JPH08295197A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To prevent the normal expansion of the airbag from being hindered by the return of the module cover, and also to prevent the vent hole of the airbag from being blocked by the module cover. [Constitution] Conditions such as the shape, size and hardness of the module cover 13 and the shape and size of the steering wheel 2 are set so that the module cover 13 is locked to the steering wheel 2 in a state where the module cover 13 is open toward the occupant side. ing. When the vehicle collides and the airbag 21 inflates, the inflating force swings the module cover 13 toward the side opposite to the occupant, sneaks into the back side of the steering wheel 2, and finally escapes to the back side of the steering wheel 2.
After that, the module cover 13 tries to return to the original state by the elastic restoring force, but since the kinetic energy is small, the module cover 13 is locked to the steering wheel 2 in the state of being opened to the occupant side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air bag device suitable for application to an automobile, and more particularly to an air bag device capable of improving the open state of a module cover when the air bag is deployed. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an air bag device has been put into practical use as a cushioning system that supports a seat belt device for safely holding an occupant of a vehicle on a seat. This airbag device receives the occupant's body, particularly the head and chest, with a balloon-shaped inflated airbag at the time of a collision, and then gradually releases the gas inside the airbag to gain a cushioning stroke and to make a human body. The impact force applied to is kept low.

In such an airbag device, a folded airbag and an inflator (gas generator) are housed inside an airbag module fixed to a mounting hub of a steering wheel, for example, to prevent a vehicle collision. The inflator is ignited by an electric signal from a sensor that detects the air, and the air bag is instantly inflated by the gas burned rapidly.

In the airbag device, one side of the module cover that covers the airbag module acts as a hinge to open the module cover, and the inflated airbag pops out from the opening and is greatly expanded above the airbag module. There are types. Further, for example, an H-shaped thin portion is formed on the upper wall (passenger side surface) of the module cover, the thin portion is ruptured by the inflation pressure of the airbag, and the airbag inflated from the opening formed by this is There is a double-opening type that pops out and inflates greatly above the airbag module.

As a single-open type airbag device,
As described below, in order to greatly expand the module cover, the mounting portion of the module cover to the base plate is configured to be detachable, and in the event of a vehicle collision, substantially all of the module cover is fixed to one side portion (fixing portion) to which the base plate is fixed. ), An airbag device provided with a module cover configured to be deployed around, for example,
No. 117 publication.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in this airbag device 100, a module cover 101 is provided.
A synthetic resin material is used as the material of the base plate 1 fixed to the mounting hub of the steering wheel, for example.
It is formed in a box shape which is slightly larger than 02. The module cover 101 has an upper wall portion 122 and side wall portions 103 that respectively hang down from the side edge on the back surface side of the upper wall portion 122 toward the side opposite to the occupant. The side wall portion 103 projects toward the side opposite to the occupant and the base plate 1
A fixing portion 105 fixed to the fixing flange 104 of No. 02 is formed as a part of the side wall, and the fixing portion 105 is rivet-fixed to the fixing flange 104.

Further, a mounting portion 108 to be mounted on the mounting flange 107 of the base plate 102 is rivet-attached to a portion facing the fixed portion 105. Module cover 101 assembled in this way
Inside the air bag 110 and the inflator 111
Is installed. Further, for example, a notch 112 is formed on both sides of the base of the mounting portion 108, and the notch 112 is formed by the inflation pressure of the airbag 110 at the time of a vehicle collision.
Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the fixed portion 105 side opens as a hinge portion in the direction indicated by the arrow X.

[0008]

However, in the case of the single-open type in which the entire module cover 101 is developed as described above, the module cover 101 is provided in the event of a vehicle collision.
After the notch 112 is broken and expanded, it has a characteristic that the elastic restoring force of the module cover itself restores the original shape. In some cases, the module cover 101 that has returned to the middle may come into contact with the root of the airbag 110, and the airbag 110 may adversely affect normal inflation.

Further, the vent hole (not shown) for releasing the gas in the airbag 110 may be blocked by the module cover 101 which has returned to the middle. If the vent hole is blocked, the airbag 110 is delayed from being reduced in size, which may adversely affect the restraint of the occupant. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to prevent the return of the module cover from adversely affecting the inflation performance of the airbag, and to prevent the vent hole of the airbag from being blocked by the module cover. An object of the present invention is to provide an airbag device capable of preventing such a situation.

[0010]

The above object of the present invention is to provide an air bag having a base plate fixed to a mounting means at a predetermined position in a vehicle, and a module cover for covering the inflator and the air bag attached to the base plate. In the device, it can be achieved by an airbag device characterized in that the module cover opened by inflation and deployment of the airbag is locked by a locking means in a specific opened state.

[0011]

In the present invention, since the module cover is locked by the locking means in a specific open state, for example, in an open state so as to face the occupant side, the elasticity of the module cover when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The force prevents the cover from returning in the closing direction, and maintains the state in which the airbag is easily deployed. Therefore, it is guaranteed that the airbag is inflated normally. Further, even if the module cover is located at a position corresponding to the vent hole when the airbag is deployed, the operation of closing the vent hole is completely avoided, so that the airbag can be reduced at a normal timing. Be done.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of an airbag device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a locked state of a module cover of an airbag device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state before deployment of an airbag in the airbag device, and FIGS. It is sectional drawing which shows the expansion process of a module cover. Further, FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an airbag device when the present invention is applied to other than a driver's seat (for example, a passenger seat side), and FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a locked state of a module cover in the passenger seat side airbag device. 8 to 10 are sectional views showing another embodiment of the locking means of the module cover.

Here, for convenience of description, first, the structure of the airbag device will be described with reference to FIG. 2, and then the process of deploying the module cover will be described with reference to FIGS. The locked state of the module cover will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag device 1 according to the present invention is
For example, it is applied to the driver's seat side of a vehicle, and a U-shaped base plate 11 is fixed to a mounting hub (not shown) of the steering wheel 2, for example. A fixed portion 14 of a dome-shaped module cover 13 is rivetly fastened to a fixed flange 12 at one end of the base plate 11. The module cover 13 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin material and is slightly larger than the base plate 11.

The module cover 13 has an upper wall portion 16
And side walls 17 that respectively hang down from the side edge on the back side of the upper wall 16 toward the side opposite to the occupant. The side wall 17 on the left side of the drawing is formed with a fixing portion 14 protruding toward the side opposite to the occupant and fixed to the fixing flange 12 of the base plate 11 as a part of the side wall. 14 is a rivet 1 on the fixed flange 12
It is fastened by 5

A mounting portion 18 is provided at a portion facing the fixing portion 14, and the mounting portion 18 is rivetly attached to the other mounting flange 19 of the base plate 11. The air bag 21 and the inflator 22 are attached to the inside of the module cover 13 assembled in this way. Further, notches 23A are formed on both sides of the base end of the mounting portion 19 of the module cover 13. When the vehicle collides, the module cover 13 is broken from the notch 23A, and the fixed portion 14 side opens as a hinge portion in the direction indicated by the arrow A.

Here, the conditions such as the shape and size of the steering wheel 2, the shape and size of the module cover 13 and the hardness thereof are as described below.
The steering wheel 2 is set so that the steering wheel 3 is opened to the side opposite to the occupant. Next, the operation of the airbag device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIG.

When a vehicle collides, the inflator 22 is ignited by an electric signal or the like from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the collision of the vehicle as shown in FIG. Expands. Then, the notch 23A of the module cover 13 is broken by the inflation pressure of the airbag 21, the module cover 13 is rapidly swung toward the occupant side, and the upper side of the airbag 21 is largely opened. Then, the inflated airbag 21 pops out from the opening and greatly inflates.

On the other hand, the module cover 13 swung out to the occupant side has the steering wheel 2 as shown in FIG.
Of the module cover 1 after abutting on the side facing the occupant
The kinetic energy of 3 itself gradually dives into the side of the steering wheel 2 opposite the occupant. Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the module cover 1
The whole 3 escapes to the occupant side of the steering wheel 2.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the module cover 13 tries to return to the occupant side due to the elastic restoring force.
The steering wheel 2 comes into contact with the surface of the steering wheel 2 on the side opposite to the occupant. The kinetic energy due to the elastic restoring force of the module cover 13 at this time is considerably smaller than the kinetic energy when it is swung to the side opposite to the occupant, and the steering wheel 2
Cannot be exceeded.

Then, the module cover 13 is locked to the steering wheel 2 which is a locking means in a state where it is opened to the side opposite to the occupant. Therefore, the module cover 13 does not hinder the inflation of the airbag 21, and the module cover 13 can be inflated normally. Also,
Even if the module cover 13 and the vent hole 23 of the airbag 21 are in the corresponding position, the vent hole 23 is not blocked by the module cover 13, so that the gas in the airbag 21 is quickly released, The original function of the bag 21 is achieved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the steering wheel 2 is used as the locking means has been described.
As another locking means for the steering wheel 2, for example, an overhanging portion having an appropriate structure may be provided, and the overhanging portion may be locked while the module cover 13 is open to the occupant side. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the airbag device 1 provided on the driver's seat side has been described.
The airbag device 3 may be provided on the passenger side as shown in FIG.

The airbag device 3 is provided with a module cover 33 sandwiched by a notch 31 and a hinge 32 on the front side of the dashboard 4. Module cover 3
3, a locking hole 34 is provided on the upper side, and a locking pin 3 as a locking means with a head is provided below the module cover 33.
5 are provided. Inside the module cover 33, a base plate is attached to an appropriate attachment means of the vehicle, and an air bag 36 and an inflator (not shown) are attached to the base plate.

In the airbag apparatus 3, when the vehicle collides with the airbag 36 as shown in FIG. 7, the notch 31 is broken by the inflation pressure and the module cover 33 is deployed downward from the hinge 32. To do. Then, the locking hole 34 is locked to the locking pin 35 in a state where the module cover 33 is opened approximately 180 degrees to the occupant side and faces the dashboard 4. This is dashboard 4
A large opening is provided in the air bag 36, from which the airbag 36 pops out and inflates.

Also in this airbag device 3, since the module cover 33 is locked by the locking pin 35 in a state where it is opened 180 degrees to the occupant side, inflation of the airbag 36 is not hindered. Therefore, it is possible to reliably achieve the original function of the airbag 36. Further, in the airbag device 5 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, instead of the locking pin 35 described above, for example, a pair of locking portions 38 are provided so as to be positioned on both sides when the module cover 33 is opened. It has been configured. That is, on the outer surface of the dashboard 4, a pair of inverted L-shaped locking portions 38, which are bent so that the front end portions thereof face each other, are provided in a protruding manner, and the distance L between the front end portions of the locking portions 38 is L. ₀ is configured to be slightly smaller than the width L of the module cover 33, and the module cover 33 or the locking portion 38 is appropriately deformed by the opening force of the module cover 33 at the time of airbag deployment, so that the inside of the locking portion 38 is The module cover slips into and is locked.

Further, like the airbag device 6 shown in FIG. 10, a recess 39 having a size that allows the module cover 33 to be inserted thereinto is provided in the dashboard 4, and a locking piece 40 having an appropriate height is provided at the lower end of the recess 39. Alternatively, the module cover 33 may be inserted into the recess 39 with the module cover 33 opened to the side opposite to the occupant by approximately 180 degrees, and may be locked by the locking piece 40. According to the airbag device 6, there is nothing that protrudes from the dashboard 4 to the occupant side, so it is possible to prevent the occupant from feeling a sense of pressure.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the single-open type airbag device has been described.
The present invention is also applicable to a double-opening type airbag device as long as the module cover locking means is provided at an appropriate position in the operation region when the module cover is opened.
It can be applied regardless of the size of the module cover.

[0027]

As described above, in the airbag device of the present invention, the module cover expanded by the inflation of the airbag is locked by the locking means in the state of opening toward the occupant side. It is a thing. Therefore, since the module cover is locked by the locking means in a specific open state, for example, in an open state so as to face the occupant side, the cover is closed by the elastic force of the module cover when the airbag is inflated and deployed. The operation of returning to the direction is prevented, the state in which the airbag is easily deployed is maintained, and it is guaranteed that the airbag is normally inflated. Further, even if the module cover is located at a position corresponding to the vent hole when the airbag is deployed, the operation of closing the vent hole is completely avoided, so that the airbag can be reduced at a normal timing. Therefore, the original function of the airbag can be sufficiently achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a locked state of a module cover of an airbag device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an airbag device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a development process (initial stage) of the module cover.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a development process (a middle stage) of the module cover.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of deploying the module cover (a state immediately before locking).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an airbag device on a passenger seat side.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the locking means.

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing a third embodiment of a locking means.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing an open state of the module cover in the third embodiment of the locking means.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a fourth embodiment of the locking means.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional airbag device.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the conventional airbag device is in the process of being deployed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 3, 5, 6 Airbag device 2 Steering wheel 11 Base plate 13, 33 Module cover 21, 36 Airbag 34 Locking hole 35 Locking pin 38 Locking part 39 Recess 40 Locking piece

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An airbag apparatus comprising a base plate fixed to a mounting means at a predetermined location in a vehicle, and a module cover for covering the inflator and the airbag mounted on the base plate, wherein the airbag is inflated and deployed. An airbag device, wherein the opened module cover is locked by a locking means in a specific opened state.