Airbag apparatus for automobile

• US 20030184063A1
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sanko Gosei Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Sanko Gosei Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yasuda, Mitsuo, Nakashima, Yoshiharu
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/06 using friction, e.g. spin welding non-plastics elements to plastic elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/114 Single butt joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/532 Joining single elements to the wall of tubular articles, hollow articles or bars
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/712 the composition of one of the parts to be joined being different from the composition of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7212 characterised by the composition of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73921 characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/003 Thermoplastic elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/10 Polymers of propylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2309/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3038 Air bag covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 : in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 : characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 : Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An airbag apparatus for an automobile includes an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel which is made of a thermoplastic resin material and provided within the automobile; a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel; at least one reinforcement plate member fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region corresponding to the fracture-opening section; and a frame member surrounding the reinforcement plate member and fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region surrounding the fracture-opening section. The frame member and the reinforcement plate member are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and are fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel through vibration welding.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus for an automobile, comprising:

an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel which is made of a thermoplastic resin material and provided within the automobile;

a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel;

at least one reinforcement plate member fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region corresponding to the fracture-opening section; and

a frame member surrounding the reinforcement plate member and fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region surrounding the fracture-opening section, wherein

the frame member and the reinforcement plate member are each made of a thermoplastic resin material, and are fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel through vibration welding.

2. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcement plate member is made of a first thermoplastic resin material and having a certain rigidity;

and the frame member is made of a second thermoplastic resin material containing a reinforcing material and having an rigidity greater than that of the first thermoplastic resin material.

3. An airbag apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first thermoplastic resin material is olefin elastomer or urethane elastomer;

and the second thermoplastic resin material is polypropylene.

4. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member and the reinforcement plate member are each made of olefin elastomer or urethane elastomer.

5. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member includes a tubular body portion which extends substantially perpendicular to the fracture-opening section and to which a vertical portion of the reinforcement plate member is connected, and reinforcement edge portions extending outward from the body portion and facing the inside surface of the surface panel;

and the reinforcement edge portions are fixed, by means of vibration welding, to the inside surface of the surface panel in a region surrounding the fracture-opening section.

6. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame member and the reinforcement plate member are separably connected to the airbag case.

7. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein ridges are formed at predetermined intervals on surfaces of the frame member and the reinforcement plate member, the surfaces being to face the inside surface of the surface panel;

and the frame member and the reinforcement plate member are fixed, by means of vibration welding, to the inside surface of the surface panel via the ridges.

8. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the body portion of the frame member and the vertical portion of the reinforcement plate member are coupled with each other by means of a dovetail joint;

and rectangular holes for receiving and holding hooks of the airbag case are formed in the body portion of the frame member and the vertical portion of the reinforcement plate member at positions corresponding to those of the hooks.

9. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rectangular holes formed in the vertical portion of the reinforcement plate member are greater in opening area than the rectangular holes formed in the body portion of the frame member;

and the lower edges of the rectangular holes formed in the vertical portion of the reinforcement plate member are located below the lower edges of the rectangular holes formed in the body portion of the frame member when the reinforcement plate member is coupled to the frame member.

10. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface panel includes a rectangular fracture-opening section, and a center fracture groove and side fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel, the side fracture grooves defining shorter sides of the fracture-opening section, and the center fracture groove extending along a longitudinal direction of the fracture-opening section and dividing the fracture-opening section into two subsections;

the frame member has a rectangular upper opening corresponding to the rectangular fracture-opening section;

the airbag apparatus includes two reinforcement plate members having rectangular horizontal portions fixed to the two subsections, respectively;

the frame member have open-motion assisting projections which project inward from opposite edges, respectively, of the upper opening of the frame member, which edges correspond to the shorter sides of the fracture-opening section; and

the horizontal portions of the reinforcement plate members are partially cut in order to form cut portions corresponding to the open-motion assisting projections.

11. An airbag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface panel includes a quadrangular fracture-opening section, and a center fracture groove and side fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel, the side fracture grooves defining shorter sides of the fracture-opening section, and the center fracture groove extending along a longitudinal direction of the fracture-opening section and dividing the fracture-opening section into two subsections;

the airbag apparatus includes two reinforcement plate members having horizontal portions fixed to the two subsections, respectively;

the frame member have reinforcement edge portions extending along the shorter sides of the fracture-opening section;

the side fracture grooves are curved so as to form convex curved lines whose apexes coincide with opposite ends of the center fracture groove;

the reinforcement edge portions each have a flat portion and ridges to be welded to the inside surface of the surface panel, the flat portion extending along the circumferential edge of the opening of the frame member, and the ridges being formed outside the flat portion; and

the curved side fracture grooves are located above the corresponding flat portions in such a manner that apex portions of the curved side fracture grooves do not project into the opening of the frame member.