Glove box integrated occupant protection device

Abstract

In a glove box-integrated occupant protection device, damage to the shared wall between the glove box and the occupant protection device is suppressed. [Solution] The glove box integrated occupant protection device comprises a glove box section having an inner wall defining an internal space, and an occupant protection section having a housing for housing an airbag body and an inflator, wherein the housing has a shared wall shared with the bottom of the inner wall, a front wall connected to the front end of the shared wall and extending downward from the shared wall, and a rear wall connected to the rear end of the shared wall and extending downward from the shared wall, and the inner surface of at least one of the front wall and the rear wall is inclined toward the outside of the housing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an integrated glove box occupant protection device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an occupant protection device mounted below a glove box. In such an occupant protection device, in order to expand the space in the vehicle interior, an attempt has been made to integrally configure the glove box and the occupant protection device. Such integration is achieved by configuring a part of the inner wall of the glove box and a part of the housing of the occupant protection device as a shared structure.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In order to further expand the space in the vehicle interior and for weight reduction, if such a shared structure is made thinner, there is a risk that the shared structure will be damaged when the airbag is deployed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The present disclosure can be realized in the following forms.

[0006] (1) According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a glovebox-integrated occupant protection device is provided for use mounted on a mobile vehicle. The glovebox-integrated occupant protection device comprises a glovebox section having an inner wall defining an internal space, and an occupant protection section having a housing for housing an airbag body and an inflator, wherein the housing has a shared wall shared with the bottom of the inner wall, a front wall connected to the front end of the shared wall and extending downward from the shared wall, and a rear wall connected to the rear end of the shared wall and extending downward from the shared wall, wherein the inner surface of at least one of the front wall and the rear wall is inclined toward the outside of the housing. In this form of glove box-integrated occupant protection device, at least one of the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls is inclined outward from the housing. Compared to a configuration where neither the inner surface of the front nor the rear wall is inclined outward from the housing, the airbag can inflate and deploy more smoothly outward from the housing. This reduces damage to the shared wall when the airbag is inflated and deployed. (2) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, the inner surfaces of the front wall and the rear wall are inclined toward the outside of the housing, and the angle of the inner surface of the rear wall with respect to the inner surface of the housing side of the shared wall may be greater than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall with respect to the inner surface of the housing side of the shared wall. In this type of glove box-integrated occupant protection device, both the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls are sloped outwards from the housing, allowing the airbag to inflate and deploy more smoothly compared to a configuration where only one of the inner surfaces of the front or rear wall is sloped. Furthermore, the angle of the inner surface of the rear wall relative to the inner surface of the housing in the shared wall is greater than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall relative to the inner surface of the housing in the shared wall. Therefore, compared to a configuration where the angle of the rear wall is smaller than the angle of the front wall, the airbag itself can inflate and deploy more smoothly towards the rear, which is closer to the occupant. As a result, the airbag itself can catch the occupant earlier. (3) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, the housing further comprises a left wall connected to the left end of the shared wall, the front wall and the rear wall, and extending downward from the shared wall, and a right wall connected to the right end of the shared wall, the front wall and the rear wall, and extending downward from the shared wall, wherein the inner surface of at least one of the left wall and the right wall may be inclined toward the outside of the housing. In this form of glovebox-integrated occupant protection device, at least one of the inner surfaces of the left and right walls is inclined outward from the housing. Compared to a configuration where neither the left nor the right inner surface is inclined outward, the airbag can inflate and deploy more smoothly. This helps to further reduce damage to the shared wall. (4) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, the housing is box-shaped with an opening at the bottom, and the four corners inside the housing may be rounded. In this type of glove box-integrated occupant protection device, the four corners inside the housing are rounded (R-shaped), allowing the airbag to inflate and deploy more smoothly compared to configurations where the four corners inside the housing are not rounded. This further reduces damage to the shared wall. (5) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, at least one of the front wall, the rear wall, the left wall, and the right wall may be configured such that the thickness of the portion located on the tip side is thinner than the portion located on the base side that connects to the shared wall. In this form of glovebox-integrated occupant protection device, at least one of the front wall, rear wall, left wall, and right wall is configured to have a thinner thickness at the tip end than at the base end where it connects to the shared wall. Therefore, the housing can be made lighter compared to a configuration where each of the front wall, rear wall, left wall, and right wall has a uniform thickness. (6) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, a rib is provided or may be provided on at least one of the surfaces of the shared wall that face the glove box and the surface that faces the housing. In this form of glovebox-integrated occupant protection device, ribs are provided on at least one of the surfaces of the shared wall, either the glovebox side or the housing side. This reinforces the strength of the shared wall compared to a configuration without ribs, thereby further suppressing damage to the shared wall. (7) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, the inflator may be attached to the shared wall. With this type of glovebox-integrated occupant protection device, the inflator is mounted on a shared wall, allowing the occupant protection device to be more compact in the front-rear and side-to-side directions compared to a configuration where the inflator is mounted on a wall other than the shared wall in the housing. (8) In the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the above form, the inner surface of the front wall is inclined toward the outside of the housing, and the front wall has one end and the other end, and a connecting portion to which the inflator is attached, having a connecting portion that connects to the shared wall at the one end and a bent portion that connects to the other end of the connecting portion, and the angle between a first virtual plane obtained by virtually extending the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side and a second virtual plane obtained by virtually extending the inner surface of the bent portion may be smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side and the inner surface of the connecting portion. In this form of glovebox-integrated occupant protection device, the front wall has a connection portion to which the inflator is attached and connects to a common wall, so the internal space of the glovebox can be made wider compared to a configuration in which the inflator is attached to a common wall. Furthermore, the front wall has a bent portion that connects to the other end of the connection portion, and the angle between the first virtual surface, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the housing side of the shared wall, and the second virtual surface, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the bent portion, is smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the housing side of the shared wall and the inner surface of the connection portion. Therefore, compared to a design without such a bent portion, the airbag body can inflate and deploy more smoothly towards the rear where the occupant is located.

[0007] This disclosure can be implemented in various forms. For example, it can be implemented in the form of a mobile vehicle equipped with a glovebox-integrated occupant protection device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a glove box-integrated occupant protection device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the glove box integrated occupant protection device. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the III-III section in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of a glove box-integrated occupant protection device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the glove box integrated occupant protection device of the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A. First Embodiment: <Overall Structure> Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of a glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 1 shows a cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Figure 1 also shows the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 mounted on a vehicle. The glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 is located within the instrument panel 1 of the vehicle and comprises a glove box section 200 and an occupant protection section 300. The glove box section 200 and the occupant protection section 300 are adjacent to each other and integrated. The glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 is attached to the instrument panel reinforcement of the vehicle. The instrument panel reinforcement is located within the instrument panel 1 and is a member that supports the steering wheel, audio unit, etc.

[0010] In the present disclosure, the direction along the traveling direction of the vehicle is referred to as the "front-rear direction". Also, the vertical direction as viewed from the vehicle occupants is referred to as the "up-down direction". Further, the direction along the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle is referred to as the "left-right direction". The "front-rear direction", the "up-down direction", and the "left-right direction" are directions that intersect each other.

[0011] <Configuration of glove box unit 200> The glove box unit 200 is used for storing arbitrary articles. The glove box unit 200 includes a main body 205, a lid 220, and a cap 230.

[0012] The main body 205 has a box-shaped outer appearance that opens toward the rear. The main body 205 has an inner wall 210. The inner wall 210 defines the internal space of the glove box unit 200. The inner wall 210 has a top wall 211, a rear wall 212, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall 215. Note that the pair of side walls are not shown in FIG. 1. The top wall 211 is the upper wall of the inner wall 210. The rear wall 212 is the front wall of the inner wall 210 and extends downward from the front end of the top wall 211. Each of the pair of side walls is the left and right wall of the inner wall 210 and extends downward from each of the left and right ends of the top wall 211. The bottom wall 215 constitutes the bottom of the inner wall 210 and extends rearward from the lower end of the rear wall 212. The bottom wall 215 is a wall shared with the shared wall 331 of the occupant protection unit 300 described later.

[0013] The lid 220 covers the opening of the main body 205. The lid 220 is configured to be rotatable about a hinge 225. Thereby, opening and closing of the opening are realized.

[0014] The cap 230 is a member for hiding the attachment portion 321 of an inflator 320 described later. The cap 230 is L-shaped in a cross section along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The cap 230 is in contact with the rear wall 212 and the bottom wall 215.

[0015] <Configuration of occupant protection unit 300> The occupant protection unit 300 suppresses the impact applied to the occupant when a collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. The occupant protection unit 300 in the present embodiment is configured as a knee airbag device that protects the lower limbs of the occupant. The occupant protection unit 300 includes an airbag body 310, an inflater 320, a housing 330, and a door portion 340.

[0016] The airbag body 310 is a bag that expands and deploys when gas is introduced. The broken line in FIG. 1 shows the airbag body 310 after expansion and deployment. The airbag body 310 is formed by sewing one or more base fabrics. The airbag body 310 is attached into the housing 330 by an attachment portion 321 of the inflater 320 described later. The airbag body 310 is folded compactly in a folding manner such as roll folding and bellows folding.

[0017] The inflater 320 supplies gas to the airbag body 310 when a collision of the vehicle is detected or predicted. The inflater 320 has a cylindrical external shape. The longitudinal direction of the inflater 320 is along the left - right direction. The inflater 320 is disposed inside the airbag body 310. The inflater 320 has an attachment portion 321. The attachment portion 321 is a male - threaded protrusion. The attachment portion 321 penetrates through a through - hole (not shown) provided in the airbag body 310 and a shared wall 331 of the housing 330 described later, and is screwed with a nut N. Thereby, the airbag body 310 and the inflater 320 are fixed to the housing 330.

[0018] The housing 330 houses the airbag body 310 and the inflater 320. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the glove - box integrated occupant protection device 100. In FIG. 2, the lid 220, the airbag body 310, the inflater 320, and the door portion 340 are omitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 330 has a box - shaped external shape that opens downward. The housing 330 includes a shared wall 331, a front wall 332, a rear wall 333, a left wall 334, and a right wall 335.

[0019] The shared wall 331 is a wall that constitutes the bottom of the housing 330. As described above, the shared wall 331 is shared with the bottom wall 215 of the glove box section 200. This shared structure allows the glove box section 200 and the occupant protection section 300 to be integrated. The shared wall 331 is provided with a through hole BH1 that penetrates vertically. The mounting portion 321 of the inflator 320 is inserted into the through hole BH1. The front wall 332 extends downward from the front end of the shared wall 331. The rear wall 333 extends downward from the rear end of the shared wall 331. As shown in Figure 1, the inner surfaces of the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 are inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. Specifically, the inner surface of the front wall 332 is inclined downward and forward. The inner surface of the rear wall 333 is inclined downward and rearward. It can also be said that the inner surfaces of the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 are inclined so that their respective lower ends move away from each other. In this embodiment, the angle of the inner surface of the rear wall 333 with respect to the housing 330 side surface of the shared wall 331 (hereinafter also referred to as the bottom surface) is greater than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall 332 with respect to the bottom surface. The angle of the inner surface of the rear wall 333 with respect to the bottom surface is, for example, 110 degrees. The angle of the inner surface of the front wall 332 with respect to the bottom surface is, for example, 100 degrees.

[0020] Furthermore, the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 are constructed so that the thickness of the portion located towards the tip is thinner than the portion located towards the base end that connects to the shared wall 331. It can also be said that the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 have a structure that gradually tapers towards the bottom.

[0021] As shown in Figure 2, the left wall 334 extends downward from the left end of the shared wall 331. The right wall 335 extends downward from the right end of the shared wall 331. The left wall 334 and the right wall 335 are connected to the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333.

[0022] Figure 3 shows the III-III cross-section of Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3, the inner surfaces of the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 in this embodiment are inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. Specifically, the inner surface of the left wall 334 is inclined toward downward and to the left. The inner surface of the right wall 335 is inclined toward downward and to the right. It can also be said that the inner surfaces of the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 are inclined so that their respective lower ends move away from each other. The angle of the inner surface of the left wall 334 relative to the bottom surface and the angle of the inner surface of the right wall 335 relative to the bottom surface are, for example, 110 degrees.

[0023] Furthermore, the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 are constructed so that the thickness of the portion located at the tip is thinner than the thickness of the portion located at the base end where they connect to the shared wall 331. It can also be said that the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 have a structure that gradually tapers as they extend downwards.

[0024] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the connection portions of the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 to the shared wall 331 are rounded (R-shaped). It can also be said that the four corners at the bottom of the housing 330 are rounded. Due to this rounding and the inclination of the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335, the housing 330 has an arched shape in cross-section along the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the radius of the two corners located on the rear side is larger than the radius of the two corners located on the front side. In this embodiment, the radius of the two corners located on the front side is 20 mm, and the radius of the two corners located on the rear side is 25 mm.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the door portion 340 covers the opening of the housing 330. The door portion 340 is provided with a tear line (not shown). The tear line is a portion of the door portion 340 that is thinner than other parts. The door portion 340 tears along the tear line when the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys.

[0026] According to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment described above, the inner surfaces of the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 are inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. Compared to a configuration in which the inner surfaces of the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 are not inclined toward the outside of the housing 330, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy smoothly toward the outside of the housing 330. As a result, the force applied to the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 from the inflating and deploying airbag body 310 is suppressed, and damage to the front wall 332, the rear wall 333 and the shared wall 331 is suppressed. More specifically, the inflating and deploying airbag body 310 inflates and deploys while applying force to each wall and door portion 340 of the housing 330. At this time, the airbag body 310 pushes open the door portion 340, applies a force to the front wall 332 diagonally downward and a force to the rear wall 333 diagonally downward. These forces push the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 apart, potentially causing damage to the front wall 332, the rear wall 333, and the shared wall 331. In contrast, in this embodiment, the inner surface of the front wall 332 is inclined downward and forward, and the inner surface of the rear wall 333 is inclined downward and rearward. Since the inclination direction of the inner surface of the front wall 332 and the inner surface of the rear wall 333 is relatively close to the direction of the force exerted by the inflation and deployment of the airbag body 310, the forces applied to the front wall 332, the rear wall 333, and the shared wall 331 can be suppressed. This prevents damage to the front wall 332, the rear wall 333, and the shared wall 331.

[0027] Furthermore, in the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, the angle of the inner surface of the rear wall 333 relative to the bottom surface is greater than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall 332 relative to the bottom surface. Therefore, compared to a configuration where the angle of the inner surface of the rear wall 333 relative to the bottom surface is smaller than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall 332 relative to the bottom surface, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy more smoothly towards the rear side, which is closer to the occupant. As a result, the airbag body 310 can catch the occupant earlier.

[0028] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, the inner surfaces of the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 are inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. Compared to a configuration in which the inner surfaces of the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 are not inclined toward the outside of the housing 330, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy more smoothly. As a result, the force applied to the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 from the inflating and deploying airbag body 310 is suppressed, and damage to the shared wall 331, the left wall 334, and the right wall 335 is suppressed. The mechanism by which the force applied to the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 is suppressed is the same as the mechanism by which the force applied to the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 is suppressed as described above.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, since the four corners inside the housing 330 are rounded, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy more smoothly compared to a configuration in which the four corners inside the housing 330 are not rounded. This suppresses damage to the housing 330 when the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 are configured such that the thickness of the portion located towards the tip is thinner than the portion located towards the base end that connects to the shared wall 331. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the thickness of the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 is uniform, the housing 330 can be made lighter.

[0031] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, since the inflator 320 is attached to the shared wall 331, the occupant protection unit 300 can be made more compact in the front-rear and left-right directions compared to a configuration in which the inflator 320 is attached to another wall in the housing 330.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, the radius of the two corners located at the rear is larger than the radius of the two corners located at the front, so the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy more smoothly at the rear. As a result, the airbag body 310 can catch the occupant earlier.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment, since it is equipped with a cap 230, the mounting portion 321 of the inflator 320 can be prevented from entering the occupant's field of vision, compared to a configuration without a cap 230, thereby improving the design.

[0034] B. Second Embodiment: Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b of the second embodiment. Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the occupant protection section 300b of the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b. The occupant protection section 300b of the second embodiment differs from the occupant protection section 300 of the first embodiment in the structure of the front wall 332 of the housing 330 and the position where the inflator 320 is attached. Structures not described below are the same as those in the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment.

[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the front wall 332 has a connecting portion 332a and a bent portion 332b.

[0036] The connecting portion 332a is connected at one end to the front end of the shared wall 331 and extends forward and downward from the front end of the shared wall 331. The angle of the inner surface of the connecting portion 332a with respect to the bottom surface is, for example, 135 degrees. An inflator 320 is attached to the connecting portion 332a. Specifically, the mounting portion 321 of the inflator 320 is positioned in the through hole BH2 provided in the connecting portion 332a. The angle of the mounting portion 321 with respect to the bottom surface is 45 degrees. This angle represents the smaller of the angles formed by a first virtual surface VS1, which is a virtual extension of the bottom surface, and the central axis of the mounting portion 321. This arrangement of the inflator 320 allows the gas injected by the inflator 320 to be directed backward and downward.

[0037] The bent portion 332b is connected to the other end of the connecting portion 332a and extends forward and downward from the other end of the connecting portion 332a. The angle between the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the bent portion 332b, is smaller than the angle between the bottom surface and the inner surface of the connecting portion 332a. Here, the angle refers to the smaller of the angles between the perpendicular L1 drawn from point a on the intersection line of the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2 to point b on the bent portion 332b, and the perpendicular L2 drawn from point a to point c on the bottom surface. The angle between the first virtual plane VS1 and the second virtual plane VS2 is, for example, 120 degrees. A door portion 340 is attached to the front end of the bent portion 332b.

[0038] According to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b of the second embodiment described above, the front wall 332 is connected to the shared wall 331 and has a connection portion 332a to which the inflator 320 is attached. Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the inflator 320 is attached to the shared wall 331, the internal space of the glove box portion 200 can be made wider. Specifically, when the inflator 320 is attached to the shared wall 331, the mounting portion 321 of the inflator 320 protrudes into the glove box portion 200. Such a protruding mounting portion 321 needs to be covered with a member such as the cap 230 in the first embodiment in order to ensure aesthetic appeal. In contrast, as in this embodiment, the inflator 320 is attached to the connection portion 332a, so the mounting portion 321 does not protrude into the glove box portion 200, and the internal space of the glove box portion 200 can be made wider.

[0039] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b of the second embodiment, since the inflator 320 is attached to the connection part 332a, the inflator 320 can be mounted facing downward and backward compared to a configuration in which the inflator 320 is attached to the shared wall 331. This makes it easy to direct the gas supplied from the inflator 320 downward and backward. The airbag body 310, supplied with gas in this orientation, can inflate and deploy more quickly toward the occupant.

[0040] Furthermore, according to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b of the second embodiment, the front wall 332 has a bent portion 332b that connects to the other end of the connecting portion 332a, and the angle between the first virtual surface VS1, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the shared wall 331 on the housing 330 side, and the second virtual surface VS2, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the bent portion 332b, is smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the shared wall 331 on the housing 330 side and the inner surface of the connecting portion 332a. Therefore, compared to a device without such a bent portion 332b, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy smoothly towards the rear where the occupant is located.

[0041] C. Third Embodiment: Figure 5 is a perspective view of the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100c of the third embodiment. The glove box integrated occupant protection device 100c of the third embodiment differs from the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment in that a plurality of ribs RB are provided on the shared wall 331. Structures not described below are the same as those in the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100 of the first embodiment. Note that the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100c of the third embodiment may be configured in combination with the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100b of the second embodiment.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, multiple ribs RB are provided on the housing 330 side of the shared wall 331. The ribs RB are downward-facing projections. The ribs RB reinforce the strength of the shared wall 331. In Figure 5, the ribs RB are provided along the left-right and front-back directions, but this embodiment is not limited to these. The ribs RB may be provided in any direction. Also, the number of ribs RB may be any number.

[0043] According to the glove box integrated occupant protection device 100c of the third embodiment described above, since a rib RB is provided on the shared wall 331, damage to the shared wall 331 when the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the shared wall 331 is not provided with a rib RB.

[0044] Furthermore, since the rib RB is provided on the housing 330 side of the shared wall 331, compared to a configuration where the rib RB is provided on the glove box 200 side, it is possible to suppress deterioration of the design of the glove box 200 and to suppress narrowing of the internal space inside the glove box 200. In addition, by reinforcing the housing 330 side where the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys, damage to the shared wall 331 can be further suppressed.

[0045] D. Other embodiments: (D1) In each of the embodiments described above, the front wall 332 and the rear wall 333 were inclined toward the outside of the housing 330, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Either the front wall 332 or the rear wall 333 may be inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. This configuration can suppress damage to the shared wall 331 when the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys, compared to a configuration in which neither the front wall 332 nor the rear wall 333 is inclined toward the outside of the housing 330.

[0046] (D2) In each of the above embodiments, the angle of the rear wall 333 with respect to the shared wall 331 was greater than the angle of the front wall 332 with respect to the shared wall 331, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The angle of the rear wall 333 with respect to the shared wall 331 may be equal to the angle of the front wall 332 with respect to the shared wall 331, or it may be less than the angle of the front wall 332 with respect to the shared wall 331.

[0047] (D3) In each of the embodiments described above, the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 were inclined toward the outside of the housing 330, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Either the left wall 334 or the right wall 335 may be inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. This configuration can suppress damage to the shared wall 331 when the airbag body 310 inflates and deploys, compared to a configuration in which neither the left wall 334 nor the right wall 335 is inclined toward the outside of the housing 330. Furthermore, the left wall 334 and the right wall 335 do not have to be inclined toward the outside of the housing 330.

[0048] (D4) In each of the above embodiments, the four corners inside the housing 330 were rounded, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Parts of the four corners inside the housing 330 may be rounded. Even in such a configuration, the airbag body 310 can inflate and deploy more smoothly compared to a configuration in which the four corners inside the housing 330 are not rounded. Furthermore, the four corners inside the housing 330 do not have to be rounded.

[0049] (D5) In each of the above embodiments, the radii of the two front corners within the housing 330 were smaller than the radii of the two rear corners, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The radii of the four corners within the housing may be equal.

[0050] (D6) In each of the above embodiments, the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 were configured such that the thickness of the portion located on the tip side was thinner than the thickness of the portion located on the base side that connects to the common wall 331, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. At least one of the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 may be configured such that the thickness of the portion located on the tip side is thinner than the thickness of the portion located on the base side that connects to the common wall 331. Also, the front wall 332, rear wall 333, left wall 334, and right wall 335 are not configured such that the thickness of the portion located on the tip side is thinner than the thickness of the portion located on the base side that connects to the common wall 331.

[0051] (D7) In the second embodiment described above, the front wall 332 had a bent portion 332b, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The front wall 332 does not have to have a bent portion 332b.

[0052] (D8) In the third embodiment described above, the rib RB was provided on the housing 330 side of the shared wall 331, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The rib RB may be provided on the glove box 200 side of the shared wall 331. This configuration can reinforce the strength of the shared wall 331. The rib RB may also be provided on both the glove box 200 side and the housing 330 side of the shared wall 331. This configuration can further reinforce the strength of the shared wall 331.

[0053] (D9) In each of the above embodiments, the glovebox-integrated occupant protection devices 100, 100b, and 100c may be installed on any moving body other than a vehicle. Such moving bodies include, for example, ships, airplanes, spacecraft, and so-called flying cars. Furthermore, the moving body does not necessarily have to be a device that realizes actual movement, but may be a device that realizes virtual movement, such as a simulator.

[0054] This disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be implemented in various configurations without departing from its spirit. For example, the technical features in the embodiments corresponding to the technical features in each form described in the summary of the invention can be replaced or combined as appropriate in order to solve some or all of the above-described problems, or to achieve some or all of the above-described effects. Furthermore, if a technical feature is not described as essential in this specification, it can be deleted as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 1…Instrument panel, 100, 100b, 100c…Glove box integrated occupant protection device, 200…Glove box section, 205…Main body, 210…Inner wall, 211…Top wall, 212…Rear wall, 215…Bottom wall, 220…Lid, 225…Hinge, 230…Cap, 300, 300b…Occupant protection section, 310…Airbag body, 320…Inflator, 321…Mounting section, 330…Housing, 331…Shared wall, 332…Front wall, 332a…Connection section, 332b…Bend section, 333…Rear wall, 334…Left wall, 335…Right wall, 340…Door section, BH1, BH2…Through hole, N…Nut, RB…Rib, VS1…First virtual surface, VS2…Second virtual surface

Claims

1. A glove box-integrated occupant protection device used mounted on a mobile vehicle, A glove box section having an inner wall that defines the internal space, It comprises an occupant protection section having a housing that accommodates the airbag body and inflator, The aforementioned housing is A shared wall shared with the bottom of the aforementioned inner wall, A front wall that connects to the front end of the shared wall and extends downward from the shared wall, A rear wall that connects to the rear end of the shared wall and extends downward from the shared wall, It has, At least one of the front wall and the rear wall has an inner surface that is inclined toward the outside of the housing. Glove box integrated occupant protection device.

2. A glove box integrated occupant protection device according to claim 1, The inner surfaces of the front wall and the rear wall are inclined toward the outside of the housing. The angle of the inner surface of the rear wall with respect to the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side is greater than the angle of the inner surface of the front wall with respect to the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side. Glove box integrated occupant protection device.

3. A glove box integrated occupant protection device according to claim 2, The aforementioned housing is The left end of the shared wall is connected to the front wall and the rear wall, and the left wall extends downward from the shared wall, The right end of the shared wall is connected to the front wall and the rear wall, and the right wall extends downward from the shared wall, It further possesses, At least one of the left wall and the right wall has an inner surface that is inclined toward the outside of the housing. Glove box integrated occupant protection device.

4. The glove box integrated occupant protection device according to claim 3, The housing is box-shaped with an opening at the bottom. The four corners inside the housing are rounded. Glove box integrated occupant protection device.

5. A glove box integrated occupant protection device according to claim 4, A glove box-integrated occupant protection device wherein at least one of the front wall, rear wall, left wall, and right wall is configured such that the thickness of the portion located on the tip side is thinner than the portion located on the base side that connects to the shared wall.

6. The glove box integrated occupant protection device according to claim 5, The glove box integrated occupant protection device has a shared wall, with ribs provided on at least one of the surfaces of the glove box side and the housing side.

7. A glove box integrated occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The inflator is a glovebox-integrated occupant protection device mounted on the shared wall.

8. A glove box integrated occupant protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The inner surface of the front wall is inclined toward the outside of the housing, The aforementioned front wall is A connecting portion having one end and the other end to which the inflator is attached, the connecting portion having one end connected to the shared wall, A bent portion that connects to the other end of the connecting portion, It has, The angle between the first virtual surface, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side, and the second virtual surface, which is a virtual extension of the inner surface of the bent portion, is smaller than the angle between the inner surface of the shared wall on the housing side and the inner surface of the connecting portion. Glove box integrated occupant protection device.

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