JP7154689B2 - Airbag lid reinforcing member - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag lid reinforcing member.

A vehicle such as an automobile is equipped with an airbag device as a safety means in an emergency. For example, an airbag device for a passenger's seat includes an airbag module that accommodates a bag-like airbag body that is folded, a lid member, and an airbag lid reinforcing member (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The lid member normally covers the airbag module from above and forms an opening through which the airbag body deployed from the airbag module expands into the vehicle compartment in an emergency. The airbag lid reinforcing member is attached to the back side of the lid member to reinforce the lid member, accommodates at least a portion of the airbag module, and guides the airbag main body deployed from the airbag module to the lid member.

The lid member has a lid portion that is opened by the airbag body and a lid outer peripheral portion that surrounds the outer periphery of the lid portion.

The airbag lid reinforcing member has a door portion, a flange portion, a hinge portion, and a leg portion. The door portion is attached to the rear surface of the lid portion to reinforce the lid portion and can be opened and closed integrally with the lid portion. The flange portion surrounds the outer periphery of the door portion and is attached to the rear surface of the outer peripheral portion of the lid to reinforce the outer peripheral portion of the lid. The hinge part connects the door part to the flange part so that it can be opened and closed. The legs surround the upper portion of the airbag module and are arranged below the flange and the door. The hinge portion is arranged at a position inside the leg portion.

The door portion has a plurality of welding ribs parallel to the hinge portion on the surface side.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-201325

However, in the above-described airbag lid reinforcing member, the rigidity of each portion of the door portion is substantially uniform, which is not optimal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to solve the problems described above.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention
having a door portion that can be opened and closed by at least a hinge portion;
An airbag lid reinforcing member in which the door portion has a plurality of welded ribs parallel to the hinge portion on the surface side,
providing a rib dividing portion that divides the welding rib so that stress concentration occurs at a central portion of the free end of the door portion when the door portion is pressed from the back side ;
The rib dividing portion is formed on the remaining welding rib positioned on the free end side of the door portion, excluding a part of the welding rib positioned on the hinge portion side of the door portion. characterized by

According to the present invention, the rigidity of the door portion can be made non-uniform by the above configuration. Further, the rib dividing portion is formed on the remaining welded rib located on the free end side of the door portion, excluding a part of the welded rib located on the hinge portion side of the door portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rigidity of the hinge portion of the door portion from being lowered unnecessarily.

1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an airbag device having integral hinges according to the present embodiment, viewed from the side; FIG. FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another airbag device having a separate hinge according to the present embodiment, viewed from the side; 1 is a perspective view of an airbag lid reinforcing member according to Example 1. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an airbag lid reinforcing member according to a second embodiment; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an airbag lid reinforcing member according to a third embodiment; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing how to open the lid portion of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 5; FIG. 7 is a plan view (image diagram) showing a pattern of how cleavage spreads in the case of FIG. 6 ; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an airbag lid reinforcing member similar to FIG. 3 according to a comparative example; FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of how to open the lid portion in the case of FIG. 7; FIG. 3 is a plan view (image diagram) showing a pattern of how cleavage spreads.

Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 to 10 are for explaining this embodiment.

<Construction> The construction of this embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows an airbag device. The directions in the figure are the vehicle front-rear direction X, the vehicle width direction Y, and the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG.

A vehicle 1 such as an automobile is provided with an airbag device 3 in a vehicle interior 2 as a safety means in an emergency. For example, an airbag device 3 for a passenger's seat includes an airbag module 5 that accommodates a bag-shaped airbag main body 4 that is folded, a lid member 6 , and an airbag lid reinforcing member 31 .

The lid member 6 normally covers the airbag module 5 from above and forms an opening through which the airbag body 4 deployed from the airbag module 5 expands into the vehicle interior 2 in an emergency. The lid member 6 has a lid portion 21 opened by the airbag body 4 and a lid outer peripheral portion 22 surrounding the outer periphery of the lid portion 21 .

In this embodiment, two lid portions 21 are provided in the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle. The lid portion 21 and the lid peripheral portion 22 are defined by a tear line 23 . The cleaving line 23 is, for example, an incision formed on the back side of the lid member 6 and having a depth that does not reach the surface of the lid member 6 . Some lid members 6 are integrated with the instrument panel 8 and some are separate from the instrument panel 8 .

The airbag lid reinforcing member 31 is attached to the rear surface side of the lid member 6 to reinforce the lid member 6 and accommodates at least a part of the airbag module 5 to support the airbag main body 4 deployed from the airbag module 5. It guides to the lid member 6 .

The airbag lid reinforcing member 31 has a door portion 32 , a flange portion 33 , a leg portion 34 and a hinge portion 35 . Among them, the door portion 32 is attached to the back surface of each lid portion 21 to reinforce each lid portion 21 and is opened and closed integrally with the lid portion 21 .

The flange portion 33 reinforces the lid outer peripheral portion 22 while surrounding the outer periphery of the door portion 32 . The flange portion 33 is attached to the rear surface of the lid outer peripheral portion 22 so as to surround the opening described above. Welding ribs 36 and 37 for welding to the lid member 6 are provided on the surfaces of the door portion 32 and the flange portion 33 .

The leg portion 34 is arranged below the door portion 32 and the flange portion 33 while surrounding the upper portion of the airbag module 5 . The upper portion of the airbag module 5 is inserted into the leg portion 34 from below, and the leg portion 34 serves as a guide for guiding the deployed airbag body 4 toward the door portion 32 and the lid portion 21. functions as a department. For this reason, the leg portion 34 has a substantially frame-like shape surrounding the outer side of the door portion 32 and the position on the outer peripheral side of the door portion 32 and extending in the bulging direction into the vehicle interior 2 .

Hook portions 42 are provided on the front and rear side surfaces of the upper portion of the airbag module 5 , and locking holes 43 are formed in the leg portions 34 so that the hook portions 42 can be loosely fitted. The lower portion of the airbag module 5 is fixed to a vehicle body strength member 44 such as a steering support member provided on the vehicle body using brackets 45 and 46 .

The hinge portion 35 connects the door portion 32 to the flange portion 33 so as to be openable and closable. The hinge portion 35 has an extra length portion 52 that detours downward. The surplus portion 52 is substantially U-shaped or substantially V-shaped when viewed from the side. The hinge portion 35 is installed at a position inside the leg portion 34 . The hinge portion 35 includes a hinge member 54 formed by a separate member (separate hinge). A flexible resin net or film, or a metal plate such as an iron plate can be used for the hinge member 54 . The hinge member 54 is embedded in the airbag lid reinforcing member 31 by insert molding. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the hinge portion 35 may be formed integrally with the door portion 32 or the flange portion 33 .

In contrast to the basic configuration as described above, this embodiment has the following configuration.
The airbag lid reinforcing member 31 of this embodiment has at least a door portion 32 that can be opened and closed by means of a hinge portion 35, and the door portion 32 extends on the surface side of the hinge portion 35 (in the direction in which the hinge portion 35 extends, for example, in the vehicle width direction). Y) and a plurality of welding ribs 36 parallel to each other.

(1) As shown in each embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the welding ribs 36 are arranged so that stress concentration occurs in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32 when the door portion 32 is pressed from the rear side. A rib dividing portion 62 for dividing is provided.

Here, the door portion 32 is pressed from the rear side by the airbag body 4 . The free end 61 is the end of the door portion 32 opposite to the hinge portion 35 . As the door portion 32 rotates around the hinge portion 35 , the end opposite to the hinge portion 35 becomes a free end 61 . The center portion 61a of the free end 61 is the center position of the door portion 32 in the width direction (approximately in the vehicle width direction Y).

The rib dividing portion 62 divides, for example, one continuous long welding rib 36 into a plurality of short discontinuous welding ribs 36 . The rib dividing portion 62 can be provided for one or more welding ribs 36 provided on the door portion 32 . By providing the rib dividing portion 62, the rigidity of the door portion 32 can be partially weakened. The rib dividing portion 62 may divide the welding rib 36 in any manner as long as stress concentration is generated in the central portion 61 a of the free end 61 . For example, the rib dividing portion 62 may divide the plurality of welded ribs 36 provided on the door portion 32 so as to be left-right symmetrical with respect to the vehicle width direction Y, or left-right asymmetrically. You can divide. Preferably, the rib dividing portion 62 is as follows.

(2) The rib dividing portion 62 is located on the side of the free end 61 of the door portion 32, excluding a portion of the welding rib 36 (hinge-side welding rib 63, FIG. 4) located on the hinge portion 35 side of the door portion 32. It may be formed for the remaining welding ribs 36 (free end side welding ribs 64) located.

Here, the part of the welding ribs 36 on the side of the hinge portion 35 (hinge side welding ribs 63) that do not form the rib dividing portion 62 is for ensuring the minimum necessary rigidity of the door portion 32 on the side of the hinge portion 35. , and if the rigidity of the hinge portion 35 side of the door portion 32 can be effectively ensured, about one or two pieces will suffice.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the hinge-side welding rib 63 may also be provided with a rib dividing portion 62 as long as the minimum required rigidity is ensured. 3 and 5, however, a hinge-side welding rib 63 in which the rib dividing portion 62 is not formed may be provided.

(3) The rib dividing portion 62 may be formed in a radial shape extending radially from the hinge portion 35 side toward the free end 61 side so as to straddle the plurality of parallel welding ribs 36 (radial shape dividing portion 65).

Here, to spread radially means to spread with one point as the center O1, O2. In this case, the spread is preferably linear. In this embodiment, each door portion 32 has a rib dividing portion 62 having different centers O1 and O2. Moreover, it is preferable that the rib dividing portion 62 is provided symmetrically with respect to the width center line of the door portion 32 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, only one radial center O1, O2 may be set for each door portion 32, or a plurality of points may be set for each door portion 32 as shown in FIG. You can set points. It is preferable that the radial centers O1 and O2 converge exactly at one point. However, even if the points do not exactly converge at one point, a slight deviation is permissible.

(4) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radial centers O1 and O2 of the rib dividing portion 62 may be positioned outside the end of the door portion 32 on the hinge portion 35 side.

Here, the radial centers O<b>1 and O<b>2 may be positioned inside the flange portion 33 or may be positioned outside the flange portion 33 . In this embodiment, it is positioned inside the flange portion 33 .

Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, the radial centers O1 and O2 may be provided at the end of the door portion 32 on the hinge portion 35 side or at the hinge portion 35 . Structurally, the radial centers O<b>1 and O<b>2 can also be provided at positions inside the door portion 32 .

(5) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rib dividing portion 62 may expand radially beyond the width of the free end 61 of the door portion 32 . When the rib dividing portion 62 is expanded beyond the width dimension of the free end 61 of the door portion 32 , part of the rib dividing portion 62 extends toward the side portion of the door portion 32 .

In this embodiment, a rib dividing portion 62 is provided that extends toward the substantially central portion (in the vehicle front-rear direction X) of the side portion of the door portion 32 or its periphery. As a result, at the corner portion of the door portion 32 on the side of the hinge portion 35, a substantially triangular small portion (small partition portion 66) having a smaller amount of deformation than other portions is formed, as indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. be done.

5, the rib dividing portion 62 may be radially expanded within the range of the width dimension of the free end 61 of the door portion 32. As shown in FIG.

(6) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radial rib dividing portion 62 may include a plurality of linear or oblique cut lines 67 .

Here, the cutting line 67 is the linear rib dividing portion 62 . The number and angle of the resection lines 67 are optimally set according to the condition of the door portion 32 .

In the case where there are a plurality of door portions 32, the resection lines 67 are formed in the same number (five in the figure) and at the same angle for the door portions 32 on both sides, as shown in FIG. Also good. By forming the resection lines 67 in the same number and angle in the door portions 32 on both sides, the door portions 32 on both sides are substantially symmetrically deformed.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the door portions 32 on both sides may have different numbers and angles. By forming the resection lines 67 with different numbers (in the figure, seven lines on one side and three lines on the other side) and angles for the door sections 32 on both sides, the door sections 32 on both sides are deformed asymmetrically. will be

Note that the number of resection lines 67 is not limited to the above. By increasing the number of cutting lines 67, the rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 can be finely changed, and the door portion 32 can be deformed into a complicated shape. By reducing the number of cutting lines 67, the rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 does not become too weak, and the door portion 32 can be deformed more greatly. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cutting line 67 may include a cutting line 67 along the center line of the width of the door portion 32 toward the central portion 61 a of the free end 61 . As a result, the number of resection lines 67 is an odd number, and the door portion 32 can be deformed so that both sides of the width center line bulge in a symmetrical shape. Then, it becomes possible to deform the central portion 61a of the free end 61 to a greater extent.

Also, the cutting line 67 may be formed to have a plurality of centers O1 and O2 as in FIG.

(7) The radial rib dividing portion 62 may include a triangular cut surface 68 in plan view.

Here, the triangular cut surface 68 is the planar rib dividing portion 62 . The number of triangular cut surfaces 68, the angle of opening, and the direction of installation are optimally set according to the situation of the door section 32. FIG.

When there are a plurality of door portions 32, the triangular cut surfaces 68 are formed in the same number, the same opening angle, and the same installation direction for the door portions 32 on both sides, as shown in FIG. Also good. By forming the triangular cut surfaces 68 with the same number and the same opening angle in the door portions 32 on both sides, the door portions 32 on both sides are deformed substantially symmetrically.

Although not particularly shown, the door portions 32 on both sides may be formed in different numbers, different opening angles, and different installation directions. By forming the triangular cut surfaces 68 with different numbers and angles in the door portions 32 on both sides, the door portions 32 on both sides are deformed asymmetrically.

Note that the triangular cut surface 68 may be formed so as to have one center O1, O2 as in FIGS. Also, the triangular cut surface 68 may be provided in combination with the cut line 67 . And each above-described structure can be combined suitably.

<Action> The action of this embodiment will be described below.

In the airbag device 3, in an emergency, a bag-like airbag main body 4 folded and housed in an airbag module 5 is deployed, and by pressing an airbag lid member (lid member 6), the tear line 23 is cleaved and the airbag is opened. The body of the occupant correctly seated on the seat is protected and restrained by forming an opening in the grid member by tearing the tear line 23 and protruding into the vehicle interior 2. - 特許庁

<Effects> According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

(Effect 1) The rib dividing portion 62 is provided on the welding rib 36 of the door portion 32 . Thereby, the rigidity of each part of the door part 32 can be made non-uniform. Therefore, by providing the rib dividing portion 62, the rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 can be optimally reduced so that stress concentration is efficiently generated in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32.

Therefore, when the door portion 32 is pushed from below, the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32 rises first, as shown in FIG. Cleavage can be stably performed from the central portion of the main cleaving line portion 24 .

For this reason, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, when the welded rib 36 of the door portion 32 is not provided with the rib dividing portion 62, the rigidity of the entire door portion 32 is substantially uniform, so that the door portion 32 can be opened from below. When pushed, the door portion 32 itself is in a state where it is difficult to deform, so that the entire door portion 32 rises parallel to the lid portion 21 as shown in FIG. 23 may be cleaved at once, and then the main cleavage line 24 at the central portion may be cleaved.

It should be noted that the rigidity of the door portion 32 must be higher when the hinge portion 35 is composed of the hinge member 54, which is a separate member, than when the hinge portion 53 is an integral hinge. , when a separate hinge member 54 is provided.

(Effect 2) The rib dividing portion 62 may not be provided for a portion of the welding rib 36 positioned on the hinge portion 35 side of the door portion 32 . As a result, the rigidity of the door portion 32 on the side of the hinge portion 35 can be prevented from being unnecessarily lowered. Therefore, the rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 is optimally reduced so that stress concentration is efficiently generated in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32 while ensuring the rigidity of the hinge portion 35 side of the door portion 32. It becomes possible to let Therefore, the hinge portion 35 can be protected, and the peeling of the welding rib 36 on the hinge portion 35 side of the door portion 32 can be prevented.

(Effect 3) The rib dividing portion 62 may have a radial shape extending radially from the hinge portion 35 side toward the free end 61 side so as to straddle between the plurality of parallel welding ribs 36 . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6, the door portion 32 can be divided into a plurality of portions having different deformation amounts and deformation timings. Therefore, a structure can be realized in which the rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 is reduced so that stress concentration is efficiently generated in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32. FIG.

At this time, by making the rib dividing portion 62 radially expanding from the side of the hinge portion 35 toward the side of the free end 61, as shown in the image diagram of FIG. A stress concentration can be produced along (arc of) a circle with . Therefore, when the door portion 32 and the lid portion 21 are opened, the free end 61 of the door portion 32 is arcuately deformed in the out-of-plane direction. The deformation of the door portion 32 actively spreads from the central portion 61a to both ends.

On the other hand, even if stress concentration occurs in the center portion 61a on the free end 61 side of the door portion 32, for example, as shown in FIG. If there is, the cleavage will be stagnant at the central portion 61a, and there is a risk that it will be difficult to spread to both ends.

Therefore, the rib dividing portion 62 of this embodiment is advantageous and efficient in spreading the cleavage from the central portion 61a toward both ends.

(Effect 4) As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the radial centers O1 and O2 of the rib dividing portion 62 may be positioned outside the end portion of the door portion 32 on the hinge portion 35 side. Thus, the radial rib dividing portion 62 can divide the door portion 32 into a plurality of substantially fan-shaped portions having an appropriate center angle that is neither too large nor too small. Therefore, the door portion 32 can be deformed in an optimum state for tearing the main tear line portion 24 . This shape is suitable for providing each door portion 32 with one center O1, O2.

Further, when a plurality of centers O1 and O2 are provided for each door portion 32, the radial centers O1 and O2 may be provided at the end of the door portion 32 on the side of the hinge portion 35 or at the position of the hinge portion 35. Similar to the above, it can be divided into a plurality of generally sector-shaped portions with moderate central angles.

(Effect 5) A part of the rib dividing portion 62 may extend toward the side portion of the door portion 32 . As a result, it is possible to form a portion (small partition portion 66) smaller than other portions, as indicated by diagonal lines, at the corner portion of the door portion 32 on the hinge portion 35 side. Since this portion is less deformed than the other portions divided by the rib dividing portion 62 when opened, it is possible to effectively prevent peeling of the welding rib 36 from the lid portion 21 at the corner portion (corner part to prevent peeling).

(Effect 6) The rib dividing portion 62 may include a plurality of linear or oblique cutting lines 67 . As a result, stress concentration is effectively generated in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32, and furthermore, the stress concentrated portion is efficiently distributed from the central portion 61a to both ends of the free end 61 of the door portion 32. The rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 can be reduced so that the door portion 32 can be easily expanded.

(Effect 7) The rib dividing portion 62 may include a cut surface 68 having a triangular radial shape in plan view. As a result, stress concentration is effectively generated in the central portion 61a of the free end 61 of the door portion 32, and furthermore, the stress concentrated portion is efficiently distributed from the central portion 61a to both ends of the free end 61 of the door portion 32. The rigidity of each portion of the door portion 32 can be reduced so that the door portion 32 can be easily expanded.

31 airbag lid reinforcing member 32 door portion 35 hinge portion 36 welding rib 61 free end 61a center portion 62 rib dividing portion 63 hinge side welding rib 64 free end side welding rib 65 radial shape dividing portion 67 cutting line 68 cutting surface

Claims (6)

having a door portion that can be opened and closed by at least a hinge portion;
An airbag lid reinforcing member in which the door portion has a plurality of welded ribs parallel to the hinge portion on the surface side,
providing a rib dividing portion that divides the welding rib so that stress concentration occurs at a central portion of the free end of the door portion when the door portion is pressed from the back side ;
The rib dividing portion is formed on the remaining welding rib positioned on the free end side of the door portion, excluding a part of the welding rib positioned on the hinge portion side of the door portion. An airbag lid reinforcing member, characterized by: having a door portion that can be opened and closed by at least a hinge portion;
An airbag lid reinforcing member in which the door portion has a plurality of welded ribs parallel to the hinge portion on the surface side,
providing a rib dividing portion that divides the welding rib so that stress concentration occurs at a central portion of the free end of the door portion when the door portion is pressed from the back side ;
An airbag lid reinforcing member, wherein the rib dividing portion has a radial shape including a triangular cut surface in plan view. In the airbag lid reinforcing member according to claim 1 or claim 2,
An airbag lid reinforcing member, wherein the rib dividing portion is formed in a radial shape extending radially from the hinge portion side toward the free end side so as to straddle the plurality of parallel welded ribs. The airbag lid reinforcing member according to claim 3,
The airbag lid reinforcing member, wherein the center of the radial shape of the rib dividing portion is outside the end portion of the door portion on the hinge portion side. The airbag lid reinforcing member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
An airbag lid reinforcing member, wherein a part of the rib dividing portion extends toward the side portion of the door portion. In the airbag lid reinforcing member according to any one of claims 1 and 3 to 5,
The airbag lid reinforcing member, wherein the radial rib dividing portion includes a plurality of linear or oblique cutting lines.

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