Abstract:
Disclosed is a vehicle structure comprising a seatbelt device, in which diffusion of a hot gas produced in a pretensioner is easily minimized by a simple configuration. In the vehicle structure comprising a seatbelt device, the pretensioner is provided on a rear inner side panel, and an interior material covering the pretensioner is provided on the side facing the vehicle interior. The interior material has a dividing wall provided on the rear surface, the dividing wall protruding toward the rear inner side panel. The dividing wall encloses the pretensioner and partitions the gap between the rear inner side panel and the interior material.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a vehicle structure equipped with a seatbelt device mounted on a panel of a vehicle body and having a pretensioner for retracting a webbing to restrain a passenger. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    Seatbelt devices for vehicles are known which include a pretensioner for retracting a webbing to properly restrain a passenger upon collision or emergency braking. According to the seatbelt devices, when a collision or an emergency braking is detected by an acceleration sensor, a gas generator is ignited to generate gas based on a detection signal, and the webbing is retracted by a pressure of the generated gas. By retracting the webbing in this manner, the passenger can be properly restrained. 
         [0003]    In the seatbelt devices including the pretensioner, however, since the gas generator is ignited to generate gas for retracting the webbing by the pressure of the generated gas, the pressure of the gas becomes high. Therefore, the hot gas is likely to leak outside a case of the pretensioner, and further, the leaked hot gas is likely to diffuse. 
         [0004]    As a countermeasure thereto, a pretensioner is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1, which includes a heat absorbing member formed of high thermal conductivity material and provided in a gas supply space where gas is supplied. With this configuration, thermal energy of the hot gas is absorbed by the heat absorbing member, and the temperature of the gas is thereby lowered, so that an influence of the leaked hot gas can be minimized. 
         [0005]    However, in the pretensioner of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to provide the heat absorbing member in the gas supply space, a space for the heat absorbing member must be secured in the gas supply space of the pretensioner. Further, the provision of the heat absorbing member in the pretensioner undesirably increases the number of necessary components and complicates the configuration of the pretensioner. Thus, it is difficult to minimize the diffusion of the hot gas generated in the pretensioner with ease and simple configuration. 
       PRIOR ART LITERATURE 
     Patent Literature 
       [0006]    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication (JP-A) No. 2003-146184 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
       [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle structure equipped with a seatbelt device which is capable of easily minimizing diffusion of hot gas generated in a pretensioner by a simple configuration. 
       Solutions to Problems 
       [0008]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle structure equipped with a seatbelt device, wherein a pretensioner for retracting a webbing to restrain a passenger is provided on a panel of a vehicle body, and an interior material covering the pretensioner is provided on a side facing a vehicle interior, characterized in that one of the interior material and the panel has a dividing wall formed thereon to enclose the pretensioner and partition a gap between the panel and the interior material. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the interior material and the dividing wall are formed of resin, and the dividing wall is formed on the interior material. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the dividing wall is formed to be opened upward. 
         [0011]    Preferably, soundproof members are provided on a peripheral part of the dividing wall on a side opposite to the pretensioner with respect to the dividing wall. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0012]    In the invention, the pretensioner is covered by the interior material, and the dividing wall that partitions the gap between the panel and the interior material is formed to enclose the pretensioner. With this configuration, when hot gas generated in the pretensioner leaks out, the leaked hot gas can be prevented from diffusing in the gap between the panel and the interior material. Thus, by only providing the dividing wall on the interior material, it is possible to easily minimize the diffusion of the hot gas generated in the pretensioner with such a simple configuration. 
         [0013]    In the invention, the interior material and the dividing wall are formed of resin, and the dividing wall is formed on the interior material. That is, the dividing wall can be integrally formed together with the interior material when the resin interior material is formed (molded). As a result, the dividing wall can be formed with further simple configuration, while enhancing a degree of freedom in the shape of the dividing wall. 
         [0014]    In the invention, by forming the dividing wall to be opened upward, the webbing drawn from the seatbelt device can be prevented from interfering with the dividing wall. 
         [0015]    In the invention, with the dividing wall formed on the interior material, hot gas generated in the pretensioner is prevented from diffusing beyond the dividing wall to the peripheral part on the side opposite to the pretensioner (i.e., peripheral part of the dividing wall). The soundproof members provided on the peripheral part of the dividing wall is therefore ree from an influence of the hot gas of the pretensioner. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, the soundproof members can be installed on the peripheral part of the dividing wall on the side opposite to the pretensioner with respect to the dividing wall, thereby increasing the area for installing the soundproof members. As a result, the soundproof members can be arranged at more appropriate positions, thereby enhancing a degree of freedom in design and improving a soundproof effect. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle structure equipped with a seatbelt device according to the present invention, as viewed from a vehicle interior side; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the vehicle structure of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the vehicle interior side; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle structure of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5(   a ) is a view showing how hot gas leaked from a pretensioner is prevented from diffusing by a dividing wall; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5(   b ) is a view showing how an influence of the hot gas on soundproof members is minimized. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    A certain preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       Embodiment 
       [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a vehicle structure  10  equipped with a seatbelt device includes a rear floor panel  12  constituting a floor of a vehicle body  11 , a rear fender  13  extending upward from a right side part  12   a  of the rear floor panel  12 , and a rear seat  14  disposed on the rear floor panel  12 . 
         [0025]    The vehicle structure  10  further includes a seatbelt device  16  mounted on the rear floor panel  12  and the rear fender  13 , an interior material  18  covering a retractor/pretensioner unit  31  ( FIG. 2 ) of the seatbelt device  16 , and a soundproof unit  21  ( FIG. 2 ) provided on the interior material  18 . 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the rear fender  13  includes a rear outer side panel  23  facing outside the vehicle body  11 , and a rear inner side panel (panel)  24  located inside the rear outer side panel  23  and facing a vehicle interior  26 . The rear inner side panel  24  has an opening  25  (see also  FIG. 3 ) formed therein for mounting the retractor/pretensioner unit  31 . The seatbelt device  16  is a three - point seatbelt device configured to restrain a passenger sitting on the rear seat  14  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the seatbelt device  16  includes the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  mounted on the rear fender  13 , a webbing  32  having an upper end  32   a  connected to the retractor/pretensioner unit  31 , and an upper slip guide  33  that slidably supports the webbing  32 . 
         [0028]    The seatbelt device  16  further includes a tongue  34  slidably provided on the webbing  32 , a buckle  35  ( FIG. 1 ) for engagement with the tongue  34 , and an attachment portion  36  for attaching a lower end  32   b  of the webbing  32  to the rear floor panel  12 . 
         [0029]    The retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is housed in the opening  25  of the rear inner side panel  24  and fixed to the rear inner side panel  24  via upper and lower bolts  41 ,  42 . Namely, a pretensioner  45  is provided on the rear inner side panel  24 . The retractor/pretensioner unit  31  includes a retractor  44  configured to wind the webbing  32 , and the pretensioner  45  configured to pull the webbing  32 . 
         [0030]    The pretensioner  45  is provided at a top part  44   a  ( FIG. 4 ) of the retractor  44 . The pretensioner  45  includes a gas generator  46  ( FIG. 4 ) for generating gas when ignited, and a piston  48  movable within a cylinder  47  by pressure of the generated gas. A winding shaft is linked to the piston  48  via a cable, and the upper end  32   a  of the webbing  32  is connected to the winding shaft. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , according to the seatbelt device  16 , by bringing the tongue  34  into engagement with the buckle  35  and making winding force of the retractor  44  act on the webbing  32 , a passenger sitting on the rear seat  14  can be restrained by the webbing  32 . 
         [0032]    Further, according to the seatbelt device  16 , when a collision or an emergency braking is detected by an acceleration sensor, the gas generator  46  of the pretensioner  45  is ignited to generate gas based on a detection signal. The piston  48  is moved by a pressure of the generated gas, and the webbing  32  linked with the piston  48  via the winding shaft is pulled or retracted. By retracting the webbing  32  in this manner, the passenger can be properly restrained by the webbing  32 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the interior material  18  is a resin lining material provided on the rear inner side panel  24  on a side facing the vehicle interior  26  with a gap L therebetween to thereby constitute a wall surface of the vehicle interior  26 . By thus providing the interior material  18  on the rear inner side panel  24  on the side facing the vehicle interior  26  with the gap L therebetween, the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is covered by the interior material  18 . In other words, the pretensioner  45  is covered by the interior material  18  so as not to be seen from the vehicle interior side. 
         [0034]    The interior material  18  is formed of resin and having a dividing wall  51  integrally formed on a rear surface or back surface  18   a  thereof. The back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18  is a surface facing the retractor/pretensioner unit  31 , i.e. the pretensioner  45 . The interior material  18  further has, on the back surface  18   a,  a peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51  constituting a part on a side opposite to the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  (pretensioner  45 ) with respect to the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0035]    The dividing wall  51  is formed of resin. Since the interior material  18  and the dividing wall  51  are both formed of resin, the dividing wall  51  can be integrally formed together with the interior material  18  when the resin interior material  18  is formed (molded). As a result, the dividing wall  51  can have a simple configuration, and can he easily formed. Further, by forming (molding) the dividing wall  51  integrally together with the interior material  18 , a degree of freedom in the shape of the dividing wall  51  can be enhanced. 
         [0036]    The dividing wall  51  includes a front wall part  52 , a rear wall part  53 , and a bottom wall part  54 , and is formed substantially in a U shape (box-like shape) opened upward by the front wail part  52 , the rear wall part  53 , and the bottom wall part  54 . By forming the dividing wall  51  to be opened upward, the webbing  32  drawn from the retractor  44  can be prevented from interfering with the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0037]    Further, by forming the dividing wall  51  substantially in the U shape, a front part, a rear part, and a bottom part of the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  are enclosed by the dividing wall  51 . The dividing wall  51  has a projecting height. H which is set so that a projecting end  51   a  of the dividing wall  51  is located adjacent to the rear inner side panel  24 . With this configuration, the gap L between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18  is divided by the dividing wall  51  into a housing space  56  and an outside space  57 . 
         [0038]    The housing space  56  is a space within which the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is housed. The outside space  57  is a space outside the housing space  56 , and the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is not housed in this space. That is, the front part, the rear part, and the bottom part of the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  are separated from the outside space  57  by the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0039]    In this manner, the dividing wall  51  is formed to enclose the retractor/pretensioner unit  31 , and to divide the gap L between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18  into the housing space  56  and the outside space  57 . 
         [0040]    Since the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is enclosed by the dividing wall  51 , the pre tensioner  45  of the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  is enclosed by the dividing wall  51 . More specifically, the gas generator  46  of the pretensioner  45  is arranged at the top part  44   a  of the retractor  44 . Further, the front wall part  52  of the dividing wall  51  is arranged forward of the gas generator  46  in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and the rear wall part  53  of the dividing wall  51  is arranged rearward of the gas generator  46 . 
         [0041]    With this arrangement, when hot gas generated in the pretensioner  45  leaks out, the leaked hot gas can be prevented from diffusing in the gap L between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18 . Thus, by only providing the dividing wall  51  on the interior material  18 , it is possible to easily minimize the diffusion of the hot gas generated in the pretensioner  45  with such a simple configuration. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , in the outside space  57  between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18 , the soundproof unit  21  is installed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 . The soundproof unit  21  includes first to sixth soundproof members  61  to  66 . The first to sixth soundproof members  61  to  66  are arranged, on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , at desirable positions in the outside space  57 . 
         [0043]    The first soundproof member  61  and the third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66  are formed of sound absorbing material made of nonwoven fabric that is obtained by integrating fibers such as polyethylene telephthalate. The second soundproof member  62  is formed of sound absorbing material made of foam material such as polyethylene foam. By installing the soundproof unit  21  on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , in the outside space  57 , noise in the vehicle interior can be suppressed. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first soundproof member  61  and the second soundproof member  62  are arranged, on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , on the peripheral part  181 ) of the dividing wall  51 . The peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51  is a part of the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , the part being located on the side opposite to the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  with respect to the dividing wall  51  (i.e., on the side of the outside space  57 ) and constituting a periphery of the dividing wall  51 . That is, the first soundproof member  61  and the second soundproof member  62  are separated from the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  by the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the third soundproof member  63  is arranged in a region located rearward of the dividing wall  51  and below a quarter window frame  71 . The fourth soundproof member  64  is arranged in a region located below the dividing wall  51  and corresponding to a wheel house  72 . The fifth soundproof member  65  is arranged rearward of the fourth soundproof member  64 . Further, the sixth soundproof member  66  is arranged rearward of the fifth soundproof member  65 . The third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66  are thus arranged at positions relatively remote from the peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0046]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the dividing wall  51  is formed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 . With the dividing wall  51 , when hot gas generated in the pretensioner  45  leaks out, the leaked hot gas can be prevented from diffusing beyond the dividing wall  51  to the peripheral part  18   b  on the side opposite to the pretensioner  45  (i.e., peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51 ). 
         [0047]    Since the diffusion of the leaked hot gas is thus minimized, the first soundproof member  61  and the second soundproof member  62  are free from an influence of the hot gas of the pretensioner  45 . Therefore, the first soundproof member  61  and the second soundproof member  62  can be installed on the peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51 , thereby increasing the area for installing the first soundproof member  61  and the second soundproof member  62 . 
         [0048]    Further, since the diffusion of the leaked hot gas is minimized, the third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66  located relatively remote from the peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wail  51  are also free from the influence of the hot gas of the pretensioner  45 . Therefore, the third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66  can be installed without considering the influence of the hot gas, thereby increasing the area for installing the third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66 . 
         [0049]    Next will be described, with reference to  FIG. 5 , how gas generated in the pretensioner  45  of the seatbelt device  16  is prevented from diffusing. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 5(   a ), when a collision or an emergency braking is detected by the acceleration sensor, the gas generator  46  of the pretensioner  45  is ignited to generate gas based on a detection signal. The piston  48  ( FIG. 3)  is moved by a pressure of the generated gas, and the webbing  32  linked with the piston  48  via the winding shaft is retracted. By retracting the webbing  32  in this manner, the passenger can be properly restrained by the webbing  32 . 
         [0051]    Since the gas generator  46  is ignited to generate gas for causing the piston  48  ( FIG. 3 ) to move by the pressure of the generated gas, the pressure of the gas becomes high, so that the hot gas is likely to leak outside the pretensioner  45  from the gas generator  46  (i.e., pretensioner  45 ) as indicated by arrows A. 
         [0052]    In the embodiment, the dividing wall  51  is therefore provided on the interior material  18  covering the pretensioner  45  so as to enclose the pretensioner  45 . Further, the gap L between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18  is partitioned by the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0053]    With the dividing wall  51 , the gap L between the rear inner side panel  24  and the interior material  18  is divided into the housing space  56  and the outside space  57 . Thus, when the hot gas leaks out from the pretensioner  45  to the housing space  56 , the leaked hot gas can be prevented from diffusing from the housing space  56  to the outside space  57  by the dividing wall  51 . 
         [0054]    As also shown in  FIG. 5(   b ), when the hot gas leaks outside from the pretensioner  45  as indicated by arrows A, the leaked hot gas can be prevented from diffusing from the housing space  56  to the outside space  57 . That is, the hot gas can be prevented from diffusing beyond the dividing wall  51  to the peripheral part  18   b  on the side opposite to the pretensioner  45  (i.e., peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51 ). 
         [0055]    By preventing the diffusion of the hot gas in this manner, the first and second soundproof members  61 ,  62  and the other soundproof members (i.e., third to sixth soundproof members  63  to  66  ( FIG. 2 )) can be made free from the influence of the hot gas. The first and second soundproof members  61 ,  62  can therefore be installed in a region relatively near the pretensioner  45  (on the peripheral part  18   b  of the dividing wall  51 , on the side opposite to the pretensioner  45 ). 
         [0056]    Thus, the area for installing the first to sixth soundproof members  61  to  66 , especially the first and second soundproof members  61 ,  62  can be increased. As a result, the first and second soundproof members  61 ,  62  can be arranged at more appropriate positions, thereby enhancing a degree of freedom in design and improving a soundproof effect. 
         [0057]    Note that the vehicle structure equipped with the seatbelt device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various minor changes and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the embodiment has been explained in the case where the dividing wall  51  is integrally formed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , however, it is not so limited, and a dividing wall  51  as a separate member may be provided on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 . Further, although the dividing wall  51  is formed of resin in the embodiment, the dividing wall  51  may be made of metal. 
         [0058]    Whereas in the embodiment the dividing wall  51  is formed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , it is not so limited, and the dividing wall  51  may be provided on the rear inner side panel  24 . 
         [0059]    Although in the embodiment the dividing wall  51  is formed by the front wall part  52 , the rear wall part  53 , and the bottom wall part  54 , it is not, so limited, and the dividing wall  51  may be formed by the front wall part  52  and the rear wall part  53 . 
         [0060]    Whereas in the embodiment the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  has the pretensioner  45  arranged at the top part  44   a  of the retractor  44 , it is not so limited, and the present invention may be applied to a retractor/pretensioner unit having a pretensioner  45  arranged at a bottom part or another part of a retractor  44 . 
         [0061]    If the present invention is applied to the retractor/pretensioner unit having the pretensioner  45  arranged at the bottom part the retractor  44 , the pretensioner  45  can be enclosed more satisfactorily by the front wall part  52 , the rear wall part  53 , and the bottom wall part  54 . As a result, diffusion of hot gas leaked from the pretensioner  45  can thereby be minimized more satisfactorily. 
         [0062]    Although in the embodiment the retractor/pretensioner unit  31  in which the pretensioner  45  is integrated with the retractor  44  is used, it is not so limited, and the present invention may be applied to a pretensioner  45  provided separately from a retractor  44 . 
         [0063]    Whereas in the embodiment the first to sixth soundproof members  61  to  66  are installed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , it is not so limited, and the first to sixth soundproof members  61  to  66  may be installed on the rear inner side panel  24 . 
         [0064]    Although in the embodiment the seatbelt device  16  is mounted on the rear seat side in the vehicle body, it is not so limited, and the present invention may be applied to a seatbelt device mounted at another part in the vehicle body. 
         [0065]    Whereas in the embodiment the soundproof unit  21  is installed on the back surface  18   a  of the interior material  18 , it is not so limited, and the soundproof unit  21  may be installed on the rear inner side panel  24 . 
         [0066]    Furthermore, the shapes and configurations of the vehicle structure  10  equipped with the seatbelt device, the vehicle body  11 , the seatbelt device  16 , the interior material  18 , the rear inner side panel  24 , the pretensioner  45 , the dividing wall  51 , the first and second soundproof members  61 ,  62 , etc. are not limited to those illustratively shown and described herein, and they may be modified as necessary. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0067]    The vehicle structure of the present invention is well suited for use in passenger vehicles equipped with a seatbelt device including a pretensioner for retracting a webbing to properly restrain a passenger. 
       REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
       [0068]      10  . . . vehicle structure equipped with a seatbelt device,  11  . . . vehicle body;  16  . . . seatbelt device,  18  . . . interior material,  18   b  . . . peripheral part,  24  . . . rear inner side panel (panel),  26  . . . vehicle interior,  32  . . . webbing,  45  . . . pretensioner,  51  . . . dividing wall,  61  . . . first soundproof member (soundproof member),  62  . . . second soundproof member (soundproof member), L . . . gap