Lid structure for front passenger seat air bag

Abstract

A lid structure for a front passenger seat airbag comprises: an airbag opening (3) that is provided in an upper surface of an instrument panel (1); and a lid (8R) that covers at least part of the airbag opening (3). When an airbag (7) is deployed, the lid (8R) rotates about a hinge (9R) extending along an edge of the airbag opening (3) on a front passenger seat side. A protrusion (10) protruding above a plane (RP) including the airbag opening (3) is formed in a region, on the upper surface of the instrument panel (1), closer to the front passenger seat side than the airbag opening (3). The lid (8R) is of a size that reaches the protrusion (10) when rotated about the hinge (9R).

Description

Passenger airbag lid structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a lid structure for a passenger airbag.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an airbag opening lid structure that includes a main opening that is provided in advance in an instrument panel when the airbag is not deployed and through which the airbag passes when the airbag is deployed, a main airbag lid that is supported by the instrument panel to close the main opening and is opened by the deploying airbag, and an auxiliary lid that is partitioned by an easy-to-break portion that is connected to the main opening and is integral with the instrument panel, whereby the deployment force of the airbag acts on the auxiliary lid to break the easy-to-break portion, causing the auxiliary lid to open and form an auxiliary opening that is integrated with the main opening. This opening lid structure includes an attachment consisting of a movable portion and a fixed portion on the back side of the instrument panel, the movable portion being fixed to the auxiliary lid and the fixed portion being fixed to the instrument panel.

[0003] Patent No. 3144138

[0004] However, depending on the design of the instrument panel, a protrusion that protrudes upward may be formed in the airbag deployment area on the upper surface of the instrument panel. The presence of the protrusion in this area may hinder the smooth deployment of the airbag.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a lid structure for a passenger seat airbag that allows the airbag to be deployed smoothly even when the above-mentioned protrusion is present.

[0006] A lid structure for a passenger airbag according to one aspect of the present invention includes an airbag opening provided on an upper surface of an instrument panel and a lid that covers at least a portion of the airbag opening. When the airbag is deployed, the lid rotates around a hinge that extends along the passenger-side edge of the airbag opening. A protrusion that protrudes above a plane that includes the airbag opening is formed in an area on the passenger-side of the airbag opening on the upper surface of the instrument panel. The lid is sized to reach the protrusion when rotated around the hinge.

[0007] According to the above-described lid structure for the passenger seat airbag, the airbag can be deployed smoothly.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an instrument panel equipped with a lid structure for a passenger airbag according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the lid structure of Fig. 1 when the airbag is not deployed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lid structure of Fig. 1 when the airbag is deployed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lid structure of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the lid structure of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the lid structure of Fig. 1.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, FR and RR indicate the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, respectively. Similarly, LH and RH indicate the left and right in the vehicle width direction, and UP and DN indicate the top and bottom in the vehicle vertical direction, respectively. In the following description, the left and right in the vehicle width direction, the front and back in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the top and bottom in the vehicle vertical direction will be expressed without using the terms "vehicle width direction," "vehicle longitudinal direction," and "vehicle vertical direction," respectively.

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a passenger airbag system according to an embodiment is mounted on an instrument panel 1 of a vehicle. The vehicle may be, for example, a right-hand drive vehicle, with the driver's seat on the right side and the passenger seat on the left side. The instrument panel 1 incorporates a horizontally elongated device that extends from in front of the driver's seat to the left and toward the passenger seat, specifically, an information display 2. The information display 2 can display, for example, a speedometer, a tachometer, etc. in the display area on the driver's seat side, and can display a navigation system screen and other information in the display area on the passenger seat side.

[0011] The instrument panel 1 is fixedly supported by the inner surface of a body panel (not shown) of the vehicle and by a steering member (not shown). The steering member is also called a cross car beam. An airbag opening 3 for a passenger airbag is provided facing upward on the upper surface of the left side portion of the instrument panel 1. In this embodiment, the airbag opening 3 is provided in a lid plate 4.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 2, an airbag module 5 is provided inside the instrument panel 1. The airbag module 5 is fixedly supported by a steering member (not shown). The lid plate 4 has a frame-shaped mounting portion that protrudes downward from its back surface, and is fixed to the airbag module 5 via this mounting portion. During assembly, the lid plate 4 and the airbag module 5 are inserted from above into the interior of the instrument panel 1 in a provisionally assembled state and fixed to the steering member. The outer peripheral edge of the lid plate 4 is placed on the instrument panel 1.

[0013] As shown in Fig. 1 , an H-shaped tear line 6 is formed on the lid plate 4. The tear line 6 is formed by, for example, forming a groove on the back surface of the lid plate 4 to thin it. As shown in Fig. 4 , the substantially rectangular portion of the lid plate 4 that is forward of the horizontal line of the "H" of the tear line 6 constitutes a front lid 8F, and the substantially rectangular portion behind it constitutes a rear lid 8R. That is, the lid 8F covers the front portion of the airbag opening 3, and the lid 8R covers the rear portion of the airbag opening 3.

[0014] An airbag 7 is housed in the airbag module 5. When the airbag 7 is inflated by gas generated by an inflator, the pressure of the inflating airbag 7 causes the lid plate 4 to rupture and tear open along the tear line 6. When the lid plate 4 tears open, the portion forward of the horizontal line H of the tear line 6 bends at a hinge 9F (see FIG. 4 ) extending along the front edge of the airbag opening 3. The rear portion bends at a hinge 9R (see FIG. 4 ) extending along the rear (passenger seat side) edge of the airbag opening 3. That is, the front lid 8F rotates around the hinge 9F to open upward and forward, and the rear lid 8R rotates around the hinge 9R to open upward and rearward. When the lids 8F and 8R open, the airbag opening 3 is opened. As shown in FIG. 3 , the front edge of the airbag opening 3 is defined by the hinge 9F, and the rear edge is defined by the hinge 9R.

[0015] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, the right end of the lid plate 4 is located to the right of the left end of the information display 2. That is, the lid plate 4 and the information display 2 are arranged so that the right portion of the lid plate 4 and the left portion of the information display 2 partially overlap in the vehicle width direction. More specifically, the right ends of the lids 8F and 8R are located to the right of the left end of the information display 2, and the right portions of the lids 8F and 8R and the left portion of the information display 2 partially overlap in the vehicle width direction. Fig. 2 shows a cross section in a plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction that passes through the overlapping portion.

[0016] 2, 3, and 6, the lid plate 4 is disposed in front of the information display 2 and at a position lower than the upper end 2a of the information display 2. If a plane including the airbag opening 3, i.e., a plane defined by the hinges 9F and 9R, is defined as a virtual reference plane RP (see FIG. 6), the information display 2 forms a protrusion 10 that protrudes upward from the virtual reference plane RP behind the airbag opening 3.

[0017] The upper surface of the protrusion 10 has a slope 11 that slopes downward as it approaches the front or the airbag opening 3. The slope 11 is a flat surface parallel to the hinge 9R and smoothly connected to the upper end 2a of the information display 2. In the illustrated example, the slope 11 constitutes a part of the upper surface of the protrusion 10, but the slope 11 may constitute the entire upper surface of the protrusion 10. The slope 11 may be integrated with the information display 2 or may be a component separate from the information display 2.

[0018] In the initial stage of inflation and deployment, the airbag 7 tears open the lid plate 4, opens the lids 8F and 8R, and deploys upward from the airbag opening 3. Thereafter, the direction of deployment of the airbag 7 is controlled by the shape of the airbag 7 itself and the front windshield 12, and it deploys toward the rear passenger seat as shown in Figure 3. In the event of a frontal collision, when the airbag 7 absorbs the load of the passenger in the passenger seat, the instrument panel 1 and the front windshield 12 apply a reaction force to the airbag 7 against the load.

[0019] As shown by hatching in FIG. 4 , the airbag deployment area is the area on the passenger seat side of the airbag opening 3 on the upper surface of the instrument panel 1. More specifically, the airbag deployment area is the area located rearward of the airbag opening 3 between a plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction that passes through the left edge of the airbag opening 3 and a plane perpendicular to the vehicle width direction that passes through the right edge of the airbag opening 3. The airbag deployment area is located within the outline of the fully inflated airbag 7 in plan and rear views. The outline of the fully inflated airbag 7 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 4 and 5 . The airbag deployment area is an area that may rub relatively strongly against the lower end of the airbag 7 during the deployment process of the airbag 7. The left side of the protrusion 10, more specifically, the left side of the information display 2 and the left side of the slope 11, are located within the airbag deployment area.

[0020] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 , the rear lid 8R is large enough to reach the protrusion 10 when pivoted around the hinge 9R. The size of the lid 8R refers to the length or width of the lid 8R in the direction of extension of the hinge 9R and in the direction perpendicular to the direction of extension (hereinafter referred to as the hinge-perpendicular direction). That is, the distance from the hinge 9R to the protrusion 10 in the hinge-perpendicular direction is smaller than the length or width of the lid 8R in the hinge-perpendicular direction, and the lid 8R and the protrusion 10 are arranged to partially overlap in the direction of extension of the hinge 9R. Furthermore, the slope 11 of the protrusion 10 and the lid 8R are arranged so that the hinge 9R is located on an imaginary extension plane EP (see FIG. 6 ) of the slope 11. That is, the imaginary extension plane EP intersects the hinge 9R over the entire length of the hinge 9R.

[0021] In this embodiment, a recess 13 recessed downward from the imaginary extension plane EP is formed behind the airbag opening 3 and in front of the protrusion 10. The lid 8R has a size that allows it to reach the slope 11 when it rotates around the hinge 9R, and when the airbag 7 is deployed, the open lid 8R straddles the recess 13 and the leading edge of the lid 8R comes into contact with the slope 11. In other words, the distance from the hinge 9R to the slope 11 in the hinge-orthogonal direction is shorter than the length or width of the lid 8R in the hinge-orthogonal direction, and the lid 8R and the slope 11 are disposed so as to partially overlap in the extension direction of the hinge 9R.

[0022] The effects of the lid structure according to the above embodiment will be described.

[0023] (1) The lid structure of the passenger airbag includes an airbag opening 3 provided on the upper surface of the instrument panel 1 and a lid 8R that covers at least a portion of the airbag opening 3. When the airbag 7 is deployed, the lid 8R rotates around a hinge 9R that extends along the passenger-side edge of the airbag opening 3. In the airbag deployment region, which is an area on the upper surface of the instrument panel 1 closer to the passenger side than the airbag opening 3, a protrusion 10 is formed that protrudes above a virtual reference plane RP that is a plane that includes the airbag opening 3. The lid 8R is sized to reach the protrusion 10 when rotated around the hinge 9R.

[0024] In the above-described lid structure, the lid 8R is sized to reach the protrusion 10 when it rotates around the hinge 9R. Therefore, when the airbag 7 is deployed, the open lid 8R rests on the upper surface of the protrusion 10. In other words, the open lid 8R spans between the hinge 9R and the protrusion 10 while covering at least a portion of the upper surface of the protrusion 10. Therefore, with the above-described lid structure, the deployment direction of the airbag 7 is guided slightly upward by the back surface of the open lid 8R, thereby preventing the airbag 7 from getting caught on the protrusion 10 during deployment. Furthermore, even if a recess 13 is formed between the airbag opening 3 and the protrusion 10, the open lid 8R straddles the recess 13, thereby preventing the airbag 7 from getting caught on the recess 13 during deployment. In other words, the above-described lid structure allows the airbag 7 to be deployed smoothly. Specifically, the behavior of the airbag 7 during deployment is stabilized, thereby further shortening the deployment time from the start of inflation to full inflation of the airbag 7.

[0025] (2) The protrusion 10 may also include a slope 11 smoothly connected to the upper end 2a of the information display 2, which is a device built into the instrument panel 1. The hinge 9R may be located on an imaginary extension plane EP of the slope 11, and the lid 8R may be large enough to reach the slope 11 when rotated around the hinge 9R. In this case, when the airbag 7 is deployed, the back surface of the open lid 8R, together with the slope 11 and the upper end 2a of the information display 2, forms a substantially flat surface that is smoothly continuous in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. Therefore, even if the information display 2 is built into the instrument panel 1, the airbag 7 can be smoothly deployed by preventing the information display 2 from getting caught on the airbag 7 during deployment.

[0026] The above-described embodiments are merely examples described to facilitate understanding of the invention. The technical scope of the invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above-described embodiments, but also includes various modifications, changes, alternative technologies, etc. that can be easily derived therefrom.

[0027] For example, in the above embodiment, the lid plate 4 is attached to the airbag module 5, but the lid plate may be separated from the airbag module or may be integrated with the instrument panel. In either case, the opening that is opened by rotating the lid serves as the airbag opening.

[0028] In addition, in the above embodiment, the information display 2 and the slope 11 constitute the convex portion 10, but the elements that constitute the convex portion 10 are not limited to this and may be, for example, an air conditioning device, an in-vehicle infotainment component, etc.

[0029] In addition, in the above embodiment, the airbag opening 3 is covered by the lid 8F and the lid 8R, but the lid 8R alone may be configured to cover the entire airbag opening 3. In the above embodiment, the size and shape of the lid 8R are substantially the same as those of the lid 8F, but the size and shape of the two lids may be different from each other.

[0030] 1 Instrument panel, 2 Information display (device), 3 Airbag opening, 7 Airbag, 8R Lid, 9R Hinge, 10 Convex portion, 11 Slope, EP Virtual extension plane (extension plane), RP Virtual reference plane (plane)

Claims

1. A lid structure for a passenger airbag, comprising: an airbag opening provided on the upper surface of an instrument panel; and a lid that covers at least a portion of the airbag opening and that rotates around a hinge extending along the passenger-side edge of the airbag opening when the airbag is deployed, wherein a protrusion that protrudes above a plane that includes the airbag opening is formed in an area on the passenger-side of the airbag opening on the upper surface of the instrument panel, and the lid is sized to reach the protrusion when rotated around the hinge.

2. The passenger airbag lid structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a slope that is smoothly connected to the upper end of a device built into the instrument panel, the hinge is located on an extension of the slope, and the lid is sized to reach the slope when rotated around the hinge.

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