retainer 60 in a state where the periphery is covered with a cover cloth 63 called 63.

  FIG. 15 shows a structure for attaching another conventional airbag apparatus 51 to the instrument panel 57. The airbag device 51 shown in FIG. 15 has a structure in which the top plate portion 53A of the module cover 53 is welded to the instrument panel 57B. That is, in this conventional example, the instrument panel is composed of an instrument panel 57A on the fixed side that is a part of the interior module, and an instrument panel 57B that is disposed so as to close the opening for airbag deployment formed in the instrument panel 57A. Has been. In this type of airbag module 52, the top panel portion 53A of the module cover 53 is welded to the lower surface side of the instrument panel 57B so that the instrument panel 57B and the module cover 53 are integrated. The instrument panel 57B and the module cover 53 are fixedly held at the opening edge of the instrument panel 57A via a fixing pin 58 as a connecting means. In this example, three thin portions 56 serving as cleavage portions are formed on the inner surface side of the instrument panel 57A, the central thin portion 56 is at the slit position of the top plate portion 53A, and the thin portions 56 on both sides are the top plate portions 53A. It arrange | positions facing the curved part formed in this. For this reason, when the airbag is inflated and deployed, the instrument panel 57B can be surely pushed open from the inside at the position of each thin portion.

  Here, for an assembly structure in which the airbag module 52 and the module cover 53 constituting the airbag device 51 assembled to the instrument panel 57 are assembled integrally, refer to FIGS. 16 and 17 shown based on the configuration of FIG. To explain. FIG. 16 shows the airbag device 51 in a state where the airbag module 52 is integrated and assembled so as to cover the module cover 53. As shown in the figure, the air bag device 51 has a plurality of openings 55 formed in the module support wall 53B of the module cover 53, and hooks 65 formed on the retainer 60 side. 53 is assembled with the airbag module 52.

  The configuration of each member described above will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the drawing, a plurality of L-shaped hooks 65 are arranged on the front and rear surfaces 60B of the outer periphery of the retainer 60 at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction. On the other hand, a rectangular opening 55 is provided in the module support wall 53B which is the front and rear surfaces of the module cover 53 at equal intervals corresponding to the position of the hook 65 of the retainer 60. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the module cover 53 is placed on the retainer 60 so that the hooks 65 on the retainer 60 side are engaged with the openings 55 arranged in this manner, and they are assembled by connecting them together. At this time, the dimension of each opening 55 formed in the module support wall 53B is set to such an extent that the hook 65 locked in both width and height can sufficiently move up and down. As shown in FIG. 14, the inner dimension of the module cover 53 is slightly larger than the outer dimension of the retainer 60 in plan view.

  The airbag module 52 described above has a loose coupling structure (floating structure) having a predetermined clearance 54 (see FIG. 14) between the module support wall 53B of the module cover 53 and the outer peripheral surface 60B of the retainer 60. Therefore, when vehicle vibration occurs during vehicle travel, the floating structure is maintained even if a vibration phase difference occurs between the retainer 60 supported by the fixed portion of the vehicle body side member and the module cover 53 attached to the instrument panel 52 side. Since vibration can be absorbed by the portion, transmission of vibration during traveling to the instrument panel 52 side (vehicle compartment side) can be blocked.

  However, since the clearance 54 between the opening of the module cover 53 and the retainer outer surface 60B or the hook 65 is small, the vibration transmitted from the retainer 60 side causes the module cover 53 and the retainer outer periphery 60a or the hook 65 to move. Contact (collision) due to minute repeated vibrations occurs. The module cover 53 is a relatively flexible thermoplastic elastomer such as TPO, but the hook 65 of the retainer 60 is a metal member. (For example, annoying noise) may be perceived. Therefore, in order to reduce the vibration noise, the felt cloth 68 is attached to the retainer outer surface 60B that collides with the module cover 53 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in Patent Document 1, a bristle protrusion 31 having a brush shape is integrally formed on the inner surface of the air grid 3 to cope with it. In Patent Document 1, the hair-like projection 31 functions as a buffer material, and noise is absorbed by the buffer effect. However, these existing measures require a process of attaching a felt cloth or the like separately or integrally forming a hairy protrusion. In the case of attaching a felt cloth, an increase in material cost has been a problem. In addition, when the hair projections disclosed in Patent Document 1 are integrally molded, the tip shape is thin, so there is a problem in moldability and releasability, and there is a problem in assembling performance and difficulty in manufacturing. was there.

  In order to solve this problem, the invention shown in Patent Document 2 has also been proposed. In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 2, the protruding piece 41 is arranged on the inner surface of the frame 13 corresponding to the module cover, and the gap between the airbag case 27 is filled, so that the vibration of the airbag case 27 is suppressed. 41 is bent and absorbed to prevent noise generation.

JP 2008-49803 A JP 2004-338525 A

  In Patent Document 2, since the airbag case 27 and the frame 13 are completely supported by the plurality of projecting pieces 41, it is necessary to suppress an error during assembly to an allowable deflection or less of the projecting pieces. Since each part has a manufacturing error, adjustment work at the time of assembling is required, and the time required for the assembling work increases, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency. Further, when the manufacturing error is close to the allowable deflection limit of the protruding piece, there is a case where there is no bending margin enough for the protruding piece to absorb vibration during traveling. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional techniques described above, to improve the workability of assembling the module cover and the retainer, and to occur between the module cover due to vibration transmitted from the retainer side during vehicle travel. An object is to provide an assembly structure of an airbag module cover that can effectively reduce abnormal noise.

In order to achieve the above object, an assembly structure of an airbag module cover according to the present invention is supported by an instrument panel on a retainer that accommodates an airbag and an inflator that are supported by a vehicle body fixing portion and folded inside. An air bag module cover for attaching the module cover to the opening formed in the module support wall of the module cover by locking the locking means formed on the retainer by providing a predetermined clearance along the outer surface of the retainer. In the assembly structure, the opening has a hexagonal shape with apexes at the upper and lower ends provided on each side of the module support wall, and the opening edge has a sharp shape in which the thickness gradually decreases from the root part to the tip part, Locking means is locked to be movable in the vertical direction, the retainer is supported by the module cover, When the locking means has moved up and down the open mouth, the tip portion and the locking means is in contact with said edge, characterized in that the deformation.

As another invention, a module cover supported by an instrument panel is provided with a predetermined clearance along an outer surface of the retainer on a retainer that accommodates an airbag and an inflator supported by a vehicle body fixing portion and folded inside. In the assembly structure of the airbag module cover, the opening is formed on the module support wall of the module cover , and the opening is formed on each of the module support walls. Hexagonal shape with the top and bottom provided at the top as vertices, the opening edge has a sharp shape that gradually decreases in thickness from the root to the tip, and a protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the module support wall in the vicinity of the edge. The retaining means is movably locked in the vertical direction, and the retainer is supported by the module cover. When you move the the open mouth, the edge tip or the projecting tip portion the locking means in contact with the edge or the projection is characterized in that the deformation.

  It is preferable that the edge of the module cover that defines the opening or the tip side of the protrusion has a sawtooth shape or a continuous shape of a plurality of independent teeth that make multiple contact with the locking means.

  From the active surface, the width direction end of the locking means contacts a part of the edge of the opening formed in the short side direction of the module cover, and the short side direction of the module cover with respect to the retainer It is preferable that the movement of is restricted.

  Further, a part of the locking means comes into contact with a protrusion formed on the outer surface of the module cover in the vicinity of the opening edge lined up along the long side direction of the module cover, so that the short of the module cover with respect to the retainer. It is preferable to restrict the movement in the side direction.

  In the configuration of the above invention, the openings arranged along the long side direction of the module cover are provided at different heights, and the opening edges of some of the arranged arrangements It is preferable that the end in the width direction of the locking means is in point contact and the tip of the opening edge is deformed.

  According to the present invention, the module cover is caused by the vibration transmitted from the retainer side by the shape of the opening formed in the module cover, by the shape of the protrusion formed on the outer surface of the module cover, and by the noise absorbing action of both of them. There is an effect that it is possible to effectively reduce noise generated between the two.

The perspective view which showed the example of 1 structure of the assembly structure of an airbag module cover. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an arrangement state of module covers and openings shown in FIG. 1. Sectional drawing of the assembly structure of the airbag module cover shown in FIG. The expanded sectional view which showed the relationship between the opening shape of a module cover, and a hook. The front view and the top view which showed the relationship between the opening shape of a module cover, and a hook. The front view which showed the arrangement | sequence state of the opening of the module cover in a modification. The perspective view which showed the other structural example of the assembly structure of an airbag module cover. The perspective view which showed the module cover shown in FIG. 7, and the arrangement | sequence state of opening. FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an assembly structure of the module cover and the retainer shown in FIG. 7. The side view which showed the assembly structure of the module cover and retainer shown in FIG. Functional analysis and structural conceptual tree of module cover openings and external projections. Explanatory drawing (the 1) which showed typically the structure of the opening and outer surface protrusion which were shown in FIG. Explanatory drawing (the 2) which showed typically the structure of the opening and outer surface protrusion which were shown in FIG. Sectional drawing which showed an example (integrated specification) of the assembly structure of the conventional airbag module cover. Sectional drawing which showed the other example (welding specification) of the assembly structure of the conventional airbag module cover. The perspective view which showed the state which connected the conventional airbag module and the module cover. The perspective view which isolate | separated and showed the airbag module and module cover shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, the following embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as a mode for carrying out the assembly structure of the airbag module cover according to the first invention.
[Embodiment of the first invention]

  In this embodiment, as an assembly structure of the module cover of the airbag module of the airbag device for the passenger seat, FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 are used for the configuration and operation of the buffer structure including the opening formed in the module cover and the outer protrusion. The description will be given with reference. FIG. 1 shows the assembled state of a module cover 3 and a retainer 10 in order to explain the assembly structure of the module cover 3 of the airbag module 2 of the passenger airbag device 1 (see FIG. 16) of the present invention. It is a perspective view. 1, the dimensions of the retainer 10 and the hook 15 shown in FIG. 1, the airbag inside the retainer 10 and the method of accommodating the retainer 10, the dimensions of the module cover 3 (top plate portion 3 </ b> A, module support wall 3 </ b> B) covered by the retainer 10, The material and the like are the same as those of the conventional product shown in FIG. Moreover, the clearance 4 between the retainer outer surface 10B and the module cover 3 shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, the present invention is technically characterized in that the opening of the module cover is formed in the shape shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and the point that protrusions are formed on the outer surface of the module cover. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the opening 55 formed in the conventional module support wall 53B has a rectangular shape, and a hook 65 formed on the outer side surface 60B of the retainer 60 is provided with a lockable interval. Was formed. On the other hand, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the configuration and action of the opening edge portion 3a of the opening 5 formed with the same mounting interval as the hook 15 of the retainer 10 having the same shape as the conventional one. Further, when the retainer outer surface 10B, the hook 15, and the module cover 3 collide with each other due to the action of the shape of the protrusion 6 formed on the outer surface of the module support wall 3B added to this configuration, The noise generated at the time of collision can be reduced, and the low frequency range can be set.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the edge 3a of the opening 5 formed in the module support wall 3B and the configuration and operation of the protrusion 6 formed on the outer surface of the module support wall 3B will be described with reference to FIGS. As a type of the present invention, there are a structure characterized only by the opening edge, a structure characterized by both the opening edge and the protrusion formed on the outer surface, and any of them can exhibit a predetermined action.

  First, the airbag module 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The retainer 10 that functions as a holding portion of the airbag module 2 is fixed to a fixing portion 30 on the vehicle body side member side using a bolt or the like (not shown) via a bracket 16 formed in a part thereof. In the retainer 10, a cylindrical inflator 12 fixedly held at the bottom, and an assistant folded in a predetermined shape with a gas supply port connected to a gas outlet (not shown) of the inflator 12. A seat airbag 11 is accommodated. The airbag 11 for the passenger seat is folded in advance in a compact manner so that it can be efficiently inflated and deployed at the time of gas introduction, and can be efficiently accommodated in the small-capacity retainer 10, and the folded shape is maintained. Is assembled to the retainer 10 in a covered state.

  FIG. 2 shows the module cover 3 that covers the retainer 10. In the module support wall 3B, an opening 5 is formed according to the position of the hook 15 formed at a predetermined interval on the front and rear surfaces 10B of the retainer 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 3). The opening 5 has a hexagonal shape when viewed from the front, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. The opening edge 3a of the module support wall 3B in which the opening 5 is formed is sharply processed so as to have a sharp triangular cross section as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. As added to the configuration of the present invention, a protrusion 6 is formed in the vicinity of the opening 5 on the outer surface of the module cover 3.

  An assembly structure when the module cover 3 is assembled to the retainer 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 17, a plurality of L-shaped hooks 15 are arranged on the front and rear surfaces 10 </ b> B of the outer periphery of the retainer 10 at predetermined intervals in the lateral direction. The hook shape in the present invention is the same as that shown in the conventional example (reference numeral 65 in FIG. 17). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the inner dimension of the module cover 3 is provided with a predetermined clearance 4 that is slightly larger than the outer dimension of the retainer 10 in a plan view, whereby a floating structure is formed between the module cover 3 and the hook 15. It is made up.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the module support wall 3 </ b> B of the module cover 3 has openings 5 formed in a row at substantially the same position as that of the conventional example, which is engaged with a hook 15 of a retainer 10 described later. These openings 5 have a hexagonal shape, and their edge portions 3a have a shape (hexagonal shape) defined by an edge portion having a cross-sectional shape that is tapered in the thickness direction. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the module cover 3 is placed on the retainer 10 so that the hooks 5 on the retainer 10 side are engaged with the openings 5 arranged as shown in FIGS. At this time, the inner dimension of each opening 5 is such that the hook 5 locked in both width and height can move up and down to some extent within the opening 5, and the end of the hook 15 is connected to the sharp edge 3 a of the opening 5 described above. Abut.

  Next, regarding the configuration of the horizontally long projection (hereinafter simply referred to as the outer projection 6) formed on the outer surface of the module support wall 3B, refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 enlarged view, FIG. 4 and FIG. I will explain. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer surface protrusion 6 is located between the tip of the hook 15 of the retainer 10 and the outer surface of the module cover 3, and the module cover 3 and the retainer 10 are in contact with each other by vibration. The hook 15 serves to prevent the module support wall 3B from touching directly. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the shape of the triangular triangular frustum is such that the cross-sectional shape is triangular and the cross-sectional shape is minimized at the central portion, and is symmetrically positioned at the center. It consists of the following shapes. Therefore, as will be described later, in a state where the bent tip portion 15a of the hook 15 is in contact with the module cover 3, the tip side (three-dimensionally) of the protrusion 6 shown in FIGS. Corresponds to a ridge) 6a.

  The buffering action of the edge portion of the opening as the buffer provided between the module cover 3 having the floating structure and the retainer 10 and the external projection 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, an edge portion that forms an opening and a side portion that divides the opening is referred to as an edge portion. Therefore, the cross-section in the thickness direction of the edge portion is the same as the cross-sectional shape of the edge portion in each portion. As shown in FIG. 4 in an enlarged manner, the hooks 15 of the retainer 10 are engaged with the openings 5 of the module support wall 3B. At this time, the clearance 4 shown in FIG. 5A-1 exists between the retainer 10 and the module cover 3, but the amplitude transmitted from the retainer 10 when the vehicle travels exceeds the width of the clearance 4. , The hook 15 contacts the module support wall 3B with the edge 3a of the opening 5 or the hook tip 15a, and a contact sound is generated. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a-2), the hook 15 comes into contact with the sharp edge 3 a at the tip of the opening 5 of the module cover 3, but this tip is made of the same material as the module cover 3. Since it is made of TPO which is a relatively soft elastomer, the sharp tip of the edge 3a is deformed so as to absorb an impact at the same time as it comes into contact. For this reason, the impact at the time of a contact is relieved and a contact sound is reduced significantly.

  The bent tip 15a of the hook 15 is normally located at the position shown in FIG. 5 (b-1), and there is a predetermined gap between the outer protrusion 6 and the front end 15a. However, when the retainer 10 vibrates with a large amplitude in the front-rear direction, the tip 15a may collide with the outer protrusion 6 as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the outer surface protrusion 6 has a shape in which the tip side 6a is sharpened, and is a part integrally formed with the same material as the main body of the module cover 3, so that the tip of the hook 15 In the state where 15a collides, the tip side 6a of the outer surface projection 6 is deformed, and the contact sound is reduced in the same manner as when the tip of the edge of the opening 5 is touched.

[Modification]
A modification in which the arrangement of the openings 5 formed in the module support wall 3B of the module cover 3 is changed will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the module support wall 3B of the module cover 3 shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the openings 5 formed in the module support wall 3B are arranged at positions where the adjacent openings 5 are alternately shifted in the vertical direction. In each of the openings 5 arranged in this way, the hooks 15 shown in cross section are relatively displaced in the vertical direction. Accordingly, when vibration is transmitted from the retainer (not shown) to the module cover 3 in this state, the hook 15 makes point contact with the edge 3a closest to the vibration direction. Thus, since the heights of the openings 5 are arranged differently, the number of points where contact noise occurs and half noise is generated becomes half. Therefore, there is an advantage that occurrence of abnormal noise can be suppressed. In this modification, the opening positions are changed alternately (alternately), but various combinations of openings with different arrangement heights can be set.
[Embodiment of the second invention]

  In the embodiment of the second invention, in addition to the hook 15, the opening 5, and the outer surface protrusion 6 of the above-described embodiment of the first invention (see FIG. 1), as shown in FIG. A hook 15S is provided on the side surface, and an opening 5S in which the hook 15S is locked is provided in the module side wall 3C. Thereby, in this invention, the effect that the surface contact with the outer surface 10B of the retainer 10 and the inner surface of the module support wall 3B can be avoided with respect to the effect obtained by 1st invention (FIG. 9). reference).

The configuration and operation of the present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings of the first embodiment and FIGS. In FIG.
(1) The openings 5 arranged in a line on the module support wall 3B constituting the long side direction of the module cover 3, and the hooks 15 formed on the front and rear surfaces of the retainer 10 are engaged with the openings 5. State (Compared to the first invention, the opening 5 has the same configuration, but the protrusion 6 is not formed on the outer surface of the module support wall 3B.)
(2) The side opening 5S formed at the substantially central position of the module side wall 3C constituting the short side direction of the module cover 3, and the side hook 15S formed on the side surface of the retainer 10 are engaged with the side opening 5S. The state is shown. That is, the configuration (2) is the main configuration of the second invention.

Here, in the above-described configuration (2), the size of the clearance B in the width direction between the side hook 15S and the side opening 5S will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, the side surface of the retainer 10 accommodated in the module cover 3 is shown. For reference, the side surface opening 5S formed in the module cover 3 is indicated by an imaginary line. A clearance B between the hook 15S is schematically shown. In the second invention as well, as in the embodiment of the first invention (see FIG. 3), a predetermined distance between the inner dimension L1 of the retainer 10 and the inner dimension L1 in the short side direction of the module cover 3 is predetermined. The clearance 4 is provided to form a floating structure. The separation (A2) of the clearance 4 at the front-rear position of the module cover 3 varies depending on the front-rear position of the retainer 10, but is basically 2 × A2 = L1-L2. Here, a case where the clearance B is set on the assumption that the retainer 10 is assembled so that the clearances 4 at the front and rear positions of the retainer 10 are equal will be described. The conditions for determining clearance B are the following two conditions:
(1) The front and rear surfaces of the retainer 10 do not come into surface contact with the inner surface of the module cover 3.
(2) The floating structure functions effectively.
It is necessary to satisfy. In order to satisfy these conditions, it is preferable that B <A2 {= (L1−L2) / 2} when considering the tolerance after assembly.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, an opening 5 is provided on the front and rear surfaces of the module support wall 3 </ b> B, and a hook 15 is provided on the front and rear surfaces of the retainer 10. Unlike the configuration of the embodiment of the first invention, the outer protrusion 6 is not formed at a position facing the tip 15a of the hook 15. This is because the clearance B is set to be smaller than the clearance A1 as described above (see FIG. 9), so that the side hook 15S is brought into contact with the tip 15a of the hook 15 and the module support wall 3B when the vehicle vibration occurs. This is because the side opening 5 </ b> S is in contact. That is, the amount of movement of the module cover 3 in the horizontal direction (short side direction) shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 can be quantitatively limited by the set amount of the clearance B. For example, as described above, when B <A1, the amount of movement of the side hook 15S in the side opening 5S is limited, so that the module cover 3 as a whole has the tips of the hooks 15 arranged in a row in the long side direction. Contact between the part 15a and the outer surface of the module support wall 3B is avoided (see FIG. 10). That is, when vibration is transmitted in a state where the gaps between the retainer 10 and the inner side surface of the module cover 3 are different, the side hook 15S and the side opening 5S move by the clearance B, and the two come into contact with each other first. By doing so, the contact between the hook 15 and the outer surface of the module support wall 3B and the generation of abnormal noise can be prevented.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the vibration transmitted from the retainer 10 side is transmitted so as to exceed the width of the clearance B when the vehicle travels, the side hook 15S has the side opening 5S as shown in FIG. In contact with the edge 3a. Since the edge 3a is made of a relatively flexible material that is the same material as the module cover 3, the sharp tip of the edge 3a is deformed at the time of contact, and the contact sound is greatly reduced.

  In the above, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, the first invention and the second invention have been described with respect to the example using the opening edge portion 3 a and the outer surface protrusion 6 having one type of shape. As measures for reduction measures, the edge shape of various openings and the cross-sectional shape of the outer protrusion 6 can be considered. FIG. 11 is a tree diagram showing an example in which an abnormal noise reduction function of the opening and the outer surface protrusion 6 is analyzed to achieve a systematization of a structure effective for noise reduction measures. As a result of this systematization, as will be described later, it is possible to systematize the schematic structure of the edge shape (structure) A1 to A5 of the opening and the shape (structure) B1 to B5 of the tip side of the outer protrusion 6. It was.

  As an abnormal sound generated in the airbag module, a contact sound generated between the retainer and the module cover, specifically between the hook and the opening, is outstanding. Since the hook is a metal part, it is effective to apply countermeasures on the module cover side made of TPO as a material in order to reduce noise. First, in order to reduce the contact sound, it is effective to increase the deformability of the edge of the opening where the hook contacts or to reduce the contact area between the two in order to reduce the impact at the time of contact. TPO, which is a material, is a soft thermoplastic elastomer. To reduce the rigidity of the opening without reducing the strength of the module cover (decrease in rigidity), the member is made thinner and the hook contact is sharpened. It is preferable to make it. In addition, the contact area can be reduced by sharpening the edge contacted by the hook, and the contact sound can be further reduced by making the point contact level. When the hook is in contact with the opening of the module cover or the outer surface projection 6, in order to make contact with the side of the opening, a flat V-shaped valley having a lower center in the width direction of the opening edge is formed. It becomes the aspect which contacts the edge of opening at two points of the both ends of the width direction. When contacting the apex, it is basically preferable to use multipoint contact. In that case, the edge of the opening may have a sawtooth shape or an independent tooth shape in which independent teeth are continuous. In addition, the shape of the tooth can be a taper in which peaks and troughs alternately change in a straight line, or a semicircle (convex curve, concave curve) can be continuous. In addition, in a three-dimensional manner, a hook can be brought into contact with the apex of each solid by using a pyramid, cone or hemisphere, convex or concave curved surface.

  FIG. 12 is a systematic illustration of the structure of the opening edge and the outer protrusion described above. When the upper and lower sides of the opening edge are type A, and the planar shape of the outer protrusion is encoded as type B, the shape (structure) A1 to A3 of the edge of the opening and the tip edge shape (structure) of the outer protrusion according to shape ) It can be illustrated as B1 to B3. In addition, the systematic group of schematic structures is shown surrounded by broken lines. According to this systematic diagram, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the opening edge 3a is divided into A1, and the planar shape of the tip side 6a of the outer projection 6 is divided into B1.

  The thinning and sharpening of the opening edge and the outer surface protrusion are related to the cross-sectional shape and will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13A shows an example of sharpening in which the opening edge and the tip of the outer protrusion are sharpened. Thus, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, when the hook 15 comes into contact with the opening edge 3a or the tip side 6a of the outer surface projection 6, the sharpened portions 3a and 6a have their tips (vertices). The contact sound can be reduced by deforming so as to be crushed. As shown in FIG. 13B, when the opening edge 3a and the tip side 6a of the outer projection 6 are thinned, each part can be bent and deformed to reduce the contact sound.

  As described above, in addition to the first and second embodiments of the first invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and the second invention, in accordance with the systematization of the structure shown in FIG. The various shapes (structures) shown can be the opening edge 3a, the front surface (plane) of the outer surface protrusion 6, and the cross-sectional shape. 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams that systematize and conceptualize the structure. In addition, various shapes and dimensions can be changed and combined as long as the shape and structure fulfill the functions described above. . Furthermore, the features of the shape (structure) described above are not limited to the above-described embodiment (an embodiment based on the conventional example (integrated type of the top panel and the instrument panel) shown in FIG. 14). In the conventional example shown in FIG. 15 (a type in which the top plate of the module cover is welded to the instrument panel), the same configuration can be realized. Various modifications within the scope of the claims are possible. That is, embodiments obtained by combining technical means appropriately changed within the scope of the claims are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

2,52 Airbag module 3,53 Module cover 3B Module support wall 3a Opening edge 4,54 Clearance 5,55 Open 5S Side opening 6 Outer protrusion 6a Tip 10, 60 Retainer 11, 61 Airbag 12, 62 Inflator 15 , 65 Hook 15S Side hook

Claims (7)

A module cover supported by an instrument panel is provided on a retainer that accommodates an airbag and an inflator that are supported by a vehicle body fixing portion and folded inside, and a predetermined clearance is provided along an outer surface of the retainer. In the assembly structure of the airbag module cover, the locking means formed on the retainer is locked and attached to the opening formed in the module support wall of the cover.
The opening has a hexagonal shape with apexes at the upper and lower ends provided on each side of the module support wall, the opening edge has a sharp shape in which the thickness gradually decreases from the root portion to the tip portion, and the locking means is vertically The retainer is supported by the module cover so as to be movable in the direction, and when the locking means moves up and down in the opening, the locking means comes into contact with the edge and the tip portion is deformed. An assembly structure of an air bag module cover, characterized in that: A module cover supported by an instrument panel is provided on a retainer that accommodates an airbag and an inflator that are supported by a vehicle body fixing portion and folded inside, and a predetermined clearance is provided along an outer surface of the retainer. In the assembly structure of the airbag module cover, the locking means formed on the retainer is locked and attached to the opening formed in the module support wall of the cover.
The opening has a hexagonal shape with apexes at the upper and lower ends provided on each side of the module support wall, and the opening edge has a sharp shape in which the thickness gradually decreases from the root part to the tip part, and the module support near the edge A protrusion is formed on the outer surface of the wall, the locking means is locked to be movable in the vertical direction, the retainer is supported by the module cover, and the locking means is moved when the locking means moves in the opening. An assembly structure for an airbag module cover, wherein the means contacts the edge or the protrusion, and the edge edge or protrusion edge is deformed.   2. The airbag module cover according to claim 1, wherein an edge of the module cover that defines the opening has a sawtooth shape or a continuous shape of a plurality of independent teeth that makes multiple contact with the locking means. Assembly structure. Wherein a distal end portion of the opening and edges of the module cover partitioning the protrusions, the engagement to stop means and multipoint contact, to claim 2, wherein the forming a sawtooth shape or a plurality of independent teeth of the continuous shape An assembly structure of the described airbag module cover. The width direction end of the locking means contacts a part of the edge of the opening formed in the short side direction of the module cover, and the movement of the module cover in the short side direction with respect to the retainer is restricted. The assembly structure of the airbag module cover according to claim 1 . A part of the locking means comes into contact with a protrusion formed on the outer surface of the module cover in the vicinity of the opening edge lined up along the long side direction of the module cover, and the short side direction of the module cover with respect to the retainer The assembly structure of the airbag module cover according to claim 2 , wherein movement of the airbag module is restricted. The openings arranged along the long side direction of the module cover are provided at different heights, and a width direction end of the locking means is provided at a part of the opening edge of the arrangement. assembled structure of an air bag module cover according to claim 1 or claim 2 parts are in point contact with the tip of the opening edge portion is deformed.

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