Passenger-side airbag system

Abstract

To provide an air bag device for a front passenger seat that can properly cover a concave tray with a door part of an instrument panel in which the concave tray where an article can be accommodated is arranged at at least one of a vehicle rear side of the door part of the instrument panel expanded and extended by an air bag, and a vehicle front side when activating the air bag device for the front passenger seat.SOLUTION: An air bag device 1A for a front passenger seat includes a tabular door part 10 expanded and extended by an air bag when activating the air bag device for the front passenger seat at one part of positions facing the front passenger seat in an instrument panel 2 arranged at a vehicle front side relative to the front passenger seat. A concave tray 3 where an article can be accommodated is arranged at at least one of the vehicle front side of the door part and the vehicle rear side in the instrument panel, and the door part 10 (10A) expanded and extended to the tray 3 side when activating the air bag device for the front passenger seat totally covers the tray 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger seat airbag device that protects the upper body of a passenger in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, airbag devices that protect the upper body of passengers have been installed in the front passenger seat and the driver's seat of vehicles. The front passenger seat airbag device that protects the upper body of the front passenger is housed in the instrument panel in front of the front passenger seat. When the front passenger seat airbag device is activated, the door portion provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel is pushed open by the inflated airbag, and the airbag is deployed instantaneously while covering the upper surface of the instrument panel.

[0003] A number of storage portions capable of storing various articles are provided around the front passenger seat of the vehicle. For example, a so-called glove box or the like is provided on the instrument panel in front of the front passenger seat, and a so-called cup holder or the like is provided at a position on the instrument panel where the right or left hand of the front passenger can reach. Further, a concave tray capable of storing articles may be provided on at least one side of the vehicle rear side or the vehicle front side of the door portion of the instrument panel. When the concave tray is provided, there is a possibility that the airbag may enter the concave tray and get caught during the deployment of the front passenger seat airbag that deploys while covering the upper surface of the instrument panel, causing a delay in deployment or scattering of the articles in the tray. In order to avoid this, a structure for covering the tray when the airbag is activated is desired.

[0004] For example, in Patent Document 1, a display unit is arranged on the side of the instrument panel facing the front passenger seat, and a vehicle body front structure is disclosed in which a lid (corresponding to the door portion) pushed open from the instrument panel covers a groove portion between the instrument panel and the display unit when the airbag device is activated.

Prior Art Documents

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-050023 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The lid (corresponding to the door portion) of the front body structure described in Patent Document 1 is intended to cover the groove between the instrument panel and the display unit, but not to cover the concave tray described above. The groove is relatively close to the lid, and furthermore, the groove width (length in the vehicle's longitudinal direction within the groove) is relatively narrow, so the lid, pushed open by the inflated airbag, can sufficiently reach and cover it. However, in the case of the concave tray described above, the tray may be relatively far from the lid, or the length of the tray in the vehicle's longitudinal direction may be relatively long, so there is a possibility that the lid may not reach the tray or that the lid may not be able to completely cover the tray.

[0007] The present invention was conceived in view of these points, and aims to provide a passenger-side airbag device that can appropriately cover a recessed tray, capable of holding items, which is provided on at least one side of the rear or front of the instrument panel door portion that is pushed open by the airbag when the passenger-side airbag is deployed, with the door portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, the first invention is a passenger-side airbag device for protecting the upper body of a passenger in the passenger seat of a vehicle, wherein a plate-shaped door portion is provided in a part of the instrument panel located on the front side of the vehicle relative to the passenger seat, at a position facing the passenger seat, and is pushed open by the airbag when the passenger-side airbag device is activated. Furthermore, a concave tray capable of accommodating articles is provided on at least one side of the instrument panel, either on the front side or the rear side of the vehicle relative to the door portion, and the door portion that is pushed open toward the tray when the passenger-side airbag device is activated covers the entire tray, thus forming a passenger-side airbag device.

[0009] Next, the second invention is a passenger-side airbag device according to the first invention, wherein the instrument panel has a peripheral portion located around the door portion, and a retainer having a substantially U-shaped curved portion is connected to the inner surface of the instrument panel, and both ends of the curved portion are connected to the door portion and the peripheral portion, respectively. When the passenger-side airbag device is activated, the door portion, which is pushed open toward the tray, separates from the instrument panel and is connected to the peripheral portion by the retainer. The door portion, which has been pushed open toward the tray and separated from the instrument panel, then moves accompanied by deformation of the curved portion and covers the entire tray, thus forming a passenger-side airbag device.

[0010] Next, the third invention is a passenger-side airbag device according to the first invention, wherein the door portion is configured such that the connecting portion, which is the edge of the tray, does not separate from the instrument panel and rotates with the connecting portion as the pivot axis. The door portion is provided with a thinned-down fragile portion, and when the passenger-side airbag device is activated, the deformation of the fragile portion causes the door portion to deform into a shape that conforms to the surface of the instrument panel.

[0011] Next, the fourth invention is a passenger-side airbag device relating to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the tray is provided on the instrument panel on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the door. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] In the first invention, the door portion, which is pushed open to the side of the tray, covers the entire recessed tray provided on the instrument panel on at least one side of the vehicle, either the rear side or the front side, relative to the door portion. This allows the recessed tray to be properly covered by the door portion.

[0013] According to the second invention, even if the door portion that is pushed open to the side of the tray is too large to reach the tray when its edge is connected to the instrument panel and rotates, it can reach the tray by separating it from the instrument panel.

[0014] According to the third invention, if the surface of the instrument panel from the connecting portion of the door portion that is pushed open to the tray side to the tray is not flat but curved, the door portion will bend along that surface, so that the tray can be properly covered.

[0015] According to the fourth invention, a tray that is more convenient to use, provided on the instrument panel on the rear side of the vehicle (the side closer to the passenger seat occupant) relative to the door, can be appropriately covered by the door. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance and position of the door (closed state) and tray provided on the instrument panel in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the state in which the door section, pushed open and rotated by an inflated airbag (not shown), covers the tray. [Figure 3]It is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, and is a diagram for explaining an example in which the state before the operation of the passenger seat airbag device and the door part is in a closed state. [Figure 4] It is a diagram for explaining an example in which the inflated airbag has pushed open the door part halfway with respect to FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a diagram for explaining an example in which the airbag has further inflated, pushed open, and the rotated door part has covered the tray with respect to FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view for explaining an example of the appearance and position of the door part (closed state) provided on the instrument panel and the tray in the second embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a perspective view for explaining a state in which the door part pushed open by the inflated airbag (not shown) and separated from the instrument panel covers the tray with respect to FIG. 6. [Figure 8] It is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6, and is a diagram for explaining an example in which the state before the operation of the passenger seat airbag device and the door part is in a closed state. [Figure 9] It is a diagram for explaining an example in which the inflated airbag has pushed open the door part halfway with respect to FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining an example in which the airbag has further inflated, pushed open, and the door part separated from the instrument panel has covered the tray with respect to FIG. 9.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, the driver's seat airbag device 1A of the first embodiment and the driver's seat airbag device 1B of the second embodiment for protecting the upper body of the occupant in the front passenger seat of a vehicle will be described with reference to the drawings. When the axes of up and down, front and rear, and left and right are shown in the drawings, the axes are orthogonal to each other. The up and down direction indicates the up and down direction of the vehicle equipped with the driver's seat airbag devices 1A and 1B, the front and rear direction indicates the front and rear direction of the vehicle, and the left and right direction indicates the left and right direction of the vehicle. The driver's seat airbag devices 1A and 1B described in this embodiment are provided on the instrument panel 2 on at least one side of the vehicle rear side or the vehicle front side with respect to the door portion 10, and a concave tray 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) capable of accommodating articles is covered with the plate-shaped door portion 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 7).

[0018] <Appearance around the driver's seat airbag device 1A of the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2)> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the driver's seat airbag device 1A is provided at a part of the position facing the driver's seat on the instrument panel 2 arranged on the vehicle front side with respect to the driver's seat of the vehicle. The driver's seat airbag device 1A has an airbag unit 20 that houses an airbag, a plate-shaped door portion 10 provided on the instrument panel 2, and the like. The airbag unit 20 is arranged below the plate-shaped door portion 10 of the instrument panel 2 and at the back of the glove box 4.

[0019] Figure 1 shows the door section 10 in the closed state before the airbag deploys, while Figure 2 shows the open state after the airbag has deployed and the door section 10 has been pushed open (the airbag is not shown). Below the door section 10, which is provided on the instrument panel 2, is an airbag unit 20 containing the airbag. When the passenger-side airbag device 1A is activated, the airbag in the airbag unit 20 inflates and pushes the door section 10 open, and the airbag deploys from the opening 10Z (see Figure 2) created by the pushed-open door section 10. Also in Figure 1, the peripheral sections 2F, 2B, 2L, and 2R, which are located around the door section 10 on the inner surface (back surface) of the instrument panel 2, are connected to each door section by retainers 13A, as will be described later. The peripheral portion 2B is connected to the rear rotating door portion 10A by retainer 13A, the peripheral portion 2L is connected to the left rotating door portion 10L by retainer 13A, and the peripheral portion 2R is connected to the right rotating door portion 10R by retainer 13A.

[0020] In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, a concave tray 3 capable of accommodating items is provided on the instrument panel 2 on the rear side of the door portion 10 of the vehicle. An example of a passenger-side airbag device 1A in which the door portion 10 (10A), which is pushed open to cover the tray 3, rotates without separating from the instrument panel 2 is described.

[0021] The door section 10 of the passenger-side airbag device 1A of the first embodiment has a rearward-rotating door section 10A, a leftward-rotating door section 10L, and a rightward-rotating door section 10R, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the door section 10 shown in Figure 1, the positions indicated by the dotted lines are the rupture sections 10AB, 10LB, and 10RB, which are the positions where the door breaks and is separated from the instrument panel 2 when the airbag is deployed. The positions indicated by the dashed-dotted lines are the connection sections 10AA, 10LA, and 10RA, which are the positions where the connection is maintained and the door is folded without breaking when the airbag is deployed. As will be described later, the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the rupture sections 10AB, 10LB, and 10RB is provided with deep fragile sections such as relatively deep grooves, while the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the connection sections 10AA, 10LA, and 10RA is provided with shallow fragile sections such as relatively shallow grooves.

[0022] The rear rotating door section 10A is a door section that is pushed open towards the tray 3 when the passenger-side airbag device 1A is activated. The length of the rear rotating door section 10A in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the length in the vehicle lateral direction are set to be longer than the length of the tray 3 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the length in the vehicle lateral direction, and the size of the rear rotating door section 10A is set to be large enough to cover the entire tray 3. As shown in Figure 1, in the rear rotating door section 10A, the edge on the side closer to the tray 3 is a connecting section 10AA, the edge on the side further from the tray 3 is a broken section 10AB, the edge on the left side of the vehicle is a broken section 10LB, and the edge on the right side of the vehicle is a broken section 10RB. As shown in Figure 2, when the rear rotating door section 10A is pushed open, it remains connected to the instrument panel 2 without being separated, and rotates towards the rear of the vehicle with the connecting section 10AA as the pivot axis to cover the entire tray 3.

[0023] The left-rotating door section 10L is the door section that is pushed open to the left side of the vehicle when the passenger-side airbag device 1A is activated. As shown in Figure 1, in the left-rotating door section 10L, the left edge of the vehicle is a connecting section 10LA, the edge furthest from the tray 3 is a broken section 10AB, and the right edge of the vehicle is a broken section 10LB. As shown in Figure 2, the pushed-open left-rotating door section 10L remains connected to the instrument panel 2 without being separated, and rotates to the left side of the vehicle with the connecting section 10LA (see Figure 1) as the pivot axis.

[0024] The right-rotating door section 10R is the door section that is pushed open to the right side of the vehicle when the passenger-side airbag device 1A is activated. As shown in Figure 1, in the right-rotating door section 10R, the edge on the right side of the vehicle is a connecting section 10RA, the edge on the side furthest from the tray 3 is a broken section 10AB, and the edge on the left side of the vehicle is a broken section 10RB. As shown in Figure 2, the pushed-open right-rotating door section 10R remains connected to the instrument panel 2 without being separated, and rotates to the right side of the vehicle with the connecting section 10RA (see Figure 1) as the pivot axis.

[0025] In the second embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, there are two door sections that open in the vehicle's longitudinal direction: a rear-separated door section 10B and a front-rotating door section 10C. However, in the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is only one door section that opens in the vehicle's longitudinal direction: a rear-rotating door section 10A. For this reason, the rear-rotating door section 10A is set to be longer in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and is large enough to cover the entire tray 3 without separating from the instrument panel 2 when pushed open.

[0026] <Figures 3-5 show the passenger-side airbag device 1A of the first embodiment pushing open the door section.> Figure 3 shows the III-III cross-section of Figure 1. Figures 3 to 5 show how, when the passenger-side airbag system 1A is activated, the inflated airbag 20A pushes open the door section 10, and the opened door section 10 covers the tray 3. Figure 3 shows the state before the passenger-side airbag system 1A is activated, showing the door section 10 in the closed position. Figure 4 shows the state after the passenger-side airbag system 1A is activated from the state in Figure 3, the inflated airbag 20A ruptures the rupture section 10AB of the door section 10, and the airbag 20A pops out from the opening 10Z, with the door section 10 partially pushed open with the connecting section 10AA as the pivot axis. Figure 5 shows the state after the airbag 20A is further inflated from the state in Figure 4, with the opened door section 10 rotating with the connecting section 10AA as the pivot axis until it touches the surface of the instrument panel 2 and covers the tray 3. In Figures 3 to 5, the symbol 5 represents the front windshield.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the instrument panel 2 is formed by joining two layers: a cushion layer 11A, which is a relatively soft layer such as foamed resin covered with a surface material, and a base layer 12A, which is a relatively hard resin layer. A retainer 13A is joined to the back surface of the door portion 10 and to the back surface (peripheral portions 2B, 2F) of the instrument panel 2 adjacent to the door portion 10. The retainer 13A is made of a relatively soft, easily deformable, flexible, and durable resin. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, it functions as a hinge when the pushed-open door portion 10 rotates, and prevents the connection portion 10AA (the edge portion that serves as the pivot axis of the door portion 10) of the door portion 10 from separating from the instrument panel 2.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the retainer 13A has a plurality of convex joints 13B on the surface facing the back of the door portion 10 and the surface facing the back of the instrument panel 2 adjacent to the door portion 10 (the surface facing the surrounding portions 2B and 2F). The retainer 13A is joined at these joints 13B to the back of the door portion 10 and to the surrounding portions 2B and 2F, which are part of the back of the instrument panel 2 around the door portion 10, thereby connecting the door portion 10 and the instrument panel 2. The retainer 13A also has a side wall 13D that is erected downwards and surrounds the airbag unit 20. The airbag unit 20 is housed in the space surrounded by the side wall 13D.

[0029] The door section 10 is located on the instrument panel 2 above the airbag unit 20. The door section 10 shown in Figures 3 to 5 is the rearward rotating door section 10A shown in Figure 1, with the edge closer to the tray 3 being the connecting section 10AA shown in Figure 1, and the edge further from the tray 3 being the broken section 10AB shown in Figure 1.

[0030] On the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the connection portion 10AA, a relatively shallow groove or notch, or shallow weak point MS, is provided, for example, to the depth of the base layer 12A. On the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the fracture portion 10AB, a relatively deep groove or notch, or deep weak point ML, is provided, for example, to the depth of partway down the cushion layer 11A. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, a shallow weak point MS (corresponding to a weak point) is provided at the bending-opposite position 10AC of the door portion 10 where the pushed-open door portion 10 contacts the bent portion of the surface of the instrument panel 2 (in the example in Figure 5, the edge portion 3B on the tray 3 closer to the door portion 10).

[0031] As shown in Figure 3, the retainer 13A at the position of the connection portion 10AA in the door portion 10 is provided with a roughly U-shaped curved portion 13C that straddles the shallow weak portion MS. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, one end of the roughly U-shaped curved portion 13C is connected to the door portion 10, and the other end is connected to the instrument panel 2 (the surrounding portion 2B adjacent to the connection portion 10AA of the door portion 10). In other words, both ends of the curved portion 13C are connected to the door portion 10 (rear-rotating door portion 10A) and the surrounding portion 2B, respectively. As shown in Figure 5, the length of the curved portion 13C is set so that when the door portion 10 is pushed open and comes into contact with the surface of the instrument panel 2, it is fully extended and comes into contact with the edge of the instrument panel 2 at the opening 10Z and the edge of the connection portion 10AA of the door portion 10.

[0032] When the passenger-side airbag system 1A is activated, starting from the state shown in Figure 3 before activation, the airbag 20A pops out of the airbag unit 20 and inflates, as shown in Figure 4, pushing open the door section 10 (rear-swivel door section 10A). The connection section 10AA of the door section 10 (rear-swivel door section 10A) remains connected to the instrument panel 2 without separating due to the shallow weak section MS, and becomes the pivot axis of the door section 10 (rear-swivel door section 10A) as it is pushed open. The rupture section 10AB of the door section 10 (rear-swivel door section 10A) is separated from the instrument panel 2 when the deep weak section ML is ruptured by the pressing force of the inflated airbag 20A.

[0033] As the airbag 20A inflates further from the state shown in Figure 4, the door section 10 (rearward rotating door section 10A) opens approximately 180° towards the rear of the vehicle from the state shown in Figure 3, contacting the surface of the instrument panel 2 and covering the tray 3. The connection section 10AA of the door section 10 (rearward rotating door section 10A) is prevented from separating from the instrument panel 2 by the retainer 13A (curved section 13C of the retainer 13A), and the connection with the instrument panel 2 is maintained.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, a shallow weak point MS is provided at the bending opposing position 10AC, which is the position of the pushed-open door portion 10 (rear-rotating door portion 10A) that faces the bent portion 2K (see Figures 1 and 2) on the surface of the instrument panel 2. Therefore, as shown in Figure 5, the door portion 10 (rear-rotating door portion 10A) that has been pushed open and is in contact with the instrument panel 2 bends at the position of the bent portion 2K (bending opposing position 10AC). As shown in Figure 5, the surface of the door portion 10 (rear-rotating door portion 10A) that covers the surface from the connection portion 10AA to the bent portion 2K and the surface of the door portion 10 that covers from the bent portion 2K to the edge 3A on the tray 3 that is farther from the door portion 10 (i.e., covers the entire tray 3) are not on the same plane, but are bent in accordance with the curvature of the surface of the instrument panel 2. In other words, the pushed-open rear-rotating door section 10A bends at the shallow weak section MS (corresponding to the weak section) at the bending-opposing position 10AC, along the surface of the instrument panel 2, from the connection section 10AA to the edge (edge ​​3A) on the tray 3 that is furthest from the rear-rotating door section 10A (it bends along the surface of the instrument panel 2, starting at the connection section 10AA and ending at the edge 3A). Thus, the door section 10 (rear-rotating door section 10A) is provided with a thinned weak section (a shallow weak section MS provided at the bending-opposing position 10AC). The door section 10 (rear-rotating door section 10A) then deforms into a shape that conforms to the surface of the instrument panel 2 due to the deformation of the weak section (a shallow weak section MS provided at the bending-opposing position 10AC) when the passenger-side airbag device 1A is activated.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, the pushed-open door section 10 (rear-rotating door section 10A) covers the entire tray 3 and bends, reducing the gap between the tray 3 and the door section 10, thus more effectively preventing the airbag 20A from entering the tray 3. Furthermore, the time from when the passenger-side airbag is activated until the airbag 20A is fully deployed is only a few tens of milliseconds, and in this instant, the entire tray 3 can be covered, preventing items inside the tray 3 from scattering.

[0036] In Figure 5, if the angle between the surface from the connecting portion 10AA to the bent portion 2K and the surface from the bent portion 2K to the edge 3A on the tray 3 furthest from the door portion 10 (angle θ1 in Figure 3) is smaller than a predetermined angle, the door portion 10 does not need to be bent (the shallow weak portion MS at the bending-opposing position 10AC may be omitted).

[0037] <External view of the passenger-side airbag device 1B in the second embodiment (Figures 6 and 7)> In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is only one door section 10 that is pushed open in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, which is the rearward-rotating door section 10A. Therefore, the length of the door section 10 (rearward-rotating door section 10A) that is pushed open towards the tray 3 is relatively long in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, and by rotating the door section 10 (rearward-rotating door section 10A) while it remains connected to the instrument panel 2, the entire tray 3 can be covered.

[0038] In the second embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 10, the door section 10 that is pushed open in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle differs from the first embodiment in that it consists of two parts: a rear separation door section 10B and a front rotating door section 10C. Therefore, the length of the door section 10 (rear separation door section 10B) that is pushed open towards the tray 3 is relatively short in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and if the door section 10 (rear separation door section 10B) is rotated while still connected to the instrument panel 2, it will not be able to cover the tray 3. Therefore, the door section 10 (rear separation door section 10B) that has been pushed open is separated from the instrument panel 2 and extended using a retainer 14A so that it can reach the tray 3, which is another difference from the first embodiment. The differences from the first embodiment will be mainly explained below.

[0039] Figure 6 shows the case before the airbag deploys and the door section 10 is closed, while Figure 7 shows the case when the airbag has deployed and the door section 10 has been pushed open (the airbag is not shown). As shown in Figure 6, in the rear separation door section 10B, the edge closer to the tray 3 is a broken section 10BB, the edge further from the tray 3 is a broken section 10BC, the left side edge of the vehicle is a broken section 10LB, and the right side edge of the vehicle is a broken section 10RB. As shown in Figure 7, the pushed-open rear separation door section 10B is separated from the instrument panel 2 and extends to a position on the rear side of the vehicle that covers the tray 3 by the retainer 14A.

[0040] As shown in Figure 6, in the forward rotating door section 10C, the edge closer to the tray 3 is a broken section 10BC, the edge further from the tray 3 is a connecting section 10CA, the edge on the left side of the vehicle is a broken section 10LB, and the edge on the right side of the vehicle is a broken section 10RB. As shown in Figure 7, when the forward rotating door section 10C is pushed open, it remains connected to the instrument panel 2 without being separated and rotates towards the front of the vehicle with the connecting section 10CA (see Figure 6) as the pivot axis.

[0041] <Figures 8-10 show the passenger-side airbag device 1B of the second embodiment pushing open the door section.> Figure 8 shows the VIII-VIII cross-section of Figure 6, and Figures 8 to 10 show how, when the passenger-side airbag device 1B is activated, the inflated airbag 20A pushes open the door section 10, and the opened door section 10 covers the tray 3. Figure 8 shows the state before the passenger-side airbag device 1B is activated, showing the door section 10 in the closed state. Figure 9 shows the state after the passenger-side airbag device 1B is activated from the state in Figure 8, the inflated airbag 20A ruptures the rupture sections 10BB, 10BC (and rupture sections 10LB, 10RB (see Figure 6)) of the door section 10, the airbag 20A pops out from the opening 10Z, and the door section 10 separated from the instrument panel 2 (rear separated door section 10B) is pushed open partway. Figure 10 shows the state in which, from the state in Figure 9, the airbag 20A has further inflated, pushing open the door section 10 (rear separated door section 10B) which has separated from the instrument panel 2, and the retainer 14A has extended it to a position where it covers the tray 3.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8, the back surface of the rear separation door section 10B and the back surface of the instrument panel 2 adjacent to the rear separation door section 10B are connected to the retainer 14A by a plurality of convex joints 14B provided on the retainer 14A. The retainer 14A connects the rear separation door section 10B and the instrument panel 2 (the retainer 14A connects the rear separation door section 10B and the surrounding section 2B). Similarly, as shown in Figure 8, the back surface of the front rotating door section 10C and the back surface of the instrument panel 2 adjacent to the front rotating door section 10C are connected to the retainer 15A by a plurality of convex joints 15B provided on the retainer 15A. The retainer 15A connects the front rotating door section 10C and the instrument panel 2 (the retainer 15A connects the front rotating door section 10C and the surrounding section 2F).

[0043] As shown in Figure 8, the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the fractured portion 10BB is provided with a deep weak point ML, which is a relatively deep groove or cut, for example, to a depth of partway down the cushion layer 11A. Similarly, the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the fractured portion 10BC is also provided with a deep weak point ML. Furthermore, the back surface of the instrument panel 2 at the connection portion 10CA is provided with a shallow weak point MS, which is a relatively shallow groove or cut, for example, to a depth of the base layer 12A.

[0044] As shown in Figure 8, the retainer 14A at the location of the fractured portion 10BB in the rear separation door portion 10B is provided with a roughly U-shaped curved portion 14C that straddles the deep weak portion ML. As shown in Figures 8 to 10, one end of the roughly U-shaped curved portion 14C is connected to the rear separation door portion 10B, and the other end is connected to the instrument panel 2 (the surrounding portion 2B adjacent to the fractured portion 10BB of the rear separation door portion 10B). In other words, both ends of the curved portion 14C are connected to the rear separation door portion 10B and the surrounding portion 2B, respectively. Both ends of the curved portion 15C are connected to the front rotating door portion 10C and the surrounding portion 2F, respectively. The length of the curved portion 14C is set to such a length that, as shown in Figure 10, when the rear separation door portion 10B is pushed open and separated to the rear of the vehicle and comes into contact with the surface of the instrument panel 2, the separated rear separation door portion 10B can cover the entire tray 3.

[0045] When the passenger-side airbag system 1B is activated, starting from the state shown in Figure 8 before activation, the airbag 20A pops out of the airbag unit 20 and inflates, as shown in Figure 9, pushing open the door section 10 (rear separation door section 10B and front rotating door section 10C). In the rear separation door section 10B, the ruptured sections 10BB and 10BC are separated from the instrument panel 2 by the pressing force of the inflated airbag 20A, which ruptures the deep weak section ML. Similarly, in the front rotating door section 10C, the ruptured section 10BC is separated from the instrument panel 2 by the pressing force of the inflated airbag 20A, which ruptures the deep weak section ML. The connection section 10CA in the front rotating door section 10C remains connected to the instrument panel 2 by the shallow weak section MS and becomes the pivot axis of the pushed-open front rotating door section 10C.

[0046] As the airbag 20A inflates further from the state shown in Figure 9, the rear separation door section 10B opens approximately 180° towards the rear of the vehicle from the state shown in Figure 8, contacting the surface of the instrument panel 2 and covering the entire tray 3, as shown in Figure 10. The retainer 14A, with its deformed curved portion 14C, moves the rear separation door section 10B, which has been separated toward the rear of the vehicle, to a position where it can cover the entire tray 3. In this way, the rear separation door section 10B, which has been pushed open toward the tray 3 and separated from the instrument panel 2, covers the entire tray 3 after moving with deformation of the curved portion 14C. Also, as shown in Figure 10, the front rotating door section 10C opens approximately 180° towards the front of the vehicle from the state shown in Figure 8 and contacts the surface of the instrument panel 2.

[0047] The passenger-side airbag devices 1A and 1B of the present invention are not limited to the configuration, structure, shape, appearance, etc., described in this embodiment, and various modifications, additions, and deletions are possible without altering the essence of the present invention.

[0048] In this embodiment, an example was described in which the door section 10 has a left-rotating door section 10L and a right-rotating door section 10R, but the left-rotating door section 10L and the right-rotating door section 10R may be omitted.

[0049] In this embodiment, an example was described in which the tray 3 is provided on the rear side of the door section 10. However, the tray 3 may be provided on at least one side of the door section 10, either the rear side or the front side. The door section that is pushed open towards the tray 3 depending on the position of the tray 3 can be structured to cover the tray as described in the first or second embodiment.

[0050] The structure of the rupture portion (deep weak portion ML) that breaks and separates from the instrument panel 2 when the door portion 10 is pushed open by the inflated airbag 20A, and the structure of the connection portion (shallow weak portion MS) that maintains connection with the instrument panel 2 and folds without breaking when pushed open, are not limited to the structures described in this embodiment, and each weak portion can be composed of various structures. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0051] 1A, 1B Passenger-side airbag system 2. Instrument Panel 2B, 2F, 2L, 2R surrounding area 2K bend 3 trays 3A, 3B edges 4. Glove box 5. Front windshield 10 Door section 10A Rear rotating door section 10AA, 10LA, 10RA connection part 10AB, 10LB, 10RB fracture section 10AC Bending Opposite Position 10B Rear Separation Door Section 10BB, 10BC, 10LB, 10RB fracture section 10C Front rotating door section 10CA connection 10L Left-turning door section 10R Right-hand rotating door section 10Z opening 11A Cushion layer 12A Base layer 13A, 14A, 15A retainer 13B, 14B, 15B joints 13C, 14C, 15C curved section 13D, 14D, 15D side wall 20 Airbag Units 20A Airbag ML Deep Weak Part MS Shallow Weak Area

Claims

1. A passenger-side airbag system that protects the upper body of the passenger in the front passenger seat of a vehicle, In the instrument panel located on the front side of the vehicle relative to the passenger seat, a plate-shaped door section is provided in a part of the position facing the passenger seat, which is pushed open by the airbag when the passenger-side airbag system is activated. The instrument panel on at least one side of the door section, either on the front or rear side of the vehicle, is provided with a recessed tray capable of holding items. When the passenger-side airbag system is deployed, the door section that is pushed open toward the tray covers the entire tray. Passenger-side airbag system.

2. A passenger-side airbag device according to claim 1, The instrument panel has a peripheral portion located around the door portion, A retainer having a roughly U-shaped curved portion is connected to the inner surface of the instrument panel. Both ends of the curved portion are connected to the door portion and the surrounding portion, respectively. When the passenger-side airbag system is deployed, the door section that is pushed open toward the tray separates from the instrument panel and is connected to the surrounding section by the retainer. The door portion, which has been pushed open toward the tray and separated from the instrument panel, covers the entire tray after moving with deformation of the curved portion. Passenger-side airbag system.

3. A passenger-side airbag device according to claim 1, The door portion is configured such that the connecting portion, which is the edge of the tray, does not separate from the instrument panel and rotates with the connecting portion as the pivot axis. The aforementioned door section is provided with a thinned, vulnerable section. When the passenger-side airbag system is deployed, the deformation of the vulnerable part causes the door to deform into a shape that conforms to the surface of the instrument panel. Passenger-side airbag system.

4. A passenger-side airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The aforementioned tray is provided on the instrument panel on the rear side of the vehicle relative to the door section. Passenger-side airbag system.

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