Instrument panel

Abstract

To provide an instrument panel which can deploy an airbag without cleaving a skin.SOLUTION: An instrument panel is installed under a windshield of an automobile and in front of a seat of the automobile and stores an airbag. The instrument panel includes a base material 180, and a skin 110 adhered to the base material 180. In a deployment region 100 in which the airbag is deployed, adhesive strength between the skin 110 and the base material 180 becomes weaker from the windshield side toward a seat side or becomes weaker from the seat side toward the windshield side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an instrument panel. [Background technology]

[0002] An automotive airbag is usually housed in an instrument panel installed in an automobile and ruptures the instrument panel when deployed. The instrument panel includes a substrate and a skin bonded to the substrate. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which an adhesive with high initial adhesion is applied to the edge of a base material (housing) and an adhesive with low initial adhesion is applied to the center of the housing, and a skin (cover) is adhered to the base material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-112336 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The inventors have found the following problems regarding instrument panels. Normally, when an airbag deploys, the skin of the instrument panel also tears. In order to stably tear the skin, it is necessary to control the tear strength of the skin. For this reason, there are limitations on the materials that can be used for the skin, and development has taken a long time.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such problems, and has an object to provide an instrument panel that allows an airbag to be deployed without tearing the cover. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of achieving the above object is to 1. An instrument panel for housing an airbag, the instrument panel being located below a windshield of a vehicle and in front of a seat of the vehicle, the instrument panel comprising: A substrate; a skin adhered to the substrate; In the deployment region where the airbag is deployed, the adhesive strength between the skin and the base material weakens from the windshield side toward the seat side, or weakens from the seat side toward the windshield side. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an instrument panel that allows an airbag to be deployed without tearing the cover. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an external appearance of an instrument panel according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the appearance of a development area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. In addition, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified for clarity of explanation.

[0010] First, an outline of an instrument panel according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 10 is a member that is installed under the windshield and in front of the seats of an automobile. The instrument panel 10 houses an airbag (not shown). The airbag is a device that deploys when it receives an impact of a predetermined magnitude or more, and absorbs and alleviates the impact on the occupant. When the airbag deploys, the deployed airbag pops out from a predetermined location on the instrument panel 10. At this time, the skin corresponding to the location from which the airbag pops out is peeled off. A deployment area 100 shown in FIG. 1 is the area from which the airbag pops out when the airbag deploys.

[0011] Next, the configuration of the instrument panel 10 will be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the instrument panel 10 includes at least a skin 110 and a base material 180, and may further include components such as an adhesive 120, a foam 130, an adhesive 140, a hook-and-loop fastener 150, a hook-and-loop fastener 160, and an adhesive 170. The instrument panel 10 has a multi-layer structure in which each plate-like component is layered.

[0012] The skin 110 covers the base material 180. The skin 110 is a part that is visible to the human eye when the instrument panel 10 is in use. The skin 110 is made of materials such as leather and cloth. The adhesive 120 bonds the skin 110 and the foam 130. The foam 130 is made of a thin sponge or the like from the viewpoint of excellent cushioning properties and moldability. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the foam 130 is bonded to the skin 110 by the adhesive 120. However, the method for bonding the foam 130 and the skin 110 is not particularly limited, and the foam 130 and the skin 110 may be bonded to each other by heat, for example.

[0013] The adhesive 140 bonds the foam 130 and the hook-and-loop fastener 150. The hook-and-loop fasteners 150 and 160 are a pair of hook-and-loop fasteners. The hook-and-loop fastener 150 has many hooks on the surface of the hook-and-loop fastener 160. The hook-and-loop fastener 160 has many loops on the surface of the hook-and-loop fastener 150. The configuration of the hook-and-loop fasteners 150 and 160 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2, and may be configured such that the hook-and-loop fastener 150 has loops and the hook-and-loop fastener 160 has hooks, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 2, since the instrument panel 10 has the hook-and-loop fasteners 150 and 160, the skin 110 can be easily removed from the base material 180. Therefore, the owner of the car can easily replace the skin 110 according to his or her preference.

[0014] The adhesive 170 bonds the hook-and-loop fastener 160 and the base material 180. The base material 180 is a member made of resin or the like. The base material 180 may be provided with an opening through which the deployed airbag passes. In this case, the location where the opening is provided functions as the deployment area 100 shown in FIG.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the appearance of the unfolding area 100. Below, as shown in FIG. 3, the unfolding area 100 will be described by dividing it into three areas 100a, 100b, and 100c. Of the three areas 100a, 100b, and 100c, the area 100a is the area closest to the windshield. Of the three areas 100a, 100b, and 100c, the area 100c is the area closest to the seat. The area 100b is the area sandwiched between the areas 100a and 100c.

[0016] The adhesive strength between the skin 110 and the base material 180 in the deployment area 100 is designed to be weaker from the windshield side toward the seat side, or from the seat side toward the windshield side. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the adhesive strength between the skin 110 and the base material 180 is the adhesive strength of the hook-and-loop fasteners 150 and 160, and more specifically, is the magnitude of the force required to peel the hook-and-loop fastener 150 from the hook-and-loop fastener 160. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the adhesive strength is weaker in the order of the areas 100a, 100b, and 100c. Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the skin 110 is first detached from the base material 180 in the area 100c, and the deployed airbag jumps out from the seat side of the deployment area 100. At this time, since the hook-and-loop fastener 150 is detached from the hook-and-loop fastener 160, the hook-and-loop fastener 160 is torn by the airbag that has jumped out, but the skin 110, the foam 130, and the hook-and-loop fastener 150 are not torn.

[0017] In this way, the instrument panel 10 according to this embodiment has a gradient in the adhesive strength between the skin 110 and the base material 180 in the deployment area 100, so that the deployment direction of the airbag can be controlled. In addition, the instrument panel 10 has a structure in which the skin 110 is easily detached from the base material 180, so that there is no need to split the skin 110 when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, the skin 110 can be made of a material with high split strength. In addition, the instrument panel 10 has excellent design because there is no need to provide a split portion in the deployment area 100. The instrument panel 10 is formed, for example, by stacking each component in layers, heating them, and vacuum-attaching them by pressing them against a mold. That is, the instrument panel 10 can be formed in the same process as an instrument panel that does not have a gradient in adhesive strength.

[0018] <Other embodiments> In the above-described embodiment, the hook-and-loop fasteners 150, 160 are provided between the foam 130 and the base material 180, and the hook-and-loop fasteners 150, 160 have a gradient in adhesive strength. However, the instrument panel 10 may have any configuration as long as the surface layer 110 can be attached to the base material 180 with a gradient in adhesive strength in a predetermined direction in the unfolding area 100. For example, the instrument panel 10 may have a configuration in which the adhesive 170 has a gradient in adhesive strength in a predetermined direction. In this case, the adhesive strength between the surface layer 110 and the base material 180 is the adhesive strength of the adhesive 170, and more specifically, is the magnitude of the force required to peel the hook-and-loop fastener 160 from the base material 180.

[0019] Also, the instrument panel 10 may be configured to provide hook-and-loop fasteners 150, 160 between the skin 110 and the foam 130. In this case, the foam 130 may be adhered to the base material 180 with an adhesive. Also, the instrument panel 10 may be configured not to have the hook-and-loop fasteners 150, 160. Specifically, for example, the instrument panel 10 may be configured to include, instead of the hook-and-loop fasteners 150, 160, an adhesive having an adhesive strength gradient in a predetermined direction.

[0020] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0021] 10. Instrument Panel 100 expansion areas 100a,100b,100c area 110 Epidermis 120 Adhesive 130 Forms 140 Adhesive 150,160 Hook and loop fastener 170 Adhesive 180 Base material

Claims

[Claim 1] 1. An instrument panel for housing an airbag, the instrument panel being located below a windshield of a vehicle and in front of a seat of the vehicle, the instrument panel comprising: A substrate; a skin adhered to the substrate; In a deployment region where the airbag is deployed, the adhesive strength between the skin and the base material is weakened from the windshield side toward the seat side, or from the seat side toward the windshield side. Instrument panel.

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