U.S. patent application number 09/910941 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-28 for air bag apparatus.
Invention is credited to Kodama, Masaya, Nagasawa, Norimasa.
Application Number | 20020024206 09/910941 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18717866 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020024206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nagasawa, Norimasa ; et
al. |
February 28, 2002 |
Air bag apparatus
Abstract
The holding device for use in mounting a garnish on a front
pillar has a pin member at the side of the garnish and a grommet
member at the side of the front pillar. A leg portion of the pin
member is inserted into a cylindrical portion of the grommet
member. The leg portion has a first mounting engagement claw that
is engaged with a first engagement portion of the cylindrical
portion to hold the garnish in a given mounted state. The
engagement of the first mounting engagement claw with the first
engagement portion is released by means of expansion pressure of an
air bag apparatus, while a second mounting engagement claw of the
leg portion is brought into engagement with a second engagement
portion of the cylindrical portion to prevent the pin member from
coming off. At this time, a clearance is formed between the garnish
and the front pillar, thereby developing an air bag into a cabin
compartment of the vehicle through the clearance. By the rotation
of the pin member relative to the grommet member, the engagement of
the second mounting engagement claw with the second engagement
portion is released, thereby allowing the pin member to be pulled
out completely from the grommet member. The holding device for
mounting the garnish can be re-used after the operation of the air
bag.
Inventors: |
Nagasawa, Norimasa;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Kodama, Masaya;
(Hiroshima-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Barry E. Bretschneider
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Suite 5500
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006-1888
US
|
Family ID: |
18717866 |
Appl. No.: |
09/910941 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/735 ;
280/730.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 13/0206 20130101;
B60R 21/213 20130101; B60R 21/215 20130101; F16B 5/123 20130101;
F16B 21/06 20130101; B60R 13/0243 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/735 ;
280/730.2 |
International
Class: |
B60R 021/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2000 |
JP |
2000-223,823 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air bag apparatus for use with a vehicle, having an air bag
for expanding into a cabin compartment of the vehicle through a
clearance for allowing a passage of said air bag, comprising: said
air bag disposed in a vehicle body panel at the cabin compartment
side; and a garnish disposed covering said air bag from the cabin
compartment side; and a holding device for holding said garnish in
a first posture in which said garnish assumes a predetermined
mounted state where said garnish approaches to said vehicle body
panel and a second posture in which the garnish forms a clearance
relative to said vehicle body panel in response to expansion
pressure of said air bag; wherein: said holding device comprises a
pin member and a grommet member; said pin member has a first
mounting engagement portion detachably engageable with said garnish
and a leg portion extending integrally from the first mounting
engagement portion; said grommet member has a cylindrical portion
receiving said leg portion and a second mounting engagement portion
formed integrally in said cylindrical portion and mountable on said
vehicle body panel; said leg portion is provided with a first
engagement claw and a second engagement claw, which are disposed
apart from each other in an axial direction of said leg portion;
said cylindrical portion is further provided with a first
engagement portion engageable with said first engagement claw to
offer an action of preventing said leg portion from coming off from
said cylindrical portion in a state in which said leg portion is
inserted deeply to assume said first posture; said cylindrical
portion is further provided with a second engagement portion
engageable with said second engagement claw to offer an action of
preventing said leg portion from coming off from said cylindrical
portion in a state in which said leg portion is inserted shallowly
to assume said second posture; a force of engagement of said first
engagement claw with said first engagement portion is set to be
smaller than a force of engagement of said second engagement claw
with said second engagement portion, and the engagement of said
first engagement claw with said first engagement portion is
arranged to be released as said garnish receives a force of
separating apart from said vehicle body panel by means of expansion
force of said air bag upon operation of said air bag apparatus,
while said second posture is set to be maintained by engagement of
said second engagement claw with said second engagement portion;
and said second engagement claw is detachably engaged with said
second engagement portion.
2. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
disengagement of said second engagement claw with said second
engagement portion is effected by relative rotation of said pin
member with respect to said grommet member at a predetermined
angle.
3. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said
second engagement claw is set to be elastically transformable in
the radial direction of said cylindrical portion; and said
cylindrical portion is provided with a pressing portion that acts
on said second engagement claw to elastically transform said second
engagement claw inwardly in the radial direction of said
cylindrical portion, when said relative rotation is effected.
4. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first
engagement claw is formed in a position close to said first
mounting engagement portion and said second engagement claw is
formed in a position remote from said first mounting engagement
portion; each of said first engagement claw and said second
engagement claw is set to be elastically transformable in the
radial direction of said cylindrical portion; said cylindrical
portion is provided with an opening at a side face thereof at which
said first engagement claw is located in the first posture and a
given inner peripheral edge portion of said opening, which is
located at the side of said second mounting engagement portion,
constitutes said first engagement portion; a given end face of said
cylindrical portion on the side opposite to said second mounting
engagement portion constitutes said second engagement portion; said
cylindrical portion is provided with a pressing portion in a
tongue-shaped form extending from the given end face to an edge of
said cylindrical portion; an inner face of said pressing portion
forms an inclining face inclining gradually toward outside in the
radial direction of said cylindrical portion as said pressing
portion approaches to the edge of said cylindrical portion; and an
edge portion of said inclining face is set to be located outside
said second engagement claw in the radial direction of said
cylindrical portion, and said second engagement claw is set to be
elastically transformable inwardly in the direction of said
cylindrical portion by means of said inclining face as said leg
portion is pulled out from said cylindrical portion by means of
said relative rotation in a state in which said second engagement
claw is aligned with said pressing portion.
5. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: a base end
portion of said inclining face is located inside said second
engagement claw in the radial direction of said cylindrical
portion, and said relative rotation is restricted by abutment of
said second engagement claw with said pressing portion in a state
in which said second engagement claw is engaged with said second
engagement portion; and said relative rotation can be effected in a
state in which said leg portion is inserted into said cylindrical
portion slightly deeply from a state in which said second
engagement claw is engaged with said second engagement portion.
6. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein: the
relative rotation of said leg portion with respect to said
cylindrical portion is restricted by abutment of said first
engagement claw with a peripheral side edge part of the opening
portion as said first engagement claw is located within the opening
portion; and said second engagement claw is located facing said
second engagement portion and said second engagement claw is
disposed in a position in which said second engagement claw is
deviated from said pressing portion in a peripheral direction of
said cylindrical portion in a state in which said first engagement
claw is located within the opening portion.
7. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first
mounting engagement portion is disposed so as to be detachable from
said garnish by sliding in a direction crossing said garnish in an
axial line of said leg portion.
8. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said first
mounting engagement portion comprises a first flange part, a second
flange part located astride said first flange portion at a position
opposite to said leg portion and a neck part connecting said first
flange part to said second flange part; said garnish is provided
with a mounting hole for said first mounting engagement portion;
said mounting hole comprises a larger-sized cavity portion and a
groove portion communicating with the larger-sized cavity portion;
the larger-sized cavity portion is set to be large enough to insert
said second flange part of said first mounting engagement portion
thereinto; the groove portion is set to be large enough to allow no
insertion of the second flange part of said first mounting
engagement portion yet to allow insertion of the neck part thereof;
and said pin member is brought into a mounted state in which said
garnish is clamped with said first flange part and said second
flange part by locating the neck part in the groove portion by
sliding said pin member with respect to said garnish after
inserting the second flange part into the larger-sized cavity
portion.
9. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said leg
portion comprises a cylindrical outer wall part, a central shaft
part located in the cylindrical outer wall part, a plurality of rib
parts each extending radially from the central shaft part and
connecting the cylindrical outer wall part to the central shaft
part, and a hollow part disposed among the cylindrical outer wall
part, the central shaft part and the rib parts; and said first
engagement claw and said second engagement claw are formed each at
a position of the cylindrical outer wall part corresponding to the
hollow part.
10. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
second mounting engagement portion is mounted on said vehicle body
panel in a state in which the rotation around an axial line of said
grommet member is restricted.
11. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein: a
mounting hole formed in said vehicle body panel for use with said
second mounting engagement portion comprises a main cavity portion
for insertion of said cylindrical portion and an engagement cavity
portion formed in a predetermined position in a peripheral
direction of the main cavity portion; and said second mounting
engagement portion comprises a flange part having a size not large
enough to allow an insertion into the main cavity portion, and a
protrusion portion for preventing rotation which is integrally
formed in the flange part and which is to be inserted into the
engagement cavity portion when said cylindrical portion is inserted
into the main cavity portion.
12. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said
cylindrical portion is disposed to be inserted into the mounting
hole for use with said second engagement portion formed in said
vehicle body panel; said second mounting engagement portion has a
flange part and a mounting engagement claw, the flange part having
a size that does not allow insertion into the main cavity portion
and the mounting engagement claw being disposed on a side face of
said cylindrical portion so as to be elastically transformable in
the radial direction of said cylindrical portion; and the mounting
engagement claw is disposed to eventually clamp said vehicle body
panel in association with the flange part by inserting said
cylindrical portion into the mounting hole while elastically
transforming said cylindrical portion inwardly in the radial
direction of said cylindrical portion upon insertion into the
mounting hole.
13. The air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said pin
member has a flange part at a base end part of said leg portion;
said grommet member has a flange part at a base end part of said
cylindrical portion; and the flange part of said pin member comes
into abutment with the flange part of said grommet member to
restrict a deeper insertion of said leg portion into said
cylindrical portion when said pin member is in the first posture in
which said leg portion of said pin member is inserted deeply in
said cylindrical portion.
14. The air bag apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13,
wherein the numbers of said first engagement claws and said first
engagement portions corresponding to said first engagement claws
are set to be larger than the numbers of said second engagement
claws and said second engagement portions corresponding to said
second engagement claws.
15. The air bag apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13,
wherein each of said pin member and said grommet member is made of
a synthetic resin.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an air bag apparatus to be
developed into a cabin compartment of a vehicle through a vehicle
body panel and a garnish.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[0002] An air bag apparatus for use with a vehicle is proposed,
which is interposed between a vehicle body panel and a garnish and
which permits the development of the air bag in the cabin
compartment of the vehicle through a clearance formed forcibly
between the vehicle body panel and the garnish due to the expansion
pressure applied to the air bag to be developed upon operation of
the air bag. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 9-254,736
and 11-321,520 disclose each an air bag apparatus interposed
between a vehicle body panel, including a roof side rail or a
pillar, and the garnish mounted on the vehicle body panel with a
holding device. The holding device mounted on and fixed to the
garnish is inserted into a mounting hole formed in the vehicle body
panel and an engagement portion formed in the holding device is
allowed to come into abutment with a peripheral edge portion of the
mounting hole, thereby preventing the holding device from coming
off from the mounting hole. Further, the holding device is engaged
with the mounting hole in an ordinary occasion in a state in which
the garnish is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle body panel,
and the garnish can be displaced to some extent in the direction in
which it is pulled out and released from the mounting hole, so as
to be separated apart from the vehicle body panel upon receipt of
the expansion pressure of the air bag.
[0003] The garnish of such a conventional air bag apparatus is
structured, however, that it cannot be detached from the vehicle
body panel simply by changing the depth of insertion of the garnish
into the mounting hole formed in the vehicle body, after the
garnish has once been mounted on the vehicle body panel, that is,
after the holding device has once been mounted on the vehicle body
panel, because the holding device cannot be detached from the
vehicle body panel. Therefore, in order to detach the garnish from
the vehicle body panel, for example, upon maintenance or exchanges
of the air bag apparatus, the holding device has to be broken so
that it cannot be reused.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Therefore, the present invention has been completed with the
above situation involved in the conventional air bag apparatuses of
the type as described above and has the object to provide an air
bag apparatus that can assume a given mounted state in which the
garnish for the air bag apparatus is located in the vicinity of the
vehicle body panel and a separate state in which it is separated
from the vehicle body panel to some extent. Further, the air bag
apparatus enables the holding device to be reused upon attachment
or detachment of the garnish to or from the vehicle body panel.
[0005] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides an air bag apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the
air bag apparatus comprises an air bag disposed at a cabin
compartment side of a vehicle body panel, a garnish disposed
covering the air bag from the cabin compartment side, and a holding
device disposed to hold the garnish so as to assume a first posture
in which the garnish is located in a given mounted state in the
vicinity of the vehicle body panel and a second posture in which a
clearance through which the air bag can pass is formed between the
garnish and the vehicle body panel in response to expansion
pressure of the air bag, and in which the air bag is disposed
expanding into the cabin compartment side from the clearance;
wherein the holding device comprises a pin member and a grommet
member, the pin member includes a first mounting engagement portion
at which the pin member is detachably engaged with the garnish and
a leg portion extending integrally from the first mounting
engagement portion, and the grommet member includes a cylindrical
portion disposed receiving the leg portion and a second mounting
engagement portion formed integrally with the cylindrical portion
and mountable on the vehicle body panel; wherein the leg portion
includes a first engagement claw and a second engagement claw
disposed at a relationship spaced apart in an axial direction of
the leg portion; wherein the cylindrical portion includes a first
engagement portion engageable with the first engagement claw of the
leg portion in a state in which the leg portion is inserted deeply
to assume the first posture, thereby preventing the leg portion
from coming off from the cylindrical portion; wherein the
cylindrical portion includes a second engagement portion engageable
with the second engagement claw of the leg portion in a state in
which the leg portion is inserted shallowly to assume the second
posture, thereby preventing the leg portion from coming off from
the cylindrical portion; wherein a force of engagement of the first
engagement claw with the first engagement portion is set to become
smaller than a force of engagement of the second engagement claw
with the second engagement portion, and the engagement of the first
engagement claw with the first engagement portion is released upon
receipt of a force of separating the garnish apart from the vehicle
body panel due to an expansion pressure on operation of the air bag
apparatus while maintaining the second posture by engagement of the
second engagement claw with the second engagement portion; and
wherein the second engagement claw is detachably engaged with the
second engagement portion.
[0006] According to the above embodiment, in an ordinary occasion,
the leg portion of the pin member is situated in the first posture
in which it is inserted deeply into the cylindrical portion of the
grommet member and the garnish assumes a given (ordinary) mounted
state in the vicinity of the vehicle body panel, and this first
posture can be held by engaging the first engagement claw with the
first engagement portion. As the pin member receives the external
force in the direction in which it is being pulled out or released
from the grommet member due to the force of the expansion pressure
upon operation of the air bag apparatus, that is, upon development
of the air bag, the engagement of the first engagement claw with
the first engagement portion is released assuming the second
posture in which the leg portion is inserted shallowly into the
cylindrical portion and this second posture is maintained by
engaging the second engagement claw with the second engagement
portion. The second posture corresponds to the state in which a
clearance is formed between the garnish and the vehicle body panel
through which the air bag can pass, and the air bag is eventually
developed into the cabin compartment of the vehicle through this
clearance.
[0007] When the garnish is to be detached, the engagement of the
second engagement claw with the second engagement portion is
released and the pin member is then pulled out thoroughly from the
grommet member. The pin member that has once been pulled out,
however, can also be re-used for mounting the garnish on the
vehicle body panel again, together with the grommet member mounted
on the vehicle body panel. Preferred modes are described in claims
2 et seq on the basis of the above embodiment as a premise.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention as described in claim 1 provides an air bag
apparatus with an air bag of a structure in which the air bag is
developed through a clearance formed between the vehicle body panel
and the garnish. In this structure, the state of mounting the
garnish on the vehicle body panel can be changed between a closely
mounted state and a clearance-formed state. Moreover, the garnish
can be detached from the vehicle body panel by pulling the pin
member out from the grommet member. In addition, the pin member
once pulled out can be used again, together with the grommet member
mounted on the vehicle body panel.
[0009] The invention as described in claim 2 provides a specific
mode of releasing the engagement of the second engagement claw with
the second engagement portion. In particular, this mode is directed
to the way of releasing the engagement of the second engagement
claw with the second engagement portion by utilizing the action in
the direction crossing the direction of pulling the pin member out
from the grommet member, such as the action of rotation, so that
this mode is also preferred from the point of view of preventing an
occurrence of the accident that the second engagement claw is
disengaged from the second engagement portion in a careless
manner.
[0010] In accordance with the present invention as described in
claim 3, the second engagement claw can be disengaged from the
second engagement portion by utilizing the elastic transformation
of the second engagement claw and the pressing portion.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention as described in
claim 4, there is provided a specific structure of each of the
engagement claws with each of the engagement portions and a
specific way of disengagement of the second engagement claw with
the second engagement portion. In particular, the second engagement
claw is gradually transformed elastically toward the inside in the
radial direction of the cylindrical portion without difficulty by
means of an inclining face formed on the pressing portion, in the
process of pulling the pin member out from the grommet member.
[0012] The invention as described in claim 5 can preferably prevent
the rotation of the second engagement claw relative to the pressing
portion in a careless manner, thereby ensuring the sure maintenance
of the second posture.
[0013] Further, the invention as described in claim 6 is preferred
from the point of view of ensuring the maintenance of the second
posture by engaging the second engagement claw with the second
engagement portion for sure upon transferring the air bag from the
first posture to the second posture by means of the expansion of
the air bag.
[0014] Moreover, the invention as described in claim 7 is preferred
in that the attachment and detachment of the pin member to and from
the garnish can be effected with ease by utilizing sliding
movement.
[0015] The invention as described in claim 8 can provide a specific
structure that allows an easy attachment and detachment of the pin
member to and from the garnish by utilizing the sliding
movement.
[0016] In accordance with the invention as described in claim 9, it
is preferred to render the leg portion more lightweight and higher
in rigidity.
[0017] The invention as described in claim 10 presents the
advantage that a careless rotation of the grommet member with
respect to the vehicle body panel can be prevented when it is
attempted to rotate the pin member relative to the grommet
member.
[0018] In accordance with the invention as described in claim 11,
it is preferred to automatically assume a state in which the
rotation of the grommet relative to the vehicle body panel can be
restricted, simply by inserting the cylindrical portion into the
mounting hole of the vehicle body panel.
[0019] Further, in accordance with the invention as described in
claim 12, the grommet member can be automatically fixed to the
vehicle body panel simply by inserting the cylindrical portion of
the grommet member into the mounting hole of the vehicle body
panel.
[0020] The invention as described in claim 13 offers the advantage
that the insertion of the pin member into the grommet member deeper
to a predetermined position can be prevented for sure.
[0021] The invention as described in claim 14 can surely set the
action of engagement of the first engagement claw to be smaller
than the action of engagement of the second engagement claw.
[0022] In addition, the invention as claimed in claim 15 is
preferred in that the pin member and the grommet member can be
formed in a lightweight and less expensive manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an essential portion of
a garnish for use with a front pillar, when looked from inside the
cabin compartment of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment
when applied to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a view in section of a front pillar portion,
showing a first posture in which the garnish is located in the
vicinity of the front pillar.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a view in section of the front pillar portion,
showing a second posture in which a clearance is formed in a
position in which the garnish separates somewhat apart from the
front pillar.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view in partial section showing a pin
member.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a side view in partial section showing the pin
member, when deviated peripherally at 90 degree from the state of
FIG. 4.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the pin member, when looked
from the top edge side of a leg portion.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a top view showing the pin member, when looked
from the side of a first mounting engagement portion.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a view in section when taken along line X8-X8 of
FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a view in section when taken along line X9-X9 of
FIG. 4.
[0032] FIG. 10 is an enlarged view showing the portion indicated by
arrow A of FIG. 5.
[0033] FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing the portion indicated by
arrow B of FIG. 4.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a mounting hole at
the garnish side on which to mount the pin member.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a partially sectional side view showing a grommet
member.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a partially sectional side view showing the
grommet member when taken in a direction different from FIG.
13.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a partially sectional side view showing the
grommet member, when taken in a direction different from FIG. 13
and FIG. 14 and when taken along line X15-X15 of FIG. 17.
[0038] FIG. 16 is a top view showing the grommet member when looked
from a second mounting engagement portion.
[0039] FIG. 17 is a bottom view showing the grommet member when
looked from a top edge side of a cylindrical portion.
[0040] FIG. 18 is an enlarged view in section showing an essential
portion of the second mounting engagement portion in the grommet
member.
[0041] FIG. 19 is a view showing an example of a mounting hole at
the vehicle body panel side on which to mount the grommet
member.
[0042] FIG. 20 is a partially sectional side view showing a state
in which the pin member is inserted into the grommet member and
showing a first posture in which the first engagement claw is
engaged with the first engagement portion.
[0043] FIG. 21 is a partially sectional side view showing a state
in which the pin member is inserted into the grommet member and
showing a second posture in which the second engagement claw is
engaged with the second engagement portion.
[0044] FIG. 22 is a view showing a state in which the pin member is
inserted into the grommet member somewhat deeply from the state of
FIG. 21 and rotated at 45 degree relatively thereto.
[0045] FIG. 23 is an enlarged view in section showing a portion
indicated by arrow C in FIG. 22.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral I denotes a
front pillar, reference numeral 2 denotes a front window, and
reference numeral 3 denotes a side window. On an inner face of the
front pillar 1 as a vehicle body panel is detachably mounted a
garnish 4 (referred to as an interior member or a trim member,
too). The front pillar 1 is of a double structure in a closed
section composed of an inner panel 5, an outer panel 6 and a
reinforcement member 7.
[0047] The garnish 4 is detachably mounted on the front pillar 1
through a holding device 10. As will be described hereinafter, the
holding device 10 may comprise a pin member 11 mounted detachably
on a bracket 8 fixed to the inner face of the garnish 4 and a
grommet member 12 mounted on the inner panel 5. The pin member 11
is inserted in the grommet member 12 and disposed so as to ensure a
sure prevention from coming off therefrom at two stages of depth of
insertion. FIG. 2 illustrates a first posture in which the pin
member 11 is inserted deeply into the grommet member 12. In the
first posture, the garnish 4 assumes a given mounted state in the
vicinity of the inner panel 5. FIG. 3 illustrates a second posture
in which the pin member 11 is inserted shallowly into the grommet
member 12. In the second posture, there is formed a small clearance
S between the garnish 4 and the inner panel 5.
[0048] Between the garnish 4 and the inner panel 5 is disposed an
air bag apparatus 30 that comprises an air bag accommodated in a
folded state in a casing and an inflator. As a side collision of
the vehicle is detected, the inflator is exploded to expand and
develop the air bag (the expanded air bag being indicated by
reference numeral 31 in FIG. 3). Upon receipt of the expansion
pressure from the air bag, the garnish 4 is transformed to some
extent from the first posture of FIG. 2 to the second posture of
FIG. 3 to form a clearance S between the garnish 4 and the inner
panel 5, and the air bag 21 is developed through the clearance S
into the cabin compartment of the vehicle (the air bag 21 being
developed along the side window 3).
[0049] Then, a detailed description will be given regarding the
holding device 10 with reference to FIGS. 4 et seq. FIGS. 4 to 11
illustrate the pin member 11. The pin member 11 may be of an
integrally molded product made of a synthetic resin in its entirety
and comprises a first engagement portion 13 acting as a mounting
portion for a bracket 8 of the garnish 4 and a leg portion 14. The
first engagement portion 13 is composed of a neck part 13a having a
smaller diameter, a disc-shaped first flange part 13b formed on a
one end portion of the neck part 13a, and a square-shaped second
flange part 13c formed on the other end portion of the neck part
13a. The first flange part 13b is formed to become larger in
diameter than the neck part 13a, and the smallest width of the
second flange part 13c is set to become larger than the width of
the neck part 13a.
[0050] The pin member 11 is detachably engaged with a mounting hole
15 formed in the bracket 8 of the garnish 4 by means of the first
engagement portion 13. More specifically, the mounting hole 15
includes a larger-sized cavity portion 15a having a shape and size
corresponding to the second flange part 13c, and a groove portion
15b communicating with the larger-sized cavity portion 15a and
extending in a slenderly elongated manner. The groove portion 15b
is formed to have a diameter slightly larger than that of the neck
part 13a. After the second flange part 13c is inserted into the
neck part 13a, the neck part 13a is allowed to slide so as to
locate the neck part 13a in the groove portion 15b, thereby
assuming a mounted state (the neck part 13a and the second flange
part 13c being indicated by dot-chain line in FIG. 12) in which a
peripheral edge portion of the mounting hole 15 is clamped between
the first and second flange parts 13b and 13c. The pin member 11
can be detached in the reverse procedures.
[0051] The leg portion 14 of the pin member 11 is formed to extend
straight from the first flange part 13b. The leg portion 14 is
comprised of a cylinder-shaped outer wall part 14a, a central shaft
part 14b, and a plurality of rib parts 14c, each extending radially
and connecting the outer wall part 14a to the central shaft part
14b. There is formed a hollow part among the outer wall part 14a,
the central shaft part 14b and the plural rib parts 14c. The leg
portion 14 is provided with a first engagement claw 16 and a second
engagement claw 17. The first engagement claw 16 is located in the
vicinity of the first flange part 13b and the second engagement
claw 17 is located at a position remote from the second flange part
13b, that is, at a position in the vicinity of the end part of the
leg portion 14. Each of the claws 16 and 17 is formed so as to
protrude outwardly in the radial direction from the outer
peripheral face of the outer wall part 14a in a free state in which
no external force is applied and to be elastically transformable in
the radial direction of the leg portion 14. Each of the claws 16
and 17 may be disposed in plural numbers in a relationship spaced
apart at equal intervals in the peripheral direction of the leg
portion 14. In this embodiment, two of the first engagement claws
16 are disposed and four of the second engagement claws 17 are
disposed.
[0052] FIGS. 13 to 18 illustrate details of the grommet member 12.
The grommet member 12 may be of an integrally molded product made
of a synthetic resin in its entirety. The grommet member 12 is
comprised of a second mounting engagement portion 21 acting as a
mounting site on the front pillar 1 and a cylindrical portion 22
extending from the second mounting engagement portion 21. The
second engagement portion 21 is comprised of a flange part 21a
formed at a one end portion of the cylindrical portion 22, and a
mounting engagement claw 21b formed on the side face of the
cylindrical portion 22. The mounting engagement claw 21b is formed
protruding to some extent outwardly in the radial direction of the
cylindrical portion from the outer peripheral face of the
cylindrical portion 22 and capable of being elastically
transformable in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion
22. Moreover, the mounting engagement claw 21b may be disposed in
plural numbers (a total number of two in this embodiment) at
generally equal intervals in the peripheral direction of the
cylindrical portion 22. A protrusion portion 21c for stopping the
rotation is formed on the rear face of the flange part 21a
constituting the side of the cylindrical portion 22.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 19, a mounting hole 23 is formed in the
inner panel 5 to mount the grommet member 12 on the inner panel 5
by means of the second engagement portion 21. The mounting hole 23
is comprised of a main cavity portion 23a and a smaller-sized
engagement cavity portion 23b communicating with the main cavity
portion 23a. The main cavity portion 23a is in a circle form having
a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the
cylindrical portion 22, and the engagement cavity portion 23b is
formed having a diameter engageable with the protrusion portion
21c. In order to mount the grommet member 12 on the inner panel 5,
the cylindrical portion 22 may be inserted into the main cavity
portion 23a while aligning the protrusion portion 21c with the
engagement cavity portion 23b. At this time, the mounting
engagement claw 21b is forced to be elastically transformed
inwardly in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 22 upon
passage through the main cavity portion 23a and elastically
recovered immediately after it has passed through the main cavity
portion 23a, thereby assuming a completely mounted state in which
it clamps the inner panel 5 in association with the flange part
21a. The mounting engagement claw 21b can prevent the cylindrical
portion 22 from coming off from the mounting hole 23, and the
protrusion portion 21c can prevent it from rotating.
[0054] On the side face of the cylindrical portion 22 is formed a
plurality (a total number of two in this embodiment) of opening
portions 24 corresponding to the first engagement claws 16. A top
edge part of each of the opening portions 24, that is, an inner
peripheral edge part at the second engagement portion 21 acts as a
second engagement portion 25 to be engaged with the first
engagement claw 16. Further, as the first engagement claw 16 is
located at opening portion 24, it can come into abutment with
left-hand and right-hand peripheral side edge portions of the
opening portion 24, thereby preventing a free rotation of the leg
portion 14 relative to the cylindrical portion 22. As the first
engagement claw 16 is located (engaged) within the opening portion
24 in the manner as described above, the relative rotation of the
leg portion 14 with respect to the cylindrical portion 22 can be
restricted while preventing the leg portion 22 from coming off from
the cylindrical portion 22.
[0055] The top edge face of the cylindrical portion 22, that is,
the edge face opposite to the second mounting engagement portion 21
acts as a second engagement portion 26 to be engaged with the
second engagement claw 17. The top edge face of the cylindrical
portion 22 is provided with a plurality (a total number of four
corresponding to the second engagement claws 17 in this embodiment)
of pressing portions 27 disposed at approximately equal intervals
in the peripheral direction. The pressing portion 27 extends in the
form of a tongue piece and its inner face (the face at the radially
inner side of the cylindrical portion 22) assumes an inclining face
27a directed gradually outwardly in the radial direction of the
cylindrical portion 22 as being directed toward the top edge of the
cylindrical portion 22. The base end portion side of the inclining
face 27a communicates smoothly with the inner face of the
cylindrical portion 22.
[0056] In the first posture in which the leg portion 14 is inserted
deeply into the cylindrical portion 22, the second engagement claw
17 is set so as to assume the position relationship in which it is
inserted deeply into the pressing portion 27 as well as the second
engagement portion 26. In the state in which the first engagement
claw 16 is located in the opening portion 24, the second engagement
claw 17 is located facing the second engagement portion 26,
although it is deviated from the pressing portion 27 in the
peripheral direction of the cylindrical portion 22 (the second
engagement portion 26 being located on the virtual line extending
in the axial direction in the cylindrical portion 22 of the second
engagement claw 17).
[0057] FIGS. 20 to 23 illustrate the state in which the leg portion
14 of the pin member 11 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 22
of the grommet member 12. FIG. 20 illustrates the first posture in
which the leg portion 14 is inserted deeply into the cylindrical
portion 22 (corresponding to FIG. 2), and FIG. 21 illustrates the
second posture in which the leg portion 14 is inserted shallowly
into the cylindrical portion 22 (corresponding to FIG. 3). FIG. 22
illustrates a state in which the pin member 11 is inserted somewhat
deeply into the grommet member 12 and the second engagement claw 17
is rotated relative thereto at 45 degree from the state of FIG. 21
and then aligned with the pressing portion 27. In the first
posture, the first engagement claw 16 is engaged with the first
engagement portion 25 to prevent the leg portion 14 from coming off
from the cylindrical portion 22 and to regulate the relative
rotation. In the second posture in which the pin member 11 is
inserted shallowly into the grommet member 12, the second
engagement claw 17 is engaged with the second engagement portion 26
to prevent the leg portion 14 from coming off from the cylindrical
portion 22.
[0058] The force of engagement of the first engagement claw 16 with
the first engagement portion 25 is set to become smaller than the
force of engagement of the second engagement claw 17 with the
second engagement portion 26. More specifically, the expansion
pressure of the air bag 31 to be developed acts as a force that
pulls the leg portion 14 out from the cylindrical portion 22. As
the force (approximately 10 kgf in this embodiment) produced by the
expansion pressure is applied, the engagement of the first
engagement claw 16 with the first engagement portion 25 is
released. In other words, the first engagement claw 16 is
elastically transformed inwardly in the radial direction of the leg
portion 14 and the first engagement claw 16 is allowed to come off
from the cylindrical portion 22, while the second engagement claw
17 is then engaged with the second engagement portion 26 to thereby
prevent the leg portion 14 from coming off from the cylindrical
portion 22. This means that the force of engagement of the second
engagement claw 17 with the second engagement portion 26 is set to
be too strong (set to compete with the engagement by the force of
approximately 40 kgf in this embodiment) to release the engagement
that can otherwise be released by the force approximating to the
expansion pressure of the air bag 31. It is to be noted herein
that, although the engagement force as described above can be set
at different levels, there can also be adopted appropriate
techniques known to the art which can set, for example, the
difference in the number of the engagement claws (the difference in
engagement areas) or the difference in readiness of elastic
transformation, or the likelihood to release the engagement by
inclining the face at which the engagement claw abuts with the
engagement portion or the unlikelihood to release the engagement
without inclining the face of abutment of the engagement claw with
the engagement portion. Further, it is to be noted that once the
grommet member 12 is mounted on the inner panel 5 by rendering
largest the force of engagement of the mounting engagement claw 21b
for mounting the grommet member 12 on the inner panel 5, the
mounted state is kept as intact.
[0059] When the second engagement claw 17 is engaged with the
second engagement portion 26, the base end part of the pressing
portion 27 is set to be located inwardly in the radial direction of
the cylindrical portion 22 than the second engagement claw 17 that
is located in the free state in which no external force in the
radial direction of the cylindrical portion 22 is applied. This
regulates the rotation of the leg portion 14 relative to the
cylindrical portion 22. When the second engagement claw 17 is
engaged with the second engagement portion 26, the inner face of
the top edge portion of the inclining face 27a is set to be located
slightly outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion
22 with respect to the second engagement claw 17 that is placed in
the free state where no external force in the radial direction of
the cylindrical portion 22 is applied (see FIG. 23, too). This
permits the second engagement claw 17 to be located on the axis
identical to that of the pressing portion 27, if the leg portion 14
is inserted somewhat deeply into the cylindrical portion 22 from
the state of engagement of the second engagement claw 17 with the
second engagement portion 26 and the leg portion 14 is rotated at a
predetermined angle (approximately 45 degree) relative to the
cylindrical portion 22. By pulling the leg portion 14 out in this
state, the second engagement claw 17 is allowed to be elastically
transformed gradually inwardly in the radial direction of the
cylindrical portion 22 by means of the inclining face 27a of the
pressing portion 27 and then accommodated completely in the
cylindrical portion 22. Finally, the leg portion 14 is pulled out
thoroughly from the cylindrical portion 22.
[0060] Then, a description will be given regarding the way of using
the holding device 10 by making reference to the mounting and
detaching of the garnish 4. First, as preparatory procedures, the
pin member 11 is mounted on the bracket 8 of the garnish 4 to
engage the first mounting engagement portion 13 with the mounting
hole 15, and the grommet member 12 is mounted on the inner panel 5
to engage the second engagement portion 21 with the mounting hole
23. In this state, the leg portion 14 of the pin member 11 is
inserted deeply into the cylindrical portion 22 of the grommet
member 12 to assume the first posture (the position in which the
first flange part 13b of the pin member 11 abuts with the flange
part 21a of the grommet member 12; corresponding to the position of
FIG. 2). At this time, the first engagement claw 16 is engaged with
the first engagement portion 25 and the first posture is
maintained.
[0061] If the air bag apparatus 30 would be operated upon a side
collision of the vehicle and the air bag 31 be developed, an
external force would act on the pin member 11 in the direction in
which the pin member 11 is released from the grommet member 12 upon
receipt of the expansion pressure of the air bag. At this time, the
engagement of the first engagement claw 16 with the first
engagement portion 25 is released while the second engagement claw
17 is engaged with the second engagement portion 26 to assume the
second posture. In the second posture, the garnish 4 is caused to
be apart from the inner panel 5 to some extent to form a clearance
S between the garnish 4 and the inner panel 5 and the air bag 31 is
then allowed to develop through the clearance S into the cabin
compartment of the vehicle.
[0062] When the air bag apparatus 30 has to be exchanged after it
has been operated or it has to be subjected to maintenance or
inspection, the garnish 4 can be detached from the inner panel 5.
The detachment of the garnish 4 is effected first by detaching the
garnish 4 from the pin member 11 in the second posture as shown in
FIGS. 2 and 21. Thereafter, the pin member 11 is inserted slightly
deeply into the grommet member 12 and then subjected to relative
rotation at approximately 45 degree, thereby locating the second
engagement claw 17 on the identical axis of the pressing portion
27. When the pin member 11 is to be relatively rotated in the
manner as described above, the rotation of the grommet member 12 is
regulated by the action of the protrusion portion 21c. Thereafter,
the pin member 11 is pulled out from the grommet member 12. In
other words, the pin member 11 is pulled out in the state in which
the second engagement claw 17 is elastically transformed inwardly
in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 22. In order to
re-mount the garnish 4 on the inner panel 5, the pin member 11 is
mounted on the garnish 4 and then inserted deeply into the grommet
member 12.
[0063] Although the present invention has been described by way of
the above embodiments, it is to be understood that the present
invention is interpreted as encompassing various modifications
including the following embodiments. As the vehicle body panel on
which the garnish 4 can be mounted, there may be appropriately
selected, for example, from a center pillar, a rear pillar, a roof
side rail and so on, in addition to the front pillar 1. In
particular, it is preferred to apply the garnish 4 to the vehicle
body panel in which the air bag developing along the window
extending in a generally vertical direction is accommodated. As a
matter of course, the air bag is not limited to only the case where
it is developed along the window. The attachment of the garnish 4
by means of the holding device 10 may be effected only at a
position in the vicinity of the air bag apparatus 30 (at one
position or at plural positions, including a position of fixing
with a screw), or the holding device 10 may be used at all the
sites where the garnish is fixed.
[0064] In the second posture in which the second engagement claw 17
is engaged with the second engagement portion 26, the second
engagement claw 17 can be set to be elastically transformable
inwardly in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 22 by
means of the pressing portion 27 by rotating the pin member 11
relative to the grommet member 12 at a predetermined angle. In this
case, for example, at least one of the side faces out of the side
faces at which the pressing portion is located opposite to the
second engagement claw 17 may be selected as the inclining face and
the second engagement claw 17 may be set to be gradually
transformed elastically inwardly of the cylindrical portion 22
along the inclining face, upon the relative rotation. It is to be
understood herein as a matter of course that the object of the
present invention is not limited to only those described above and
is interpreted as encompassing any substantially preferred
modifications and those impliedly described as having advantages
within the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *