Structure mounting structure

Abstract

To provide a structure mounting structure for a structure provided on the front side of a vehicle cabin, the mounting structure being designed to reduce input to an occupant by securing a space for inflation of an airbag by suitably moving the structure especially when the airbag inflates.SOLUTION: A structure mounting structure according to the present invention, which is a structure mounting structure for mounting a structure on an instrument panel on a passenger seat side of a vehicle, includes a moving mechanism that moves the structure so as not to interfere with inflation of an airbag of an expanded and inflated passenger seat airbag device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure mounting structure provided at the lower part of a structure mounted on an instrument panel on the passenger seat side of a vehicle, and particularly aims to reduce the impact on the occupant by suitably moving when the airbag is deployed to secure a space for the airbag to deploy.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an airbag device mounted on an automobile, an airbag module including an airbag and an inflator is disposed inside an instrument panel (hereinafter referred to as "IP") in front of the passenger seat, and is configured such that the airbag inflates obliquely upward backward toward the occupant. In a mid-mount type passenger seat airbag device, a deployment restricting body for restricting the deployment of the lower half of the airbag is provided at the time of airbag deployment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] With this configuration, since a deployment restricting body for restricting the deployment of the lower half of the airbag is provided in the mid-mount type airbag module, the capacity of the airbag can be made smaller than that in a high-mount type in which the airbag inflates upward toward the vehicle and is deployed along the windshield. Of course, the airbag does not inflate properly toward an out-of-position occupant due to the restriction of the deployment restricting body, and it is said that the impact on an out-of-position occupant as in the conventional case can be prevented.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent automobiles, the number of vehicles equipped with structures such as shelves and monitors on the instrument panel has been increasing. In the configuration of Patent Document 1, assuming that there is a structure on the instrument panel, the airbag will deploy with the lid 17a not fully opened. In that case, the airbag will deploy toward the occupant, and there is a risk that the input from the airbag to the occupant will increase.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The structure mounting structure of the present invention is for mounting a structure on the instrument panel on the passenger seat side of the vehicle, and The rear end of the structure is located overlapping the deployment area of the airbag of the passenger airbag device, and a moving mechanism for moving the structure so as not to prevent the deployment of the airbag, a moving mechanism that moves the structure by the deployment load of the inflated and deployed airbag comprising: the moving mechanism has an upper joint part joined to the structure and a lower joint part joined to the instrument panel, and the lower joint part is positioned so as not to overlap the deployment area of the airbag.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the structure mounting structure for mounting a structure on the instrument panel in the present invention, by suitably moving the structure when the airbag deploys, a space for the airbag to deploy can be secured, thereby reducing the input to the occupant.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, each embodiment of the structure mounting structure of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. In each figure, the arrow Rr indicates the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction, and the arrow OUT(RH) indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction.

[0010] (First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0011] In FIG. 1, an airbag module 1 includes an airbag 2 stored therein and an inflator 3 that ejects gas into the airbag 2 to inflate and deploy the airbag 2 when an acceleration equal to or higher than a predetermined value acts, and is mounted inside a portion in front of the passenger seat on the instrument panel 5 of the vehicle. Further, a structure 4 is mounted on the instrument panel 5 via a rotation mechanism portion 7. Here, the rotation mechanism portion 7 in the present embodiment corresponds to the moving mechanism of the present invention. The structure 4 includes, for example, a shelf capable of storing objects, a display for the passenger seat, etc., and is attached to enhance the convenience of the user. Note that the airbag 2 is stored and arranged inside the instrument panel 5 in a folded state during normal times. Also, 6 is the front window.

[0012] At the part corresponding to the airbag module 1 on the instrument panel 5, an airbag door (not shown) is formed, and this airbag door is opened by a tear part (not shown) where the airbag 2 tears when it inflates and deploys. Therefore, when a vehicle collision is detected, the inflator 3 operates to inflate and deploy the folded airbag 2 toward the airbag door. The airbag 2 presses against the airbag door to cause it to tear and inflates obliquely upward and rearward toward the occupant.

[0013] In FIGS. 2 to 4, the rotating mechanism 7 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating mechanism part 7 is composed of a hinge part 71, a pin part 72, an upper plate part 73, and a lower plate part 74, and the upper plate part 73 is joined to the lower surface of the structure 4 as shown in the figure. Here, the upper plate part 73 and the lower plate part 74 in the present embodiment respectively correspond to the upper joining part and the lower joining part of the present invention. Note that the lower plate part 24 is joined to the instrument panel 5. In the present embodiment, it is adhered with double-sided tape, but it is not limited thereto, and various known joining structures such as fastening with bolts and nuts can be adopted.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the pin portion 72 is composed of an upper fitting portion 72A and a lower fitting portion 72B. Here, the pin portion 72 in the present embodiment corresponds to the fixing portion of the present invention. In the present embodiment, it is fixed by fitting, but not limited thereto, and various known fixing methods such as fixing by adhesion can be adopted. The upper fitting portion 72A is joined to the upper plate portion 73, and the lower fitting portion 72B is joined to the lower plate portion 74. Normally, the upper fitting portion 72A and the lower fitting portion 72B are engaged as shown in the figure. When a load of a predetermined value or more is input from the upper side of the vehicle, the engagement between the upper fitting portion 72A and the lower fitting portion 72B is set to be released. In the present embodiment, this predetermined value is set to the load value at which the airbag 2 that expands and deploys abuts against at least one of the end portions on the rear side of the vehicle of the structure 4 or the upper plate portion 73 and presses substantially upward of the vehicle. Also, in other fixing methods, when a load of a predetermined value or more is input from the upper side of the vehicle, the fixing is set to be released. Note that it is not limited to the case where the airbag 2 directly abuts against the end portion of the structure 4, and a load may be input when a part of the airbag door that has been cleaved by the deployment of the airbag 2 abuts against at least one of the end portions on the rear side of the vehicle of the structure 4 or the upper plate portion 73.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 4, the hinge portion 71 is configured to be rotatable about the vehicle width direction as an axis. Here, the hinge portion 71 and the upper plate portion 73 in the present embodiment correspond to the movable portion of the present invention. When a load of a predetermined value or more is input from the upper side of the vehicle, the engagement of the pin portion 72 is released and the upper plate portion 73 rotates upward of the vehicle about the hinge portion 71.

[0016] Next, FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the deployment of the airbag 2 when the structure mounting structure for mounting the structure 4 does not have the rotation mechanism 7. Note that FIG. 5 is not an example of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, when the structure 4 installed on the instrument panel 5 is fixed, the deployment of the airbag 2 in the vehicle front direction is suppressed. As a result, there is a risk that the input to the neck of the occupant P increases.

[0017] Next, in FIG. 6, a schematic diagram of the deployment of the airbag 2 when the structure mounting structure for mounting the structure 4 has a rotation mechanism 7 is shown. The structure 4 is mounted on the instrument panel 5 via the rotation mechanism 7. The rear end of the lower plate portion 74 in the vehicle front-rear direction is located in front of the deployment area of the airbag 2, and the rear end of the upper plate portion 73 or the structure 4 in the vehicle front-rear direction is located within the deployment area of the airbag 2.

[0018] At this time, since the lower plate portion 74 is positioned so as not to overlap the deployment area of the airbag, when the airbag 2 is deployed, the deployment load of the airbag 2 is input to at least one of the upper plate portion 73 or the structure 4 located within the deployment area of the airbag 2. As a result, the engagement of the pin portion 72 is released, and the upper plate portion 73 rotates upward on the vehicle side around the hinge portion 71. Accordingly, the structure 4 joined to the upper plate portion 73 moves upward on the vehicle side. Thereby, a space for the airbag 2 to deploy is secured, and the airbag 2 can be deployed upward on the vehicle side. Thus, the input to the occupant P is reduced.

[0019] In addition, in the present embodiment, the rotation mechanism 7 is configured to include the upper plate portion 73 and the lower plate portion 74, but the present invention is not limited to this. The hinge portion 71 and the pin portion 72 may be directly joined to the structure 4 and the instrument panel 5, respectively. Further, instead of the structure 4 being pushed up by the deployment load of the airbag, the upper plate portion 73 may be rotated upward on the vehicle side electrically by an electric motor or the like (not shown) provided on the hinge portion 71.

[0020] (Second Embodiment) Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. In the following description of the embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the common components in the preceding embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described.

[0021] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the structure 4 is mounted on the instrument panel 5 via a slide mechanism 8 so as to be movable in the vehicle front direction. Here, the slide mechanism 8 in the present embodiment corresponds to the moving mechanism of the present invention.

[0022] In FIGS. 8 and 9, the slide mechanism 8 will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, the slide mechanism 8 is composed of upper slide portions 81R and 81L, lower slide portions 82R and 82L, an upper plate portion 83, and a lower plate portion 84. As shown in the figure, the upper plate portion 83 is joined to the lower surface of the structure 4. Note that the lower plate portion 84 is joined to the instrument panel 5. Here, the upper plate portion 83 and the lower plate portion 84 in the present embodiment respectively correspond to the upper joining portion and the lower joining portion of the present invention.

[0023] Next, in FIG. 9, the upper slide portions 81R and 81L and the lower slide portions 82R and 82L will be described. Note that the symbols R and L are symbols given to configurations that are mirror images of each other if the numerical values of the symbols are the same. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the components to which the symbol R is given will be described.

[0024] FIG. 9(a) is a schematic configuration diagram of the upper slide portion 81R. The upper slide portion 81R is joined to the lower surface of the upper plate portion 83 and has a roller portion 85R and a fitting hole 87R. The roller portion 85R is provided on the surface facing the lower slide portion 82R and is configured to be rotatable about the vehicle width direction as an axis. The fitting hole 87R is provided on the surface facing the lower slide portion 82R and is configured to engage with a fitting protrusion 88R described later. Here, the fitting hole 87R and the fitting protrusion 88R in the present embodiment correspond to the fixing portion of the present invention. Note that in the present embodiment, it is fixed by fitting, but it is not limited thereto, and various known fixing methods such as fixing by adhesion can be adopted.

[0025] FIG. 9(b) is a schematic configuration diagram of the lower slide portion 82R. The lower slide portion 82R is joined to the upper surface of the lower plate portion 84 and has a guide portion 86R and a fitting projection 88R. The guide portion 86R is provided on the surface facing the upper slide portion 81R and is configured such that the roller portion 85R can move in the vehicle front-rear direction. Here, the upper slide portion 81R, the upper plate portion 83, the roller portion 85R, and the guide portion 86R in the present embodiment correspond to the movable portions of the present invention. The fitting projection 88R is configured to engage with the fitting portion 87R, and when a load of a predetermined value or more is input from above the vehicle, the engagement between the fitting portion 87R and the fitting projection 88R is set to be released. In the present embodiment, this predetermined value is set to the load value at which the airbag 2 that expands and deploys abuts against at least one of the end portions on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the structure 4 or the upper plate portion 83 and presses it substantially forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Also, in other fixing methods, when a load of a predetermined value or more is input from above the vehicle, the fixing is set to be released. Note that this is not limited to the case where the airbag 2 directly abuts against the end portion of the structure 4, and a load may be input when a part of the airbag door that has been cracked due to the deployment of the airbag 2 abuts against at least one of the end portions on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the structure 4 or the upper plate portion 83.

[0026] Next, FIG. 10 shows a schematic diagram of the deployment of the airbag 2 when the structure mounting structure for mounting the structure 4 has the slide mechanism 8. As shown in FIG. 10, the structure 4 is installed on the instrument panel 5 via the slide mechanism 8, the rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction of the lower plate portion 84 is located in front of the deployment region of the airbag 2, and the rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction of the upper plate portion 83 or the structure 4 is located within the deployment region of the airbag 2.

[0027] At this time, since the lower plate portion 84 is positioned so as not to overlap the deployment area of the airbag, the deployment load of the airbag 2 is input to at least one of the upper plate portion 83 or the structure 4 located within the deployment area of the airbag 2, the engagement between the fitting hole 87R and the fitting projection 88R is released, and the upper plate portion 83 moves forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Along with this, the structure 4 also moves forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Therefore, a space for deploying the airbag 2 is secured, the airbag 2 can be deployed upward of the vehicle, and the input to the occupant P is reduced.

[0028] Also, in the present embodiment, the slide mechanism 8 is configured to include the upper plate portion 83 and the lower plate portion 84, but it is not limited to this. The upper slide portions 81R and 81L and the lower slide portions 82R and 82L may be directly joined to the structure 4 and the instrument panel 5, respectively. Further, instead of the structure 4 being pushed forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction by the deployment load of the airbag, the upper plate portion 83 may be moved forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction electrically by an electric motor or the like (not shown) provided on the roller portion 85R.

[0029] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made and implemented within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0030] 1 Airbag module 2 Airbag 3 Inflator 4 Structure 5 Instrument panel 6 Front window 7 Rotation mechanism 8 Slide mechanism

Claims

1. A structure mounting structure for mounting a structure on the instrument panel on the passenger seat side of a vehicle, wherein the rear end of the structure is located overlapping the deployment area of the airbag of the passenger seat airbag device, and a moving mechanism for moving the structure so as not to interfere with the deployment of the airbag, the moving mechanism including a moving mechanism for moving the structure by the deployment load of the inflated and deployed airbag, wherein the moving mechanism has an upper joint portion joined to the structure, and a lower joint portion joined to the instrument panel, and the lower joint portion is positioned so as not to overlap the deployment area of the airbag, characterizing the structure mounting structure.

2. The structure mounting structure according to Claim 1, wherein the moving mechanism has a movable portion configured to move the structure, and a fixing portion for fixing the movable portion, and the fixing portion is configured to be released from fixation by the deployment load of the airbag, characterizing the structure mounting structure.

3. The structure mounting structure according to Claim 2, wherein the movable portion is configured to be rotatable about an axis in the vehicle width direction, the fixing portion is provided on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the movable portion and is configured to fix the movable portion so as not to rotate, and the movable portion is configured to rotate the structure upward of the vehicle when at least one of the structure and the upper joint portion receives the deployment load of the airbag, characterizing the structure mounting structure.

4. The structure mounting structure according to Claim 2, wherein the movable portion is configured to be slidable in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the fixing portion is configured to fix the movable portion so as not to slide, and the movable portion is configured to move the structure forward of the vehicle when at least one of the structure and the upper joint portion receives the deployment load of the airbag, characterizing the structure mounting structure.

Images