Airbag mounting structure

Abstract

An airbag mounting structure has a door portion (40) and an opening portion (20a), and has a mounting portion (20), a hinge portion (30), and a shield (60), the door portion (40) has a through-hole (45) that penetrates from the inner side to the outer side of the door portion (40) at an acute angle from the hinge portion (30) side to the side of one end portion (41) of the door portion (40), the shield (60) has a protrusion (62) that is inserted into the through-hole (45) at the front end portion (61) thereof, a gap is formed between the back surface of the instrument panel (2) and the protrusion (62) with the protrusion (62) inserted into the through-hole (45) in the state of the shield (60), and a gap is formed between the portion of the front end portion (61) of the shield (60) in which the protrusion (62) is not formed and the inner side of the door portion (40).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an air bag mounting structure. BACKGROUND

[0002] A vehicle safety device is disclosed in US9156428B2, which has a door portion connected with a support frame by a hinge, and a deflector (flap) provided between the door portion and an air bag to protect the hinge when the air bag is deployed. In this vehicle safety device, if an inflator of the air bag operates, a fracture line formed in an instrument panel is broken by pressure generated by expansion of the air bag in a space below the door portion, and the door portion is rotated outwardly about the hinge. Thereby, the air bag is inflated toward an occupant. SUMMARY

[0003] In the vehicle safety device of Patent Literature 1, the flap is positioned by engaging a rib provided at an end portion of the flap with a groove provided at a back side of the door portion. In such a configuration, for example, due to a manufacturing error, sometimes the rib is engaged with the groove in a state where the flap is formed larger than a designed size. In this case, the flap exerts a force in a direction to push the door portion upward, and thus there is a concern that a profile of the fracture line appears on a surface of the instrument panel located outward of the door portion.

[0004] The present application has been achieved in view of the above-described problems, and provides an air bag mounting structure which suppresses generation of a force like a flap pushing a door portion upward, so that a fracture line does not appear on a surface of an instrument panel.

[0005] One embodiment of the present application is an air bag mounting structure which mounts an air bag to an instrument panel, including: a door portion which is welded to a back surface of the instrument panel in a manner that at least one end portion is disposed along a fracture line of the instrument panel, and which is opened by deployment of the air bag; a mounting portion which has an opening portion that becomes an opened state when the door portion is opened by deployment of the air bag, and which is used to mount an air bag case that houses the air bag; a hinge portion which is connected with the mounting portion and rotatably holds the door portion; and a flap which is interposed between the air bag and the hinge portion, and which is rotated together with the door portion by a force of the air bag at the time of deployment of the air bag, the door portion has a through-hole which penetrates from an inner side of the door portion to an outer side with an acute angle from a side of the hinge portion of the door portion toward the one end portion side, the flap has a protrusion at a front end portion thereof which is inserted into the through-hole, a gap is formed between the back surface of the instrument panel and the protrusion in a state where the protrusion is inserted into the through-hole, and a gap is formed between a portion of the front end portion of the flap where the protrusion is not formed and the inner side of the door portion.

[0006] In the above-described manner, the protrusion is provided at the front end of the baffle, and the protrusion is inserted in the through-hole that penetrates at an acute angle, and a gap is formed between the protrusion and the instrument panel, and a gap is formed between the portion of the baffle other than the protrusion and the door portion. With this configuration, the protrusion of the baffle can be moved freely with respect to the door portion in the direction of the acute angle with respect to the through-hole, and even if the baffle is formed to be larger than the design size due to manufacturing errors and the like, a force that presses the door portion outward will not be generated. Therefore, the door portion is not pressed by the baffle, and the appearance of a crack line on the instrument panel is prevented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel of an airbag mounting structure to which an embodiment of the present application is applied.

[0008] Figure 2 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0009] Figure 3 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel. Figure 2 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0010] Figure 4 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel. Figure 2 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0011] Figure 5 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0012] Figure 6 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel. Figure 5 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0013] Figure 7 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0014] Figure 8 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0015] Figure 9 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0016] Figure 10 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0017] Figure 11 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0018] Figure 12 is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel. is a view of the airbag mounting structure as viewed from the back of the instrument panel.

[0019] Figure 13 is a sectional view showing the state of the airbag in the course of deployment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an airbag mounting structure 10 relating to an embodiment of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] First, an instrument panel 2 of a vehicle 1 to which the airbag mounting structure 10 is applied will be described with reference to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 . Figure 1 is a perspective view of the instrument panel 2. Figure 2 is a view of the airbag mounting structure 10 in Figure 1 from the back surface of the instrument panel 2. Figure 3 is a view of a section corresponding to Figure 2 III-III, and is a sectional view for describing the airbag mounting structure 10.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1 , the instrument panel 2 is provided at a front portion in a passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 has an airbag device 3.

[0023] The airbag device 3 is a safety device for protecting an occupant at the time of emergency such as a collision of the vehicle 1. The airbag device 3 is provided at a portion of the instrument panel 2 on the side of a passenger seat to protect a passenger seat occupant. The airbag device 3 has an airbag module 4 (refer to Figure 3 ) and the airbag mounting structure 10.

[0024] The airbag device 3 is of a type such as a driver's seat airbag, a passenger seat airbag, a side airbag, a curtain airbag, and the like. In the present embodiment, the airbag device 3 is a passenger seat airbag.

[0025] As shown in Figure 3 , the airbag module 4 has an airbag 4a, an airbag case 4b, a plurality of hooks 4c, and an inflator 4d.

[0026] The airbag 4a is formed in a bag shape, and is housed in the airbag case 4b after being folded. The airbag 4a is deployed and inflated at the time of emergency. The plurality of hooks 4c fix the airbag case 4b to the instrument panel 2. The inflator 4d generates gas for deploying and inflating the airbag 4a.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1 , the airbag mounting structure 10 is provided at the back surface of the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 2. The airbag mounting structure 10 is of a type including an integrated type provided integrally with the instrument panel 2 and a separate type provided separately from the instrument panel 2 to be mounted to the instrument panel 2. In the present embodiment, the airbag mounting structure 10 is of the integrated type, and constitutes a portion of the instrument panel 2.

[0028] The instrument panel 2 normally shields the airbag module 4 from the surface. The instrument panel 2 has a split line 6 on the back surface thereof. The instrument panel 2 is split from the split line 6 by the pressing force of the airbag 4a that is deployed and inflated at the time of emergency, and forms an opening portion that bulges the airbag 4a into the passenger compartment.

[0029] The split line 6 is a groove shape formed in a concave manner from the back surface of the instrument panel 2 and does not reach the surface of the instrument panel 2. The split line 6 is provided in a substantially H shape having a lateral split line portion 6a extending in the substantially vehicle width direction and left and right longitudinal split line portions 6b extending in the substantially vehicle front-rear direction from both end portions of the lateral split line portion 6a. In the present embodiment, the split line 6 further has a pair of lateral split line portions 6c respectively linking between both end portions of the longitudinal split line portions 6b. In the instrument panel 2, a pair of opening and closing portions 7 capable of forming the opening portion are formed by the split line 6. Further, in the substantially H-shaped split line 6, the lateral split line portion 6a is the position that should split first. These split lines 6 are formed only on the back surface side of the instrument panel 2, and are not observed from the surface side.

[0030] Next, referring to Figures 4 to 6 The airbag mounting structure 10 will be described. Figure 4 is Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the instrument panel 2 in the IV-IV cross section. Figure 5 is a perspective view from the back surface for describing the airbag mounting structure 10. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the state in which the guide portion 50 and the baffle 60 are detached from the airbag mounting structure 10 of Figure 5 .

[0031] As shown in Figure 3 , the airbag mounting structure 10 is for mounting the airbag 4a to the instrument panel 2. The airbag mounting structure 10 has a mounting portion 20, a pair of hinge portions 30, a pair of door portions 40, a guide portion 50, and a baffle 60.

[0032] The mounting portion 20 is molded from a resin material. The mounting portion 20 has an opening portion 20a in which the door portion 40 is opened to become an open state if the airbag 4a is deployed. The airbag housing 4b that accommodates the airbag 4a is mounted to the mounting portion 20 by the hook 4c. The mounting portion 20 has a body portion 21, a flange portion 22, a mounting hole 23, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 (refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 ).

[0033] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the body portion 21 is formed in a substantially rectangular cylindrical shape. As shown in Figure 3 , the opening portion 20a is formed at one end portion 21a of the body portion 21. The airbag module 4 is mounted to the other end portion 21b of the body portion 21.

[0034] A flange portion 22 is formed along the entire outer periphery of the one end portion 21a of the body portion 21. As shown in Figure 3 The flange portion 22 is installed so as to abut against the back surface of the instrument panel 2. The flange portion 22 is welded to the back surface of the instrument panel 2 to reinforce the instrument panel 2.

[0035] The mounting hole 23 penetrates the body portion 21 in the thickness direction. The hook 4c of the airbag module 4 is engaged with the mounting hole 23 so as to protrude from the inside to the outside of the body portion 21. Thus, the airbag module 4 is mounted to the mounting portion 20.

[0036] As shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 A plurality of reinforcing ribs 24 are provided at intervals from each other on the outer periphery of the flange portion 22. The reinforcing ribs 24 reinforce the body portion 21 and the flange portion 22 by linking them.

[0037] As shown in Figure 3 A pair of hinge portions 30 is provided so as to rotatably hold the respective door portions 40. The hinge portions 30 are formed integrally with the door portions 40 and the mounting portion 20. The hinge portions 30 protrude toward the inside of the opening portion 20a so as to have substantially U-shaped cross sections. When the airbag 4a is deployed and the door portions 40 are opened, the substantially U-shaped cross section portions rotate while being elongated from the opening portion 20a toward the outside, starting from the connection portions with the mounting portion 20.

[0038] Further, the space surrounded by the door portions 40, the airbag 4a, and the mounting portion 20 hereafter will be referred to as the "deployment passage 8".

[0039] The airbag 4a provided in the deployment passage 8 is obliquely mounted to the mounting portion 20 so as to be farther from the other hinge portion 30 than from the one hinge portion 30. That is, the airbag 4a is mounted to the mounting portion 20 in a state in which the direction of deployment is inclined with respect to the door portions 40, rather than being perpendicular.

[0040] The door portions 40 are formed integrally with the mounting portion 20 and the hinge portions 30. The door portions 40 are provided so that the one end portions 41 are arranged along the lateral cracking line portions 6a of the instrument panel 2. That is, the door portions 40 are provided so that at least the one end portions 41 are arranged along the cracking lines 6 of the instrument panel 2. The door portions 40 are provided so that the side end portions of the two ends of the one end portions 41 are arranged along the longitudinal cracking line portions 6b of the instrument panel 2. The door portions 40 are installed so as to abut against the back surface of the instrument panel 2. More specifically, a plurality of vibration welding ribs 40b are formed on the outside of the door portions 40 so as to stand outwardly, and the front end portions of the vibration welding ribs 40b and the back surface of the instrument panel 2 are joined by vibration welding.

[0041] The door portion 40 is provided with a pair of free ends, i.e., one end portion 41, on the inner side of the transverse cracking line portion 6a in an opposite manner. The door portion 40 is opened in a manner that the one end portion 41 is pivoted about the hinge portion 30 by the deployment of the air bag 4a. The door portion 40 is formed with a plurality of through holes 45 that are engaged with the protrusions 62 formed on the front end of the shield 60.

[0042] As shown in Figure 6 , three through holes 45 are formed in the axial direction of the rotation axis of the hinge portion 30 (also referred to as the extending direction in which the hinge portion 30 extends, which is the width direction of the vehicle 1 in the state in which the air bag 4a is mounted on the front of the passenger seat of the vehicle 1). As shown in Figure 3 , in the state in which the air bag 4a is housed, i.e., before the deployment of the air bag 4a, the protrusions 62 formed on the front end portion 61 of the shield 60 are inserted in the through holes 45.

[0043] The guide portion 50 is provided so as to protrude from the body portion 21 of the mounting portion 20 toward the deployment passage 8. The guide portion 50 reduces the volume of the deployment passage 8 and guides the deployment of the air bag 4a. The guide portion 50 is formed of a resin material.

[0044] Further, the rigidity of the guide portion 50 is formed to be higher than that of the shield 60. Here, the rigidity refers to the degree of difficulty in deformation (the degree to which deformation is small) when the air bag 4a is deployed and expanded and the pressure in the deployment passage 8 rises. That is, the guide portion 50 is formed so as to be more difficult to deform (deformation is smaller) than the shield 60 in the state in which the internal pressure of the air bag 4a rises in the deployment passage 8 and when the air bag 4a comes into contact with the guide portion 50 and the shield 60. More specifically, the guide portion 50 has a reinforcing rib 56 (refer to Figure 7 ) on the back surface thereof that does not face the deployment passage 8. Thus, the guide portion 50 is configured to have higher rigidity than the shield 60.

[0045] The shield 60 is connected to the connection portion 54 of the guide portion 50 and extends toward the door portion 40. The shield 60 is provided so as to extend linearly from the connection portion 54 of the guide portion 50 to the deployment passage 8 and between the air bag 4a and the hinge portion 30. The shield 60 is provided with three protrusions 62 (refer to Figure 7 ) on the front end portion 61 thereof on the door portion 40 side so as to extend linearly in the extending direction of the shield 60.

[0046] The shield 60 is deflected by the air bag 4a when the air bag 4a is deployed and is pivoted about the connection portion 54 together with the door portion 40 when the air bag 4a is deployed. By providing the shield 60 between the air bag 4a and the hinge portion 30, the pressure generated by the expansion of the air bag 4a is concentrated between the pair of door portions 40 (the transverse cracking line portion 6a) when the air bag 4a is deployed, and, in addition, the hinge portion 30 can be prevented from being damaged by preventing the air bag 4a from directly contacting the rotation axis of the hinge portion 30.

[0047] Further, the baffle 60 is formed integrally with the guide portion 50. Alternatively, the guide portion 50 and the baffle 60 can be formed separately and assembled. In this case, the guide portion 50 and the baffle 60 can be formed of different materials or made to have different thicknesses so that the rigidity of the guide portion 50 is higher than that of the baffle 60.

[0048] Next, the connection structure of the door portion 40 and the baffle 60 will be described with reference to Figure 7 and Figure 8

[0049] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the guide portion 50 and the baffle 60 as viewed from the side where the guide portion 50 is connected to the body portion 21. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the guide portion 50 and the baffle 60 as viewed from the side of the expansion passage 8.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7 , the baffle 60 is provided extending from the connection portion 54 in a flat and straight manner. Three protrusions 62 are provided further protruding from the front end portion 61 in the direction of extension of the baffle 60. Further, the guide portion 50 has lattice-shaped reinforcing ribs 56 on the back surface thereof which does not face the expansion passage 8.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3 , the door portion 40 has a through-hole 45 formed obliquely from the hinge portion 30 side to the end portion 41 side thereof from the inside to the outside of the door portion 40. The oblique direction of the through-hole 45 is set to be substantially the same as the direction of extension of the protrusions 62 in the baffle 60 which extends from the guide portion 50 in the state where the guide portion 50 is attached to the body portion 21. That is, the through-hole 45 is formed at an acute angle of 90 degrees or less with respect to the back surface of the door portion 40.

[0052] With this configuration, the protrusions 62 protruding from the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 are respectively inserted into the through-holes 45 formed in the door portion 40 in the state where the guide portion 50 is fixed to the body portion 21.

[0053] Here, the protrusions 62 are arranged so that the front ends thereof (the end portions on the side farthest from the front end portion 61) are positioned so as not to reach the surface side of the through-holes 45 formed in the door portion 40, that is, so as not to reach the back surface of the instrument panel 2. Further, as shown in Figure 4 , the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 other than the protrusions 62 does not reach the back surface of the door portion 40. That is, a gap is formed between the front end of the protrusions 62 and the back surface of the instrument panel 2, and a gap is formed between the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 other than the protrusions 62 and the back surface of the door portion 40.

[0054] ​Therefore, in the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60, only the protrusion 62 is in contact with the through-hole 45 of the door portion 40, and the other portions of the front end portion 61 are not in contact with the door portion 40.

[0055] With such a configuration, the baffle 60 is held to the door portion 40 by the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 being inserted into the through-hole 45 in the extending direction of the baffle 60.

[0056] Here, in the related art, as a method of fixing the baffle 60 to the door portion 40, the position of the baffle 60 is determined by the rib provided to the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 being engaged with the groove provided to the back side of the door portion 40. In such a configuration, for example, due to a manufacturing error, sometimes the rib is engaged with the groove in a state where the baffle 60 is formed larger than the design size. In this case, the baffle 60 exerts a force in a direction of pushing the door portion 40 upward, and the door portion 40 pushes the instrument panel 2 fixed to the outer side thereof upward, and thus there is a concern that a crack line 6 profile appears on the surface of the instrument panel 2.

[0057] To address this, the baffle 60 of the present application is configured such that the protrusion 62 protruding from the front end portion 61 is inserted into the through-hole 45 in the extending direction of the baffle 60 and is freely movable with respect to the door portion 40 in the direction of insertion. Thus, even if the positional relationship of the baffle 60 and the door portion 40 changes, the baffle 60 is freely movable with respect to the door portion 40 in the extending direction of the baffle 60, and thus the force in the direction of pushing the door portion 40 upward can be suppressed. Further, since the back surface of the door portion 40 and the instrument panel 2 are fixed by the vibration welding rib 40b, the gap between the back surface of the instrument panel 2 and the protrusion 62 can be ensured to a large extent corresponding to the height of the vibration welding rib 40b, and the front end of the protrusion 62 can be prevented from interfering with the back surface of the instrument panel 2.

[0058] Next, the configuration of the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11 The configuration of the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 will be described.

[0059] Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the surface of the protrusion 62 (the surface of the baffle 60 on the side opposite to the deployment passage 8), Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the back surface of the protrusion 62 (the surface of the baffle 60 on the side of the deployment passage 8, i.e., the surface facing the airbag 4a). Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the door portion 40 in a state where the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 is fitted into the through-hole 45.

[0060] As Figure 9 and Figure 10As shown, the protrusion 62 protrudes in a rectangular shape from the front end 61 of the baffle 60. The protrusion 62 has ribs that expand in the thickness direction on its surface and back side. Two ribs 62a and 62b are formed on the surface of the protrusion 62, and two ribs 62c and 62d are formed on the back side of the protrusion 62. In addition to the two ribs 62c and 62d that serve as the first ribs, a second rib 62e that expands in the thickness direction towards the back side on the outer periphery of the protrusion 62 is also formed on the back side of the protrusion 62.

[0061] The protrusion 62 expands in the thickness direction via surface ribs 62a and 62b and back ribs 62c, 62d, and 62e. The surface ribs 62a and 62b and the back ribs 62c and 62d of the protrusion 62 contact the inside of the through-hole 45 near the center in the width direction, and the rib 62e contacts the inside of the through-hole 45 near its end in the width direction. The protrusion 62, by virtue of these ribs, fits more tightly into the width direction of the through-hole 45 of the door portion 40 (from the back of the door portion 40 to the surface). With this configuration, the gap between the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 can be filled, preventing abnormal noises caused by vibrations from the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45, even when the vehicle 1 vibrates during operation. As described below, the height of these ribs in the thickness direction is formed at a height at which the protrusion 62 can easily detach from the through hole 45 of the door 40 when the airbag 4a is deployed and the door 40 is opened.

[0062] In addition, it can be configured such that instead of forming a rib on the protrusion 62, a rib is formed on the inside of the through hole 45 and is vertically arranged towards the protrusion 62 and contacts the protrusion 62. Alternatively, a rib can be formed on both the protrusion 62 and the through hole 45 in such a way that it contacts the other.

[0063] In addition, such as Figure 11 As shown, the through hole 45 of the door portion 40 has a thin-walled portion 45a on the side opposite to its rear side (the side of the unfolding channel 8), which is thin-walled in the thickness direction of the door portion 40. The thickness B of the thin-walled portion 45a is formed to be thinner than the thickness A of other parts of the door portion 40. Through the thin-walled portion 45a, the opening area of ​​the through hole 45 gradually decreases in a stepped manner from the inside of the door portion 40 to the outside. In this way, the shape of the opening area of ​​the through hole 45 increasing on the inside of the door portion 40 makes it easier to insert the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 into the through hole 45 of the door portion 40, thereby improving workability. Furthermore, when the airbag 4a unfolds and the door portion 40 opens, the protrusion 62 can easily disengage from the through hole 45 of the door portion 40.

[0064] Furthermore, the baffle 60 and the guide portion 50 are formed from resin material through injection molding. The baffle 60, due to this forming process, has a parting line 60L. Figure 9As shown, the parting line 60L is formed in one portion of the thickness direction of the baffle 60 in a direction surrounding the baffle 60. In the parting line 60L, a so-called burr in which a resin material is provided protruding to the outside is sometimes formed.

[0065] Here, when the airbag 4a is deployed and the protruding portion 62 of the baffle 60 is detached from the through-hole 45 of the door portion 40, the airbag 4a comes into contact with the back surface side of the baffle 60 and the protruding portion 62. At this time, in the case where a burr is formed on the parting line 60L of the protruding portion 62 of the baffle 60, there is a concern that the parting line 60L and the airbag 4a come into contact.

[0066] Here, as shown in Figure 9 In the protruding portion 62 of the present embodiment, the parting line 60L is formed on the side surface of the baffle 60 on the side close to the surface opposite to the surface facing the airbag 4a (the side close to the instrument panel 2). With such a configuration, when the airbag 4a is deployed, the airbag 4a is prevented from coming into direct contact with the parting line 60L.

[0067] Next, the door portion 40 and the baffle 60 at the time of deployment of the airbag 4a will be described. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the airbag 4a in the course of deployment. Figure 13 is also a cross-sectional view illustrating the state of the airbag 4a in the course of deployment.

[0068] When an emergency occurs at the time of collision of the vehicle 1 or the like, the airbag device 3 operates based on a signal from a sensor (not shown) that detects the collision, to protect the passenger on the front passenger seat. If the airbag device 3 operates, the airbag 4a is deployed and inflated by means of gas generated by the inflator 4d, and presses the back surface of the instrument panel 2.

[0069] Here, a case where the guide portion is not provided and only the baffle is installed to the installation portion (comparative example) is discussed. In this case, the baffle is arranged in a deployment passage formed by the upper surface of the airbag and the body portion of the installation portion. If the airbag is deployed and inflated, the baffle is flexed, and the pressure is not concentrated on the cracking line portion between the door portions in proportion to the degree of flexion. In particular, in the case where the baffle is installed to the installation portion, the baffle is flexed in a rotational manner from the contact position with the installation portion that becomes the root of the baffle, and thus the amount of flexion becomes large.

[0070] In the airbag mounting structure 10 of the present embodiment, the guide portion 50 having a rigidity higher than that of the baffle 60 is provided protruding from the mounting portion 20 in a manner to narrow the deployment passage 8, and the baffle 60 is connected to the guide portion 50. Thus, the guide portion 50 having a high rigidity makes the volume of the deployment passage 8 small, and therefore, when the airbag 4a inflates, the pressure can be concentrated between the door portions 40 (the transverse cracking line portion 6a). In addition, the baffle 60 is connected to the guide portion 50 protruding from the mounting portion 20, and therefore, the baffle 60 can be downsized. In this way, the deflection of the baffle 60 becomes small in accordance with the degree of downsizing of the baffle 60, and therefore, the pressure at the time of inflation of the airbag 4a is easily concentrated between the door portions 40.

[0071] As shown in Figure 12 , if the airbag 4a inflates and the pressure in the deployment passage 8 rises, the airbag 4a presses the back surface of the door portion 40, and therefore, the door portion 40 moves in a direction in which the door portion 40 rotates about the hinge portion 30. Thus, the instrument panel 2 cracks from the cracking line 6 and opens the opening and closing portion 7.

[0072] At this time, the protrusion 62 is inserted into the through-hole 45 of the door portion 40 in a direction of rotation of the door portion 40, and therefore, as shown in Figure 13 , the protrusion 62 easily escapes from the through-hole 45 as the door portion 40 rotates.

[0073] According to the above embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

[0074] An airbag mounting structure 10 in which an airbag 4a is mounted to an instrument panel 2 has a door portion 40 having at least one end portion 41 welded to a back surface of the instrument panel 2 along a cracking line 6 of the instrument panel 2 and opened by deployment of the airbag 4a, a mounting portion 20 having an opening portion 20a in which the door portion 40 is opened to an open state when the airbag 4a deploys and for mounting an airbag case 4b in which the airbag 4a is housed, a hinge portion 30 connected to the mounting portion 20 and rotatably holding the door portion 40, and a baffle 60 interposed between the airbag 4a and the hinge portion 30 and rotated together with the door portion 40 by a force of the airbag 4a when the airbag 4a deploys. The door portion 40 has a through-hole 45 passing through the door portion 40 from an inner side to an outer side at an acute angle from a side of the hinge portion 30 toward a side of the one end portion 41 of the door portion 40. The baffle 60 has a protrusion 62 at a front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 that is inserted into the through-hole 45, a gap is formed between the back surface of the instrument panel 2 and the protrusion 62 in a state in which the protrusion 62 is inserted into the through-hole 45, and a gap is formed between a portion of the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 in which the protrusion 62 is not formed and an inner side of the door portion 40.

[0075] According to this configuration, the protrusion 62 is provided at the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60, and the protrusion 62 is inserted into the through-hole 45 that penetrates at an acute angle, and a gap is formed between the protrusion 62 and the instrument panel 2, and a gap is formed between the front end portion 61 of the baffle 60 other than the protrusion 62 and the door portion 40. With this configuration, the protrusion 62 of the baffle 60 can be moved freely in the direction of the acute angle with respect to the through-hole 45 toward the door portion 40, and even if the baffle 60 is formed to be larger than the design size due to manufacturing errors and the like, a force that presses the door portion 40 outward will not occur. Therefore, the door portion 40 will not be pressed by the baffle 60, and the appearance of the cracking line 6 in the instrument panel 2 is prevented.

[0076] In addition, the protrusion 62 is separated from the through-hole 45 when the airbag 4a is deployed and the cracking line 6 is cracked by the door portion 40.

[0077] In this configuration, the protrusion 62 is separated from the through-hole 45 when the airbag 4a is deployed, so that the baffle 60 can concentrate the pressure generated by the inflation of the airbag 4a between the pair of door portions 40. In addition, the baffle 60 can prevent the airbag 4a from directly contacting the rotating shaft of the hinge portion 30.

[0078] In addition, ribs 62a to 62e that contact the other of the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 in the thickness direction of the protrusion 62 are provided at at least one of the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45.

[0079] In this configuration, by the ribs of the protrusion 62 contacting the through-hole 45, the gap between the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 can be reduced to fill the gap, and even if vibrations occur when the vehicle 1 is running, the occurrence of abnormal noise due to the vibrations by the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 can be prevented.

[0080] In addition, the ribs are formed in the protrusion 62, and have first ribs 62c, 62d that contact the inner side of the through-hole 45, and a second rib 62e that is provided at a position closer to the width direction end portion of the protrusion 62 than the first ribs and contacts the through-hole 45.

[0081] In this configuration, the first ribs contact the vicinity of the center in the width direction of the through-hole 45 and the second ribs contact the vicinity of the end portion, whereby the protrusion 62 is more reliably fixed to the through-hole 45, so that the gap between the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 can be reduced to fill the gap, and even if vibrations occur when the vehicle 1 is running, the occurrence of abnormal noise due to the vibrations by the protrusion 62 and the through-hole 45 can be prevented.

[0082] In addition, the baffle 60 pivots about the connection portion 54 when the airbag 4a is deployed, and the front end of the protrusion 62 from the connection portion 54 is formed in a straight line shape.

[0083] In this configuration, the baffle 60 is in contact with the airbag 4a at the time of deployment of the airbag 4a at the face side of the linear baffle 60, and the baffle 60 is rotated about the connection portion 54, whereby the baffle 60 can concentrate the pressure generated by the expansion of the airbag 4a between the pair of door portions 40.

[0084] Further, the through-hole 45 has a thin-walled portion 45a with a thin wall thickness at the back face side of the door portion 40, and the opening area of the through-hole 45 gradually decreases from the inside of the door portion 40 toward the outside by the thin-walled portion 45a.

[0085] In this configuration, the opening area of the through-hole 45 is large at the back face side of the door portion 40, and thus the workability at the time of insertion of the protruding portion 62 is improved. Further, the thin-walled portion 45a can also be formed in a shape in which the through-hole 45 gradually decreases in a tapered manner from the inside of the door portion 40 toward the outside.

[0086] Further, the parting line 60L is present near the face side of the baffle 60 on the side opposite to the face facing the airbag 4a at the side face of the protruding portion 62.

[0087] In this configuration, the airbag 4a is prevented from directly contacting the parting line 60L at the time of deployment of the airbag 4a, and the airbag 4a is prevented from contacting the parting line 60L.

[0088] Further, the rigidity of the guide portion 50 is higher than the rigidity of the baffle 60.

[0089] In this configuration, the guide portion 50 with high rigidity is present in the deployment passage 8 at the time of expansion of the airbag 4a, and thus it is easy to concentrate the pressure generated by the expansion of the airbag 4a at the cracking line 6.

[0090] The above describes the embodiments of the present application, but the above-described embodiments merely show a part of the application examples of the present application, and the purpose is not to limit the technical scope of the present application to the specific configurations of the above-described embodiments.

[0091] This application claims priority based on Patent Application No. 2022-036645 filed with the Japan Patent Office on March 9, 2022. The entire contents of the application are incorporated into the present specification by reference.

Claims

1. An airbag mounting structure for mounting an airbag to an instrument panel, comprising: a door portion welded to a back surface of the instrument panel in a manner that at least one end portion thereof is arranged along a cracking line of the instrument panel to be opened by deployment of the airbag; a mounting portion having an opening portion through which the door portion is opened to be in an open state if the airbag is deployed, and for mounting an airbag case that houses the airbag; a hinge portion connected to the mounting portion and rotatably holding the door portion; and a baffle interposed between the airbag and the hinge portion and rotated together with the door portion by a force of the airbag when the airbag is deployed, the door portion having a through-hole passing through from an inner side to an outer side thereof at an acute angle from the side of the hinge portion to the side of the one end portion, the baffle having a protrusion at a front end portion thereof inserted into the through-hole, a gap being formed between the back surface of the instrument panel and the protrusion in a state where the protrusion is inserted into the through-hole, and a gap being formed between a portion of the front end portion of the baffle where the protrusion is not formed and the inner side of the door portion.

2. The airbag mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is detached from the through-hole when the airbag is deployed and the cracking line is cracked by the door portion.

3. The airbag mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the protrusion and the through-hole is provided with a rib that contacts the other in a thickness direction of the protrusion.

4. The airbag mounting structure according to claim 3, wherein the rib is formed in the protrusion, the rib has a first rib that contacts an inner side of the through-hole, and a second rib that is provided at a position closer to a width direction end portion of the through-hole than the first rib and contacts the through-hole.

5. The airbag mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the baffle swings about a connection portion as a center when the airbag is deployed, and a front end of the protrusion is formed in a straight line shape from the connection portion.

6. The airbag mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the through-hole has a thin-walled portion where a wall thickness of the door portion is thin, and an opening area of the through-hole is smaller from the inner side of the door portion toward the outer side through the thin-walled portion.

7. The airbag mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a parting line is formed in a vicinity of a side of the baffle that is opposite to a side facing the airbag, on a side surface of the protrusion.

8. The airbag mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a guide portion that protrudes from the mounting portion in a manner that narrows a deployment passage between the airbag and the door portion and guides deployment of the airbag, the baffle is connected to the guide portion, and a rigidity of the guide portion is higher than a rigidity of the baffle. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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