JPH08119051A - Airbag device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To prevent the plug 15 provided at the end of the lead wire 14 for energizing the inflator from being damaged before connection work. [Structure] An engaging portion 21 is provided on the side of the supporting member 20 on which the conducting wire 14 is arranged, into which an inserting portion 22 of a plug 15 can be press-fitted.
Before the connecting work, the insertion portion 22 is press-fitted into the locking portion 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of an airbag device for protecting an occupant in the event of a collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the event of a collision, a passenger is in a steering wheel (for a driver), a dashboard (for a passenger in a passenger seat), or The back of the front seat (for rear seat passengers), etc.
A secondary collision occurs which collides with the portion facing the occupant. A life protection device called an airbag device is widely used in order to reduce the impact applied to the body of an occupant during the secondary collision and to protect the life of the occupant. 11 to 12
Shows a part of an airbag device that has been conventionally used.

Press forming a metal plate having sufficient rigidity,
The housing 1 formed by drawing or the like is supported and fixed to a portion where an airbag should be mounted, such as a central portion of a steering wheel. One side of this housing 1 (Fig. 11
The lower surface of the airbag, the upper surface of FIG.
The circular holes 3 and 4 formed in the central portions of the respective members 1 and 2 are provided in an aligned state.

At least the gas discharge portion of the inflator 5 is inserted inside the airbag 2. The central portion of the airbag 2 is sandwiched between the mounting plate portion 6 of the inflator 5 and the central portion of the housing 1. Then, the studs 7, 7 planted in the mounting plate portion 6 are
Are small holes 8 formed around the circular holes 3 and 4, respectively.
9 and insert nut 1 at the tip of each stud 7, 7.
The inflator 5 is coupled and fixed to the housing 1 by screwing 0 and 10 tightly.

As described above, when the inflator 5 is joined to the housing 1 while sandwiching the central portion of the airbag 2, the projecting portion 11 provided at the central portion of the mounting plate portion 6 has the circular shape. Through the holes 3 and 4, it projects from the other surface of the housing 1 (the upper surface of FIG. 11, the lower surface of FIG. 12). A socket 12 is provided at the center of the end face of the protrusion 11. The socket 12 has a role of energizing the ignition wire 13 provided in the inflator 5 in the event of a collision accident. Further, a plug 15 provided at the end of the conductor wire 14 is inserted into the socket 12 to electrically connect the conductor wire 14 and the socket 12.

The airbag device constructed as described above is
The airbag 2 is folded, and in a state in which the airbag 2 is covered with a cover (not shown), the airbag 2 is supported and fixed to a predetermined portion (a portion where the occupant itself collides during a secondary collision) such as a central portion of a steering wheel. In the event of a collision accident, a controller (not shown) that senses the impact of the primary collision energizes the ignition wire 13 through the lead wire 14, the plug 15 and the socket 12. As a result, the explosive contained in the inflator 5 is ignited to generate high-pressure gas, and the airbag 2 is inflated rapidly. The cover is torn when the airbag is inflated. The airbag 2 inflated in this way is
Receiving the occupant's body and preventing serious damage to this body due to a secondary collision.

When the airbag device as described above is constructed, the housing 1, the airbag 2, the inflator 5 and the cover are assembled into a unit called an airbag module. Then, after inserting the plug 15 at the end of the lead wire 14 into the socket 12 of the inflator 5 which constitutes the airbag module, the airbag module is supported and fixed to a predetermined portion such as the rear surface of the steering wheel. The conducting wire 14 provided with the plug 15 at its end is previously arranged at a predetermined portion such as a steering wheel.

[0008]

However, the conventional airbag device assembled as described above and acting as described above has the following problems. That is, the work of arranging the conducting wire 14 provided with the plug 15 on the steering wheel or the like is not performed in the automobile assembly line, but is performed in advance in a steering wheel manufacturing plant or the like. This is for smoothing the flow of the assembly line and improving production efficiency. Therefore, when the steering wheel provided with the plug and the lead wire is conveyed, the plug 1
There is a possibility of damaging the insertion port of No. 5 or foreign matter entering the insertion port.

A plug 15 having an insertion port that is damaged or has foreign matter inserted therein cannot be inserted into the socket 12 of the inflator 5, or even if it is inserted, the lead wire 14 is provided.
It is undeniable that the ignition line 13 and the ignition line 13 may not be conducted. In the case of electric wiring of a device such as an air bag device that requires extremely high reliability, it is necessary to minimize such a possibility, and countermeasures are required. The airbag device of the present invention was invented in view of such circumstances.

[0010]

The airbag device of the present invention, like the conventionally known airbag device, incorporates an inflator for ejecting gas upon energization and has a mounting portion facing the occupant. An airbag module to be mounted and a plug which is connected to an end portion of a conductor for energizing the inflator and is inserted into a socket of the inflator when the airbag device is assembled are provided.

In particular, in the airbag device of the present invention, there is a locking portion capable of locking the plug in the mounting portion or in the vicinity thereof (within the range where the conductive wire attached to the plug can reach).

[0012]

In the case of the airbag device of the present invention constructed as described above, the plug is retained in the retaining portion before the airbag module is assembled to the mounting portions facing the occupant. . Therefore, before the plug is inserted into the socket, the plug can be prevented from being damaged or foreign matter from entering the plug, and the plug and the socket can be reliably connected.

[0013]

1 to 5 show, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a structure in which the present invention is applied to a driver airbag apparatus. An airbag module 18, which is a combination of the housing 1, the airbag 2, the inflator 5, and the cover 17, is a mounting portion facing the occupant (driver). 1 is fixed to the center of the upper surface of FIG. 1 by a bolt or the like (not shown) while being slightly lifted (separated) from the rear surface of the cored bar 19. In the illustrated embodiment, unlike the above-described conventional example, the outer diameter of the gas discharge portion of the inflator 5 is smaller than the outer diameter of the portion existing outside the airbag 2. However, the structure of this portion is well known in any case and is not related to the gist of the present invention. Further, a supporting member 20 made of synthetic resin called a code guide is attached and fixed to the rear surface of the core metal 19 with screws or the like. The support member 20 is made by injection molding a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, and has a function of supporting the conductor wire 14 for energizing the inflator 5. For this reason, a holding portion for holding a connector (not shown) provided in the middle of the conducting wire 14 is provided at a part of the supporting member 20.

In particular, in the case of the airbag device of the present invention, a cylindrical locking portion 21 is provided at the end of the support member 20. The insertion portion 22 of the plug 15 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 can be inserted into the locking portion 21.
The insertion portion 22 has insertion holes 23, 23 on its end face so that the lead wire 14 and the ignition wire 13 (FIG. 12) inside the inflator 5 can be connected. The diameter of the circumscribing circle of the insertion portion 22 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the locking portion 21 in the free state. Therefore, the insertion portion 22 can be inserted (press-fitted) inside the locking portion 21 while elastically expanding the inner diameter of the locking portion 21. Then, the insertion portion 22
5, a part of the plug 15 protrudes above the end portion of the support member 20 as shown in FIG. 5, and the edge of the cover 17 constituting the airbag module 18 is closed. Will interfere with. In this manner, when the part of the plug 15 locked by the locking portion 21 and the end edge of the cover 17 interfere with each other, the airbag module 18 is
Cannot be attached to the core metal 19.

In the case of the airbag device of the present invention configured as described above, the steering wheel 1 is mounted before the airbag module 18 is assembled to the portion where the occupant faces, that is, in the manufacturing factory of the steering wheel 16.
The support member 20 is attached to the rear surface of the support member 6 and the support member 2
In the state in which the lead wire 14 is arranged at 0, the plug 1
By pushing the insertion part 22 of No. 5 into the locking part 21,
The plug 15 is locked to the locking portion 21. In this state, the insertion portion 22 of the plug 15 is covered by the locking portion 21. Therefore, before the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the socket 12 (FIGS. 11 to 12) of the inflator 5, the insertion portion 22 is damaged or inside the insertion holes 23 and 23 opened at the end of the insertion portion 22. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside. As a result, the plug 15 and the socket 12 are
Can be reliably connected with.

The shape of the locking portion 21 is not limited to the cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 2, but other shapes such as an oval shape as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B can be adopted. . In short, the insertion part 22
Any shape can be used as long as it can be press-fitted.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the airbag module 18 cannot be mounted on the core metal 19 of the steering wheel 16 unless the plug 15 engaged with the engaging portion 21 is removed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility of assembling the airbag module 18 without forgetting to insert the insertion portion 22 into the socket 12 of the inflator 5.

Next, FIGS. 7 to 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, a U-shaped receiving wall 24 for receiving the insertion portion 22 formed on the front surface of the plug 15 is provided.
The support piece 25 provided apart from the receiving wall 24 constitutes a locking portion capable of locking the plug 15 in the lateral direction.

In the case of this embodiment, the airbag module 1
Before assembling 8 (FIG. 1), the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the receiving wall 24, and the supporting piece 25 prevents the insertion portion 22 from coming out of the receiving wall 24. In order to prevent slipping out, the size of the receiving wall 24 and the distance between the receiving wall 24 and the supporting piece 25 are regulated in order to secure the fitting strength of each part. Therefore, when the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the receiving wall 24, the plug 15 is supported by the support member 20 while the insertion portion 22 is covered by the receiving wall 24. Therefore, before the plug 15 is inserted into the socket 12 (FIGS. 11 to 12) of the inflator 5, the insertion portion 22 is damaged or foreign matter is inserted into the insertion holes 23 and 23 opened at the end of the insertion portion 22. Can be prevented from entering.

Further, in the state where the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the receiving wall 24 as described above, a part of the plug 15 constitutes the cover 17 (FIG. 1) which constitutes the airbag module 18.
Interfere with the edges of. Therefore, unless the plug 15 locked to the locking portion is removed, the airbag module 18 is
Cannot be attached to the core metal 19 of the steering wheel 16,
It is possible to reduce the possibility of assembling the airbag module 18 without forgetting to insert the insertion portion 22 into the socket 12 of the inflator 5.

Next, FIGS. 9 to 10 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, the U-shaped receiving wall 2 for receiving the insertion portion 22 formed on the front surface of the plug 15 is provided.
4a and a supporting piece 25a provided apart from the receiving wall 24a constitute a locking portion that can lock the plug 15 in the vertical direction.

In the case of this embodiment, the lead wire 14 provided with the plug 15 interferes with the airbag module 18 (FIG. 1) when the insertion portion 22 is inserted into the receiving wall 24a. Therefore, the airbag module 18 cannot be mounted on the core metal 19 of the steering wheel 16 unless the plug 15 locked in the locking portion is removed, and the insertion portion 22 is forgotten to be inserted into the socket 12 of the inflator 5. It is possible to reduce the possibility of assembling the airbag module 18 as it is. The other actions are similar to those of the first embodiment described above.

[0023]

Since the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, the plug and the socket can be reliably connected to each other, and the possibility of malfunction due to a connection failure at this portion is eliminated, and the reliability is high. An airbag device can be obtained. Further, since the plug is temporarily fixed at a predetermined position, the workability of the plug connection in the automobile assembly line can be improved by determining the plug position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plug and a locking portion.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the plug.

FIG. 4 is a view seen from below in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the plug is locked to the locking portion.

FIG. 6 is an end view showing two examples of different shapes of the locking portion.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view seen from below in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view seen from below in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partially exploded perspective view of the airbag device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 12 is a partially cut side view showing the same as the assembled state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Housing 2 Airbag 3, 4 Circular Hole 5 Inflator 6 Mounting Plate 7 Stud 8, 9 Small Hole 10 Nut 11 Projection 12 Socket 13 Ignition Wire 14 Conductor 15 Plug 16 Steering Wheel 17 Cover 18 Airbag Module 19 Core Bar 20 Support member 21 Locking portion 22 Inserting portion 23 Inserting hole 24, 24a Receiving wall 25, 25a Supporting piece

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air bag module, which comprises an inflator for ejecting gas based on energization, is connected to an air bag module attached to a mounting portion facing an occupant, and an end of a lead wire for energizing the inflator, In an airbag device provided with a plug to be inserted into a socket of the inflator at the time of assembling the airbag device, a locking portion capable of locking the plug is present at or near the mounting portion. Airbag device that does.