JPH11321519A - Air bag lid for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air bag lid for a vehicle having a simple lid structure with the small number of part items also invisible from the outside. SOLUTION: In an air bag lid 21 for a vehicle provided with a lid core material 25 formed by providing a separation groove in an instrument panel core material 22 positioned in a front surface of an air bag device main unit to be separated from the separation groove by operation of an air bag, a separation part 26 connecting/disconnecting the separation groove of the instrument panel core material 22 and a lid peripheral edge part is formed. A slash skin layer 24 constituting the air bag lid 21 for the vehicle is formed so as to integrally connect a first skin part 24a by a first slash material and a second skin part 24b by a second slash material.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle airbag device such as an airbag device for a passenger's seat, for example. The present invention relates to an airbag lid for a vehicle, which is formed in a state where no airbag is present, and which is opened along a cleavage line when the airbag is inflated and deployed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows an air bag grid in a conventional passenger airbag apparatus. As shown in the figure, the airbag grid is pressed against a part of the instrument panel 1 on the passenger seat side when an airbag (not shown) is inflated and deployed, and cleaves along, for example, an H-shaped cleavage line 2. A substantially rectangular opening is formed in a core member (hereinafter referred to as an instrument core material) 3 of the instrument panel 1 opposed to an airbag device main body (not shown). A lid core material 4 is disposed so as to close, and a foam layer 5 and a skin layer 6 of the instrument panel 1 are integrally formed thereon.

The lid core 4 is made of a steel plate bracket 4a which becomes a hinge when the lid is opened, and a resin lid 4 which is fixed to the bracket 4a and substantially closes the opening of the instrument core 3.
b and is integrally insert-molded and fixed to the flange portion 3a of the instrument core 3. The resin cover 4b of the lid core 4 is divided into two parts so as to abut at a substantially central portion, and the leading end of the two parts is a convex part 4c. When the material 4 is opened, the two layers of the foam layer 5 and the skin layer 6 are sharply cuttable.

The skin layer 6 is made of, for example, slash skin, and the skin layer 6 is provided with a cleavage portion 7 at a position where the projection 4c of the lid core material 4 is opened and abuts. As shown in FIG. 8 (c), the cleavage portion 7 is provided with a groove-shaped notch 8, which is formed by spraying a material of another material which is easily cleaved while applying heat by a spraying method. 8 is filled to form a skin layer.

Further, the foam layer 5 serving as a cushion layer is sealed with a seal tape 5a so as to prevent leakage between the instrument core material 3 and the lid core material 4, and urethane is injected and foamed.

Then, the instrument core material 3 and the skin layer 6 are integrally assembled by the foam bonding of the foam layer 5 to the instrument panel 1 having a three-layer structure. Forming a grid.

[0007]

However, the conventional construction has a large number of parts of the lid core member 4 and a complicated structure, and also has a structure for preventing leakage at the time of injection-molding a foamed layer. There is also a problem that the operation of attaching the seal tape 5a is required, and the manufacturing cost is increased.

In addition, since the cleaved portion 7 provided in the skin layer 6 is formed by applying heat by another method, the skin layer 6 is distorted and the appearance of the cleaved portion 7 does not match the general skin surface. There was also.

An object of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, is to provide an airbag lid for a vehicle having an excellent appearance, a small number of parts, and a simple structure.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, an airbag inflating opening is provided in a core material of an instrument panel located on a front surface of an airbag device main body. A vehicle airbag having a lid core material disposed in the airbag inflation opening and a foam layer and a skin layer forming an instrument panel integrally formed on the lid core material and the upper surface of the core material. In the grid, the skin layer corresponding to the lid core material is made of a thermoplastic elastomer having at least one material property different from that of the skin layer of the other part in tear strength, tensile elongation or low-temperature embrittlement, An airbag lid for a vehicle, which is formed integrally with a skin layer corresponding to the lid core material.

[0011] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the skin layer (hereinafter, referred to as lid skin layer) corresponding to the core of the lid is defined as a skin layer (hereinafter, referred to as general skin layer) at the other part. Since they are integrally molded by a different material molding method or the like, the skin layer is not distorted, and the lid skin layer and the general skin layer have a sense of unity.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the lid core material and the core material are made of a thermoplastic elastomer having excellent low-temperature embrittlement, and are integrally formed with the lid core material and the core material. The vehicle airbag lid according to claim 1, wherein the airbag lid is connected by a separation portion.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the lid core and the core are integrally formed by, for example, a dissimilar material forming method, the number of parts is small and the structure is simple. Becomes

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of a vehicle air bag grid according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes an instrument panel, reference numeral 21 denotes an airbag grid for a vehicle, and a three-layer structure in which a core material (hereinafter referred to as an instrument core material) 22 and a foam layer 23 are covered with a slash skin layer 24. ing. And
A vehicle airbag lid 21 is provided on the passenger seat side of the instrument panel 20 so as not to be seen from the outside.

FIG. 2 shows the airbag lid 21 for the vehicle.
It is sectional drawing of the lid core material which comprises.

Reference numeral 25 in the drawing denotes a lid core material, and reference numeral 26 denotes a separating portion. The lid core 25 is inserted into an airbag inflating opening 27 provided in the instrument core 22,
Are connected together by That is, the lid peripheral portion 25a of the lid core 25 and the instrument core 22 are integrally connected by the separating portion 26 so as to bridge the separation groove 26a between the instrument core 22 and the lid core 25.

A plurality of brackets 25b are provided on the back surface side of the lid core 25, and are attached to the brackets 25b and restrain the projection of the lid core 25 at a predetermined position when the lid core 25 is split. 28 are provided. The tether 28 is fixed to a member (hereinafter, referred to as a vehicle-side member) fixed to the vehicle body, such as an airbag device main body (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows that the separating section 26 is provided, for example, with slide cores 33, 33 ', 3 provided on dies 30, 30'.
It is sectional drawing which shows the process which shape | molds by operation | movement of 3 ''.

That is, in FIG. 3A, as shown in the first step, the molding die 30 clamps the upper die 31 and the lower die 32 having the slide core 33, and slides the slide core 33 in the direction of the arrow (in the figure). (Downward) to make contact with the instrument core 2
2 and the lid core material 25 are formed. And then the second
In the process, the separation portion 26 is formed by injecting a thermoplastic elastomer having excellent low-temperature embrittlement into a space provided by moving the slide core 33 in the direction of the arrow (upward in the figure) by the amount of movement s. . Thereby, the instrument core material 2
2 and the lid core material 25 are separated from each other by the separation portion 2 in the separation groove 26a.
6, it is formed integrally in a fused state.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a manufacturing process for forming a separating portion 26 'having a shape different from that of the separating portion 26. Slide cores 33 ', 33 "are provided. In the first step, the mold is clamped in the direction of the arrow so that the upper and lower slide cores 33', 33" are in contact with each other, and the instrument core 22 'and the lid core 25' are joined together. Is molded. Then, in the second step, a thermoplastic elastomer excellent in low-temperature embrittlement is injected into a space provided by moving the slide cores 33 ′ and 33 ″ in the direction of the arrow s ′, respectively, and then substantially. An H-shaped separation portion 26 'is formed. Thereby, the peripheral portion 25a 'of the instrument core material 22' and the lid core material 25 'is integrally formed in a fused state by the separating portion 26' so as to be sandwiched from both sides.

The separating section 2 shown in FIG. 3A or 3B
Either of 6, 26 'may be selected from the shape of the lid core material 25 and the necessity of the fusion strength.

Next, referring to FIG.
Reference numeral 4 includes a first skin portion 24a, a second skin portion 24b, and a boundary portion 24c between both. This first skin portion 24a
Is a general skin layer, that is, the instrument panel 20.
Is a slash skin layer that covers the entire surface except for the portion corresponding to the lid core material 25, and the second skin portion 24b is
A slash skin layer that covers the lid skin layer, that is, a portion corresponding to the lid core material 25 in the instrument panel 20, and is integrally formed by, for example, a dissimilar material molding method or the like and is fused to the first skin portion 24a.

Since the second skin portion 24b is subjected to strong impact deformation by the operation of the airbag device main body (not shown), the boundary portion 24c between the two slash skin layers 24 is made of a slush material 45 having good compatibility. , 45A at the same time, it has excellent physical properties such as weather resistance as compared with the material of the general surface as the first skin portion 24a, and is made of a material that is finely crushed and does not scatter when subjected to an impact.

Here, the slash skin layer material having physical properties excellent in weather resistance and the like refers to an ester-based plastic material mixed into the skin and an epoxy-based epoxidized material for further improving thermal stability. It refers to those using soybean oil or the like. Thereby, excellent physical property values are exhibited in a low temperature range to a high temperature range.

The operation of the vehicle airbag lid 21 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

FIG. 5A shows a state before the operation of the airbag device main body (not shown). The peripheral portion 25a of the lid core 25 is fused to the instrument core 22 via the separating portion 26. It is formed integrally. The tether 28 provided on the back surface of the lid core member 25 and attached through the bracket 25b is restrained to the vehicle body side by a predetermined length in a slack state before operation.

FIG. 5B shows a state immediately after the main body of the airbag apparatus is operated. The lid core 25 receives a pressing force in the direction of arrow P by an inflating and deploying airbag (not shown). The separation part 26 is disengaged from the instrument core 22, and the foam layer 23 is torn off in the vicinity of the part corresponding to the boundary part 24 c, whereby the lid core 25
Is separated from the instrument panel 20 to form an opening for inflating the airbag. At this time, the tether 28 extends to a predetermined length to allow the airbag to inflate into the vehicle compartment and restrain the lid core 25 from flying out.

Next, a method of forming the skin 24 of the airbag lid 21 provided on the instrument panel 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows a method of forming a slash skin layer by a masking method, and FIG. 7 shows a method of forming a slash skin layer by a separate split reservoir method. In forming the slash skin layer 24, either of the forming methods may be selected.

First, the configuration of the slash skin layer forming apparatus 40 by the masking method will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 40 denotes the slash skin layer 2
The molding device 4 is a skin molding die 41, and first and second reservoirs 42 and 42A are assembled to the skin molding die 41 via a seal portion 41a. A movable device 43 is mounted on the outer surface of the first reservoir 42, and a rod 43a that is movable from the movable device 43 toward the skin mold 41 is provided. Is provided so as to be in close contact with the surface of the skin mold 41. 42A is a second reservoir. The first and second reservoirs 42 and 42A store the first and second slash members 45 and 45A, respectively.

A method of forming the slash skin layer 24 by the masking method having the above configuration will be described.

In FIG. 6, a first step is to form a slush skin layer 24 by assembling a first reservoir 42 in which a first slash material 45 is stored in a skin forming die 41 heated and held at a high temperature. 40. Then, the movable device 43 attached to the first reservoir 42 is moved, and the rod 4
3a is advanced in the direction of the arrow to mask a part of the skin mold 41.

The second step is a step in which the molding apparatus 40 is repeatedly rotated and rocked a number of times suitable for the shape of the molded article.
The surface of the slash material 45 in contact with the skin mold 41 is melted to form the first skin portion 24a.

The third step is a step of inverting the molding device 40 to return to the original position after the molding of the first skin portion 24a is completed, and the unmelted first slash material 45 is collected in the first reservoir 42. I do. At this time, the masking 44 is also returned in the direction of the arrow by the movable device 43, and the first reservoir 42 is removed.

In the fourth step, the second reservoir 42A storing the second slash material 45A is assembled to the skin forming die 41 maintained at a high temperature, and given a predetermined number of rotations and swings.

In the fifth step, when the second slash material 45A is melted in the opening 27 of the skin forming die 41, the second slush material 45A is reversed, and the unsmelted second slash material 45A is collected in the second reservoir 42A.

Subsequently, the second reservoir 42A is detached, removed from the skin mold 41, and the first skin portion 24 is removed.
a, the slash skin layer 24 in which the second skin portion 24b is integrated is obtained.

Thereafter, the skin mold 41 is cleaned, heated and held at a high temperature, combined with the first reservoir 42, and
Steps 5 to 5 are repeated to produce the slash skin layer 24.

Next, a method of forming the slash skin layer 24 by another method, the split reservoir method, will be described with reference to FIG.
Note that the same or equivalent parts as those in FIG.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 40 'denotes a molding device for the slash skin layer 24A, and reference numeral 42B denotes a third reservoir, which is assembled to the skin molding die 41 via a seal portion 41a.

The third reservoir 42B is divided at a position where the lid core material 25 is separated by a dividing plate 47 having a large area of the lid core material 25, and the dividing plate 47 is formed on the bottom surface of the third reservoir 42B. Slash skin layer forming surface 41a from side
It is formed in a projecting shape toward.

When the third reservoir 42B and the skin forming die 41 are assembled, the tip 47a of the dividing plate 47 is located between the slash skin layer forming surface 41a and the slash skin layer forming surface 41a.
A gap (p) having a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the slash skin layer 24 is provided. The outer and inner storage chambers 46 divided by the dividing plate 47 are respectively provided with the first and second slash materials 4.
5,45A is stored.

A method of forming the slash skin layer 24 by the divided reservoir method having the above configuration will be described.

In FIG. 7, the first step shows a forming apparatus 40 'for the slash skin layer 24 in which a third reservoir 42B is assembled to a skin forming die 41 which is heated and held at a high temperature. In the storage chamber 46 of the third reservoir 42B, the first
And the second slash material 45, 45A into each storage room 4
6 is stored.

The second step is a step in which the molding device 40 'is repeatedly rotated and rocked a number of times suitable for the shape of the molded product. The first and second slash members 45, 45A come into contact with the slash skin layer molding surface 41a. Is melted, and the first skin portion 24
a and the second skin portion 24b are formed simultaneously.

In the third step, when the molding of the first skin portion 24a and the second skin portion 24b is completed, the molding device 40 'is reversed to return to the original position, and the unmelted first and second slush materials 45 are formed. , 45A in the storage room 46.

Subsequently, the third reservoir 42B and the skin mold 41 are removed, and the slash skin layer 24 in which the first skin portion 24a and the second skin portion 24b are simultaneously formed integrally is removed from the skin mold. Demold from 41.

Thereafter, the skin mold 41 is cleaned and heated again to a high temperature, and is assembled to the third reservoir 42B to make the first to fourth reservoirs 42B.
The production of the slash skin layer 24 is performed by repeating the three steps.

In this embodiment, the entire periphery of the lid core is a separating portion, and the opening is unstable due to the breakdown of the transmission from the separating groove to another by the operating pressure of the airbag. Without any separation from the separation section.

Further, by adjusting the restraining length of the plurality of tethers to the vehicle body side, the separation angle of the lid portion can be adjusted, so that the opening area and the angle of the airbag deployment are constant, the operation is reliable, and the safety is improved. is there.

Further, in this embodiment, the separation portion is formed by sliding a slide core provided in a mold for forming the instrument core material and the lid core material to provide a space,
Since the thermoplastic elastomer is injected into this space, the separation part can be formed with high productivity only by sliding the slide core after molding the instrument core material and the lid core material. In addition, since the separating portion uses a thermoplastic elastomer, a material having excellent temperature resistance can be selected, and stable physical properties can be secured over a wide range from a low temperature to a high temperature, which is safe.

Further, in this embodiment,
The slash skin layer is formed so that the first skin portion made of the first slash material and the second skin portion made of the second slash material are integrally joined, so that the first skin portion and the second skin portion are joined together. Since the boundary is a boundary of different materials, it is easy to separate, and the quality is stable because it is always separated from the boundary.

Further, in this embodiment,
To form the slash skin layer, the first skin portion is formed in a skin mold in which a mask having a large area of the lid is abutted, and the abutment of the masking is released to provide an opening. Since the two skin portions can be molded, a molding method in which the slash skin layer of the airbag lid made of a different material from the general surface can be easily formed using the same skin molding die.

Further, in this embodiment,
The slash skin layer is formed by storing each slash material in a material storage reservoir divided by a dividing plate having a leading end communicating with a gap, and throwing each slash material toward a molding surface of a skin molding die. Since the first skin portion and the second skin portion are integrally formed, a molding method for forming a slash skin layer made of a material different from that of the general surface using the same skin mold is possible. In addition, the slash material can be simultaneously supplied from a plurality of storage chambers to the slash skin layer forming surface, so that the productivity is further improved. Further, in forming the boundary between the first and second slash materials, the boundary is formed stably because the reservoir communicates with the gap between the reservoirs, so that the separation position and strength are constant and the quality is stable.

[0058]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the skin layer corresponding to the lid core material has at least one material property of tear strength, tensile elongation or low-temperature embrittlement with respect to the skin layer of the other part. Is made of a different thermoplastic elastomer and is integrally molded with the skin layer corresponding to the lid core material, for example, by integral molding by a different material molding method, so that the skin layer is not distorted and the lid core material And a skin layer corresponding to the above, that is, a lid skin layer, and a skin layer other than that, that is, a general skin layer, have a sense of unity.

Further, according to a second aspect of the present invention, the lid core material and the core material are made of a thermoplastic elastomer having excellent low-temperature embrittlement, and are integrally formed with the lid core material and the core material. Since they are connected by a separation part integrally formed by a molding method or the like, the number of parts is small and the structure is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an instrument panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the core material taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation process of a slide core of a mold according to a portion B of FIG. 2; FIG. 2B shows B in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows the operation | movement process of the slide core of another mold which concerns on a part.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view before the airbag operation according to the embodiment. (B) is sectional drawing which shows the state at the time of the airbag operation which concerns on the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a process chart showing a method for forming a slash skin layer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a process chart showing a method for forming a slash skin layer according to another alternative of the embodiment.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a conventional instrument panel. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 9C is an explanatory diagram of a portion D in FIG. 8B.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 ... Vehicle air back grid 22 ... Instrument core material 24 ... Slash skin layers 24a and 24b ... First and second skin portions 25 ... Lid core material 25a ... Lid peripheral part 26 ... Separation part 26a ... Separation groove 45, 45A ... First 1st and 2nd slash materials

Claims (2)

[Claims] An airbag inflating opening is provided in a core of an instrument panel located on a front surface of an airbag device body, and a lid core is provided in the airbag inflating opening. In a vehicle airbag grid in which a foam layer and a skin layer constituting an instrument panel are integrally formed on a lid core material and an upper surface of the core material, a skin layer corresponding to the lid core material is formed of other parts. The skin layer is made of a thermoplastic elastomer having at least one material property different in tear strength, tensile elongation or low-temperature embrittlement, and is integrally formed with a skin layer corresponding to the lid core material. Vehicle airbag lid. 2. The lid core material and the core material are made of a thermoplastic elastomer having excellent low-temperature embrittlement, and are connected to each other by a separation part integrally formed with the lid core material and the core material. The airbag grid for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein