Impact absorber

Abstract

To provide an impact absorber that is able to stably absorb an obliquely input impact.SOLUTION: As shown in FIG. 2(b), an impact absorber 10 includes a connecting portion 15 between a protruding portion 11 and a fixing portion 14, and a part or all of the connecting portion 15 is an inclined portion 16. When the external force F2 is applied in a direction inclined with respect to an axial line 11b of the protruding portion 11, the inclined portion 16 is deformed, and the protruding portion 11 changes its direction so that the axial line 11b and the external force F2 are aligned with each other, as shown in FIG. 2(c). The impact absorber 10 is crushed in the form shown in FIG. 2(c) to absorb the impact.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an impact absorber disposed between a door panel and a door trim. [Background technology]

[0002] The door trim is a lining member provided on the passenger compartment side of the door panel. It is known to place an impact absorber between the door trim and the door panel, which can enhance occupant protection.

[0003] Various shapes of shock absorbers of this type have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (FIG. 2, FIG. 7(a) and (b))).

[0004] Patent Document 1 will be explained with reference to the following figure. FIG. 9(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle equipped with a conventional shock absorber. As shown in Fig. 9(a), a seat 102 for a passenger to sit in is arranged in a passenger compartment 101 of a vehicle 100. A door 110 arranged beside the seat 102 includes a door panel 111 having a hollow structure, a window glass 112, and a door trim 113 as a lining member.

[0005] An impact absorber 120 is provided between the door trim 113 and the door panel 111. The impact absorber 120 absorbs collision energy by collapsing. In the figure, when a large force is applied from outside the vehicle toward the vehicle interior 101, the door panel 111 deforms and intrudes into the vehicle interior 101. Then, the door trim 113 hits the seat 102, crushing the shock absorber 120. This crushing reduces the large force and the impact on the occupant sitting in the seat 102.

[0006] FIG. 9(b) is an enlarged view of part b in FIG. 9(a). As shown in FIG. 9(b), the impact absorber 120 includes a flange 121 fixed to the door trim 113, a large-diameter cylindrical portion 122 extending from the flange 121 toward the door panel 111, a large-diameter doughnut plate 123 provided at the tip of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 122, a medium-diameter cylindrical portion 124 extending from the edge of the hole in the large-diameter doughnut plate 123 toward the door panel 111, a medium-diameter doughnut plate 125 provided at the tip of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 124, a small-diameter cylindrical portion 126 extending from the edge of the hole in the medium-diameter doughnut plate 125 toward the door panel 111, and a lid 127 that closes the opening at the tip of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 126. The shock absorber 120 has a stepped shape in cross section.

[0007] FIG. 9(c) is a diagram showing the operation of the conventional shock absorber 120. The shock absorber 120 has a stepped shape and is therefore easily crushed, as shown in FIG. 9(c). When this crushing is considered, the large diameter doughnut plate 123 and the medium diameter doughnut plate 125 are easily bent because they are perpendicular to the axis 128 of action of the external force. Therefore, the shock absorber 120 is crushed stably as a whole. On the other hand, the shock absorption of the shock absorber 120 becomes gentler, and the shock absorption performance becomes lower.

[0008] There may be a demand for improving the shock absorbing performance of the shock absorber 120. Therefore, various structures with higher shock absorption performance than that of the cited document 1 have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2 (FIG. 2)).

[0009] Patent Document 2 will be explained with reference to the following figure. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another conventional shock absorber. As shown in FIG. 10, the shock absorber 130 comprises a flange 131, a tapered cylindrical portion 132 that extends from the flange 131 and has a tapered shape, and a lid 133 that closes the opening at the tip of the tapered cylindrical portion 132.

[0010] Such a shock absorber 130 does not have the large diameter doughnut plate 123 and the medium diameter doughnut plate 125 shown in FIG. 9(b), and therefore has high rigidity and accordingly high shock absorbing performance.

[0011] That is, when an external force F1 is applied along the axis 134 of the tapered cylindrical portion 132, the tapered cylindrical portion 132 collapses and exhibits the desired impact absorbing performance. However, when an external force F2 is applied in a direction inclined relative to the axis 134 of the tapered cylindrical portion 132, the angles θa and θb do not change easily, and the tapered cylindrical portion 132 is distorted and crushed, reducing its impact absorption performance and making it unstable.

[0012] Incidentally, in a side collision, in which a large external force is applied to a vehicle from the side, external force F2 occurs more frequently than external force F1. Therefore, a shock absorber that can stably absorb shocks that are input obliquely is desired. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-140743 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-205671 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] An object of the present invention is to provide a shock absorber that can stably absorb an impact that is input obliquely. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] According to the impact absorber of the first disclosure, the impact absorber is provided between a vehicle door panel and a door trim that covers the door panel from the vehicle interior side and is an interior part of the vehicle interior, a protruding portion that protrudes from the door trim side toward the door panel side, a tip end of which is capable of receiving the door panel and a base end of which is spaced apart from the rear surface of the door trim; a fixing portion provided on an outer periphery of the base end of the protrusion and capable of being fixed to the door trim, the base end of the protruding portion and the fixing portion are connected via an annular connecting portion, The connection portion has an inclined portion that approaches the door trim as it moves radially inward from the axis of the protrusion.

[0016] According to the shock absorber according to the second disclosure which can be dependent on the first disclosure, preferably, the connecting portion has a second inclined portion that moves away from the door trim as it moves toward the inside in the radial direction of the axis of the protruding portion, The second inclined portion connects the inclined portion and the fixed portion.

[0017] According to the shock absorber according to the third disclosure which can be dependent on the first or second disclosure, preferably, The rear surface of the door trim has a base portion protruding toward the door panel, the fixing portion is fixable to the base portion, With respect to the direction in which the axis of the protrusion extends, the base end of the protrusion is at the same position as the tip end of the base.

[0018] According to a fourth disclosure which may be dependent on the first or second disclosure, preferably, The rear surface of the door trim has a base portion protruding toward the door panel, With respect to the direction in which the axis of the protrusion extends, the base end of the protrusion is closer to the door trim than the tip end of the base.

[0019] According to the impact absorber according to the fifth disclosure which can be dependent on any of the first to fourth disclosures, preferably, The protrusion is provided with a plurality of holes extending along the axis.

[0020] According to a shock absorber according to a sixth disclosure which can be dependent on the fifth disclosure, preferably, The hole extends to the proximal end of the projection.

[0021] According to the impact absorber according to the seventh disclosure which can be dependent on any one of the first to sixth disclosures, preferably, a second connecting portion is interposed between the base end of the protruding portion and the connecting portion; The second connection portion is annular and extends parallel to the rear surface of the door trim. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to the present disclosure, the shock absorber includes a protruding portion capable of absorbing an impact and a fixing portion capable of fixing the protruding portion via a connecting portion, and at least a portion of the connecting portion is bent. In addition, a base end of the protruding portion is spaced apart from the rear surface of the door trim. Immediately after an impact is applied, the connecting portion deforms, causing the protrusion to tend to face in the direction of the impact. At this time, the base end of the protrusion is separated from the rear surface of the door trim, so the door trim does not prevent the protrusion from changing its direction. As a result, the present invention provides a shock absorber that can stably absorb shocks that are input obliquely.

[0023] Preferably, the connecting portion has a second inclined portion in addition to the inclined portion, which further makes it easier for the protruding portion to face in the direction of the input of the impact, thereby improving the stability of the impact absorption.

[0024] Preferably, the base portion on the door trim side projects toward the door panel side, and the base end of the projection is located at the same position as the tip end of the base portion on the door trim side. The base end of the protrusion can be separated from the rear surface of the door trim by the protrusion margin of the base, and the base end of the protrusion can be prevented from contacting the rear surface of the door trim in the early stages of an impact.

[0025] Preferably, the base portion on the door trim side projects toward the door panel side, and the base end of the projection is closer to the door trim than the tip of the base portion on the door trim side. Since a part (base) of the impact absorber penetrates into the door trim, the distance between the door panel and the door trim can be reduced.

[0026] Preferably, the protruding portion is provided with a plurality of holes extending along the axis. The load during impact absorption can be kept to an appropriate value.

[0027] Preferably, the hole extends to the proximal end of the projection. Undercut processing of the mold for the shock absorber is no longer necessary.

[0028] Preferably, a second connecting portion is interposed between the base end of the protrusion and the connecting portion, The second connecting portion is annular and extends parallel to the rear surface of the door trim. The load during impact absorption can be kept to an appropriate value. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1(a) is a cross-sectional view of the impact absorber according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is a diagram illustrating the state in which the impact absorber is attached to a vehicle. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(a) is a diagram for explaining the function of the impact absorber according to the comparative example, and FIGS. 2(b) and 2(c) are diagrams for explaining the function of the impact absorber according to the example. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to a third embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a shock absorber according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of an impact absorber according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a graph illustrating an amount of energy absorption. [Figure 10]FIG. 10(a) is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle equipped with a conventional impact absorber, FIG. 10(b) is an enlarged view of part b in FIG. 10(a), and FIG. 10(c) is an operational diagram of the conventional impact absorber. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of another conventional shock absorber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the drawings are to be viewed in the direction indicated by the reference numerals. [Example]

[0031] [Impact absorber according to the first embodiment] 1(a), the impact absorber 10 comprises a pointed tapered cylindrical protrusion 11, a fixing portion 14 fixed to a door trim 12 with a fastener 13 such as a bolt, and a connecting portion 15 connecting the fixing portion 14 to a base end 11a of the protrusion 11. The connecting portion 15 is annular in shape because it surrounds the base end 11a of the protrusion 11.

[0032] [Slanted part] The connecting portion 15 has an inclined portion 16 that approaches the door trim 12 as it moves radially inward of the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11. The inclined portion 16 may constitute the entire connecting portion 15 or may constitute a part of the connecting portion 15.

[0033] Since the connecting portion 15 has an annular shape, the inclined portion 16 also has an annular shape. Because of the annular shape, the inclined portion 16 has an outer peripheral portion 16a and an inner peripheral portion 16b. In other words, the inclined portion 16 is inclined relative to the outer peripheral portion 16a so that the inner peripheral portion 16b approaches the door trim 12 along the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11.

[0034] The shock absorber 10 is basically made of resin, but may also be made of light metal such as aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy. The fastener 13 is basically a bolt, but may also be a screw, a headed pin, a tapping screw, a rivet, or an adhesive.

[0035] FIG. 1(b) shows a state in which the impact absorber 10 having such a structure is attached to a vehicle door. As shown in FIG. 1(b), the impact absorber 10 is provided between a door panel 18 and a door trim 12 that covers the door panel 18 from the passenger compartment side (FIG. 10, reference numeral 101) and is an interior part of the passenger compartment.

[0036] [Protrusion] The protrusion 11 of the impact absorber 10 protrudes from the door trim 12 side toward the door panel 18 side, and the tip can receive the door panel 18, and the base end 11a is spaced apart from the back surface 12a of the door trim 12 by δ1.

[0037] [Fixed part] The fixing portion 14 of the impact absorber 10 is provided on the outer periphery of the base end 11 a of the protruding portion 11 and can be fixed to the door trim 12 .

[0038] [Connection] The connecting portion 15 of the shock absorber 10 is an annular portion that connects the base end 11 a of the protruding portion 11 and the fixing portion 14 , and has an inclined portion 16 .

[0039] [Sloped part] The inclined portion 16 included in the connecting portion 15 is inclined so as to approach the door trim as it moves radially inward of the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11. The inclined portion 16 is also a portion inclined such that an inner peripheral portion 16b thereof approaches the door trim 12 along the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11 relative to an outer peripheral portion 16a thereof.

[0040] The operation of the shock absorber 10 having the above-described configuration will be explained with reference to Figures 2(a) to 2(c). Figure 2(a) is a re-illustration of Figure 11.

[0041] In FIG. 2(a), the angles formed between the flange 131 and the tapered cylindrical portion 132 are θa and θb. Conventional shock absorbers 10 have high rigidity, so θa and θb do not change easily even when subjected to an oblique external force F2. As a result, the shock absorber 10 does not collapse in the expected manner, but collapses in a distorted manner. This distorted collapse reduces the shock absorption performance and makes the shock absorber unstable.

[0042] 2(b), the connecting portion 15 that connects the protruding portion 11 and the fixed portion 14 includes an inclined portion 16. The angles formed by the inclined portion 16 and the protruding portion 11 are defined as θ1 and θ2. Since the intersection of the inclined portion 16 and the protruding portion 11 forms a V-shaped cross section, the interior angles θ1 and θ2 of this V shape change with a smaller force than the angles θa and θb shown in FIG. 2(a). Specifically, the angle θ1 decreases as the base end 11a near the angle θ1 approaches the door trim 12. On the other hand, the base end 11a near the angle θ2 is displaced less and the angle θ2 increases.

[0043] 2(c), the protrusion 11 tilts so that the axis 11b is aligned with the force F2. Thereafter, the force F2 causes the shock absorber 10 to collapse in a predetermined shape along the axis 11b. The above action is smoothly performed by the base end 11a being spaced apart from the rear surface of the door trim 12 by δ1.

[0044] Therefore, in the present invention, the inclined portion 16 and the distance δ1 are essential. The presence of the inclined portion 16 and the distance δ1 provides the shock absorber 10 that can stably absorb an impact that is input obliquely.

[0045] Next, modified examples of the present invention will be described in order with reference to FIGS.

[0046] [Impact absorber according to the second embodiment] The configuration of the shock absorber 10 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The shock absorber 10 shown in Figure 3 differs from that shown in Figure 1(b) in that the connecting portion 15 has a second inclined portion 21 in addition to the inclined portion 16. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Figure 1(b) are used and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0047] 3, the second inclined portion 21 is disposed at a location connecting the inclined portion 16 and the fixed portion 14. The second inclined portion 21 is inclined so as to move away from the door trim 12 as it moves radially inward of the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11.

[0048] That is, the second inclined portion 21 has an outer peripheral portion 21a and an inner peripheral portion 21b, and the inner peripheral portion 21b is inclined along the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11 so as to move away from the door trim 12 relative to the outer peripheral portion 21a.

[0049] [Actions and Effects of the Second Example] As is clear from Figure 3, the protruding portion 11 and the inclined portion 16 form a V-shaped cross section, and in addition, the inclined portion 16 and the second inclined portion 21 form a second V-shaped cross section. As a result, the deformability at the connecting portion 15 is doubled. When the deformability is doubled, the change from Figure 2(b) to Figure 2(c) occurs more quickly, and the effects of the present invention are more reliably achieved.

[0050] [Impact absorber according to the third embodiment] The configuration of the shock absorber 10 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The impact absorber 10 shown in Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Fig. 3 in that the distance between the rear surface 12a of the door trim 12 and the tip of the base end 11a is δ2, which is larger than δ1. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Fig. 3 are used and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0051] That is, the rear surface 12a of the door trim 12 has a base 23 that protrudes toward the door panel 18. The fixing portion 14 can be fixed to the base 23. The base end 11a of the protruding portion 11 is located at the same position as the tip of the base 23, based on the direction in which the axis 11b of the protruding portion 11 extends.

[0052] [Actions and Effects of the Third Example] Since the distance δ2 between the rear surface 12a of the door trim 12 and the tip of the base end 11a is set to be sufficiently large, the base end 11a is less likely to come into contact with the rear surface 12a of the door trim 12, and the effects of the present invention can be more reliably achieved.

[0053] In addition, the base end 11a of the protruding portion 11 is located at the same position as the tip of the base portion 23, so that the tip and base end 11a of the fixing portion 14 are aligned on the same plane. Since they are aligned on the same plane, there is an advantage in that the design of the mold is easier for both resin molding molds and press molding molds.

[0054] [Impact absorber according to the fourth embodiment] The configuration of the shock absorber 10 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The impact absorber 10 shown in Fig. 5 differs from that shown in Fig. 3 in that the distance between the rear surface of the door trim 12 and the tip of the base end 11a is δ3, which is smaller than δ1. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Fig. 3 are used and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

[0055] That is, the back surface of the door trim 12 has a base 23 that protrudes toward the door panel 18, and the base end 11a of the protrusion 11 is closer to the door trim 12 than the tip of the base 23, based on the direction in which the axis 11b of the protrusion 11 extends.

[0056] [Functions and Effects of the Fourth Example] Although there is a risk that the base end 11a may come into contact with the rear surface of the door trim 12, it is possible to reduce the distance L from the door panel 18 to the door trim 12. If the distance L is small, the vehicle door can be made more compact.

[0057] [Impact absorber according to the fifth embodiment] The configuration of the shock absorber 10 according to the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The shock absorber 10 shown in Fig. 6 differs from that shown in Fig. 5 in that a plurality of elongated holes 25 extending along the axis 11b are provided in the protruding portion 11. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Fig. 5 are used and detailed explanations will be omitted. It is recommended that three slots 25 be provided at 120° intervals along the circumference, but four slots 25 may be provided at 90° intervals along the circumference, and the number of slots is optional.

[0058] [Functions and Effects of the Fifth Example] As will be explained in detail later in Figure 9, the load during impact absorption can be kept to an appropriate value.

[0059] [Impact absorber according to the sixth embodiment] The configuration of the shock absorber 10 according to the sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The shock absorber 10 shown in Figure 7 differs from that shown in Figure 6 in the range in which the elongated holes 25 are set. Specifically, the elongated holes 25 extend to the base ends 11a of the protrusions 11. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Figure 6 are used and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0060] [Functions and Effects of the Sixth Embodiment] Compared to the fifth embodiment, undercut processing of the mold for the shock absorber 10 is not necessary.

[0061] [Impact absorber according to the seventh embodiment] The configuration of the impact absorber 10 according to the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The shock absorber 10 shown in Fig. 8 differs from Fig. 5 in that a second connecting portion 27 is interposed between the base end 11a of the protruding portion 11 and the connecting portion 15. The other elements remain unchanged, so the reference numerals in Fig. 5 are used and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0062] The second connecting portion 27 is an annular portion extending parallel to the rear surface of the door trim 12, i.e., a portion extending perpendicular to the axis 11b. Because the second connecting portion 27 is perpendicular to the axis 11b, it easily bends in the direction along the axis 11b when subjected to an external force, thereby absorbing the impact load.

[0063] [Operation and effect of the seventh embodiment] As will be explained in detail in Figure 9 below, the load during impact absorption can be kept to an appropriate value.

[0064] [Energy absorption performance] FIG. 9 is a graph in which the horizontal axis represents the stroke, i.e., the crushing allowance, the vertical axis represents the force applied from the outside, i.e., the impact load, and the shaded area represents the amount of energy absorption. The first to fourth examples are shown by solid lines, and the fifth to seventh examples are shown by dashed lines. The solid line and the broken line have roughly the same rise, but the load after rise (the load roughly parallel to the horizontal axis) is smaller for the broken line. Therefore, the fifth to seventh embodiments can suppress the load during impact absorption to an appropriate value compared to the first to fourth embodiments. [Industrial Applicability]

[0065] The present invention is suitable for use in an impact absorber built into a vehicle door. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10...Shock absorber 11...Protrusion 11a...base end of protrusion 11b...axis of protrusion 12...Door trim 12a...Back of door trim 14...Fixed part 15...Connection 16…Slope part 16a...Outer periphery of inclined portion 16b...Inner circumference of the inclined portion 18...Door panel 21…Second slope part 21a...Outer periphery of second inclined portion 21b...inner periphery of second inclined portion 23...Base (base attached to door trim) 27...Second connection part 100...Vehicle 101…Vehicle compartment

Claims

1. A door panel for a vehicle is provided between the door trim, which covers the door panel from the passenger compartment side and is an interior part of the passenger compartment, a protruding portion that protrudes from the door trim side toward the door panel side, a tip end of which is capable of receiving the door panel and a base end of which is spaced apart from the rear surface of the door trim; a fixing portion provided on an outer periphery of the base end of the protrusion and capable of being fixed to the door trim, the base end of the protruding portion and the fixing portion are connected via an annular connecting portion, The impact absorber has an inclined portion in which the connection portion approaches the door trim as it moves radially inward along the axis of the protrusion.

2. The shock absorber according to claim 1, the connecting portion has a second inclined portion that becomes increasingly separated from the door trim as it moves radially inward along the axis of the protruding portion, The second inclined portion connects the inclined portion and the fixed portion.

3. The shock absorber according to claim 2, The rear surface of the door trim has a base portion protruding toward the door panel, the fixing portion is fixable to the base portion, With respect to the direction in which the axis of the protrusion extends, the base end of the protrusion is at the same position as the tip end of the base.

4. The shock absorber according to claim 2, The rear surface of the door trim has a base portion protruding toward the door panel, With respect to the direction in which the axis of the protrusion extends, the base end of the protrusion is closer to the door trim than the tip end of the base.

5. The impact absorber according to claim 3 or claim 4, The protrusion is provided with a plurality of holes extending along the axis.

6. The shock absorber according to claim 5, The hole extends to the proximal end of the projection.

7. The impact absorber according to claim 3 or claim 4, a second connecting portion is interposed between the base end of the protruding portion and the connecting portion; The second connection portion is annular and extends parallel to the rear surface of the door trim.

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