GB2517074A - Airbag assembly for a vehicle - Google Patents
Airbag assembly for a vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2517074A GB2517074A GB201411553A GB201411553A GB2517074A GB 2517074 A GB2517074 A GB 2517074A GB 201411553 A GB201411553 A GB 201411553A GB 201411553 A GB201411553 A GB 201411553A GB 2517074 A GB2517074 A GB 2517074A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- airbag
- section
- flap
- assembly
- carrier section
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 230000009975 flexible effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 60
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 34
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 claims description 21
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 abstract 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000003981 vehicle Substances 0.000 description 39
- 229920002943 EPDM rubber Polymers 0.000 description 4
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000032683 aging Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000009987 spinning Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007765 extrusion coating Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920002457 flexible plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013589 supplement Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001502 supplementing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R21/216—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R2021/21537—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member characterised by hinges
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R21/216—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
- B60R2021/2163—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment with energy absorbing or elastic means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
An airbag assembly (1) for a vehicle in which the cover 6 of the housing 4 is hinged on one side at a hinge point 8 and is provided with a restraining tether arrangement 9, which is made up of a carrier portion 10 and a flexible strap element 11. The flexible belt 11 is fastened to the covering flap 6 at an engagement point 15 and merges with the supporting element 10 at a hinge point 12. The two hinge points 8, 12 are not collinear with the engagement point 15 in an opened state of the airbag 5, forming an open triangle. The limiting device 9 plays the role of kinetic energy absorption during the opening of the airbag door 6, preventing damage to the vehicle interior and injury to the vehicle occupants.
Description
Airbag assembly for a vehicle Technical Area: The invention relates to an airbag assembly for a vehicle and a vehicle having the airbag assembly.
Background:
Nearly every vehicle currently has airbag assemblies, in which airbags are integrated, which are to unfold in the event of an impact of the vehicle in the direction of the passen- gers and protect them from injuries. Airbag assemblies, which are arranged in an instru-ment panel of the vehicle below a windshield, are widespread. In the case of such airbag assemblies, the airbag unfolds in the evefl of an activation through the so-called airbag flap, which opens in case of activation and releases the airbag for unfolding. The airbag assemblies often comprise restraint elements, which hold back the airbag flap during the opening and prevent it from detaching or flying around within the vehicle.
For example, the document DE 10 2007 055 016 63, which probably forms the closest prior art, describes a lining part having an airbag cover and a method for producing a lin-ing part. The lining part has an openable airbag cover, which is linked on by a restraint element. The restraint element is fastened at a first end on the airbag cover and at a sec-ond end on an anchor outside the airbag cover. One of the two ends is connected to a strip, which is oriented transversely to a load direction of the restraint element, and which is fastened on the airbag cover or on the anchor. Webs are molded onto the strip, which are connected at least at points to the restraint element and accommodate at least a part of an excess length of the restraint element.
Description:
The invention is based on the object of providing a functionally improved restraint device for an airbag flap of an airbag assembly. This object is achieved by an airbag assembly having the features of Claim 1 and by a vehicle having the airbag assembly having the features of Claim 15. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims, the following description, and/or the appended figures
N -2 -
An airbag assembly for a vehicle, in particular for a truck or a passenger automobile, is proposed. The airbag assembly is arranged, for example, on a passenger side or driver side or centrally between the two below a windshield of the vehicle.
The airbag assembly has an airbag flap, a base structure, an airbag housing, and an air-bag, wherein the airbag is arranged or can be arranged in the airbag housing. The base structure is preferably implemented as an instrument panel or a dashboard of the vehicle.
In particular, the airbag housing is integrated in the base structure.
The airbag flap is preferably fastened so it is pivotable or at least partially removable on the base structure, in particular on the instrument panel or the dashboard. In a non-activated state of the airbag, in particular when the airbag is arranged folded up or rolled up in the airbag housing, the airbag flap covers the airbag housing. The airbag housing is preferably concealed toward a vehicle interior of the vehicle by the airbag flap. The airbag flap preferably visually and/or functionally forms an openable or at least partially detacha-ble subregion of the instrument panel or the dashboard.
During and/or after an activation of the airbag, which is triggered by an impact of the vehi- cle, for example, and in a cross section of the airbag assembly along a section line ex-tending in a first direction, the airbag flap opens around a first hinge point and releases the airbag for unfolding, in particular into the vehicle interior. The first direction preferably corresponds to a vehicle longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
The airbag assembly has a restraint device for the airbag flap. The restraint device is preferably implemented for the purpose of preventing the airbag flap from detaching from the base structure during and/or activation of the airbag and/or holding back the airbag flap, to avoid spinning around in the vehicle interior and injuries to occupants of the vehi-ce thus caused. Alternatively or optionally additionally, the restraint device is implemented for the purpose of preventing damage to the vehicle interior and in particular the wind-shield during the opening of the airbag flap. For this purpose, the restraint device limits a maximum opening angle of the airbag flap.
The restraint device has a carrier section and a flexible section. The flexible section is fastened in the cross section of the airbag assembly at an engagement point on the airbag flap. The engagement point is preferably arranged spaced apart from the first hinge point and in the direction of a free end of the opened airbag flap or at the free end of the -3 -opened airbag flap. The restraint device can preferably hold back the airbag flap more effectively the closer the engagement point is arranged to the free end.
The carrier section and the flexible section are connected to one another, in relation to the cross section of the airbag assembly, at a second hinge point of the airbag assembly. Al- ternatively, the carrier section and the flexible section merge into one another at the sec-ond hinge point. The flexible section optionally exits from the carrier section at the second hinge point. The carrier section is preferably fixed in the airbag assembly.
In the opened state of the airbag flap, the first hinge point is arranged spaced apart by a spacing from the second hinge point. The second hinge point is preferably arranged offset in the direction of an opening formed by the airbag flap during and/or after the activation of the airbag. Both hinge points form, together with the engagement point, in particular in the cross section of the airbag assembly, an open triangle.
Due to the arrangement spaced apart by the spacing of the first and second hinge points from one another and due to the triangle formation with the engagement point, kinetic en-ergy can advantageously be absorbed during opening of the airbag flap by the restraint device. In particular, the restraint device is implemented for the purpose of decelerating the airbag flap during opening and preventing it from spinning away, for example, into the vehicle interior. The restraTht device is optionally implemented additionally to limit the max-imum opening angle of the airbag flap and thus avoid damage to the windshield by the opening airbag flap. It is preferable for this purpose for the kinetic energy absorbable on the restraint device to be related to the spacing between the first and second hinge points.
In particular, the restraint device operates more effectively and/or a restraint force of the restraint device is greater the greater the spacing between the two hinge points.
Furthermore, it is advantageous that due to the use of the flexible section and the carrier section, a double function can be implemented during the opening of the airbag flap. In particular the restraint device advantageously has a hinge function and at the same time an energy management function for absorption of the kinetic energy during opening of the airbag flap.
In a preferred design embodiment of the invention, the carrier section is connected in a formfitted and/or friction-locked manner to the base structure. The base structure prefera-bly has a dome or a rib and the carrier section has a recess matching thereto. The recess -4 -is implemented, for example, as a slot or a hole. For example, the carrier section rests on the base structure for fastening thereon, wherein the dome or the rib engages in a formfit-ting manner in the recess or latches therein. Alternatively, the carrier section is screwed, riveted, or welded to the main element.
For example, the carrier section is implemented as a strip or a plate. Optionally, a base material of the carrier section is formed from a rigid material, for example, a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, or from a flexible material, for example, an elastomeric material, in particular an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM).
In the implementation of the base material from the rigid material, in particular the fiber- reinforced thermoplastic, the carrier section is advantageously formed from the same ma- terial as the base structure, the airbag flap, and/or the airbag housing. This has the ad- vantage that cost savings during the material purchase are made possible by greater pur-chase amounts. In addition, in the installed state of the airbag assembly in the vehicle, there is no or a reduced material difference within the airbag assembly. Different aging processes of various materials within the airbag assembly can thus advantageously be avoided and visual advantages can be achieved. In particular aging processes of the air-bag assembly in the vehicle, for example, due to heat, cold, and/or incident light, are less noticeable, since they occur uniformly or substantially uniformly.
The use of the flexible material, in particular the elastomeric material, as the base material for the carrier section offers the advantage that due to the bendable, deformable, and/or flexible property of the elastomeric material, a hinge function can be assumed for the air- bag flap during the opening. Alternatively or optionally additionally, the carrier section as-sumes the function of energy management, in which the kinetic energy of the opening airbag flap is absorbed. This is performed in particular by a deformation of the carrier sec-tion during opening of the airbag flap.
A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the carrier section, in the case of opened or opening airbag flap, in particular in the deformed state, and/or the flexible sec-tion islare implemented for the purpose of guiding the airbag in an unfolding direction. In particular, the carrier section and/or the flexible section is/are implemented for the pur- pose, during and/or after the activation of the airbag, of assuming a chute channel func- tion and/or supplementing the function of a further chute channel. It can therefore be en-sured that the airbag unfolds in the correct direction and fully unfolds its protective action.
For better functional implementation of the chute channel function, the carrier section and/or the flexible section preferably extends over a large part of an opening width of the airbag flap. A width of the carrier section and/or the flexible section is, for example, more than 60%, preferably more than 75% of the opening width of the airbag flap.
It is preferable for the flexible section of the restraint device to be connected at the en- gagement point in an integrally-joined manner to the airbag flap and/or to be extrusion-coated with a base material of the airbag flap. The flexible section preferably extends in a longitudinal extension between the engagement point and the second hinge point outside and/or free of the airbag flap. In particular, the flexible section has an excess length in its longitudinal extension in the case of closed airbag flap and in the non-activated state of the airbag. The flexible section is optionally stretched in the case of opened airbag flap, wherein it forms one side of the open triangle in this case. The stretched flexible section preferably transmits a traction force to the carrier section when the airbag flap opens.
The flexible section is formed, for example, from a preferably textile fabric. For example, the fabric is a planar formation made of at least two thread systems intersecting perpen-dicularly or nearly perpendicularly. The flexible section made of the fabric is preferably embedded in the base material of the carrier section in an integrally-joined manner and/or extrusion-coated thereby. This is particularly preferable in particular if the base material of the carrier section is the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. This combination has the ad-vantage that the fabric which is embedded in the base material of the carrier section and/or extrusion-coated thereby as the flexible section has a hinge function, which is im-plemented during the opening of the airbag flap. In particular, the carrier section made of the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic is implemented as deformable by the embedding and/or extrusion coating of the fabric as the flexible section. In this case, the double function of the energy management and the hinge function is implemented by the fabric extrusion-coated with the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic as the flexible section.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the flexible section is implemented as a flexible plastic strip, in particular as a film hinge. The film hinge is preferably injection-molded on the carrier section, wherein the film hinge and the base material of the carrier section are manufactured from the same material, in particular the elastomeric material.
Optionally, the film hinge is stretched during the opening of the airbag flap and transmits the traction force of the airbag flap to the carrier section in this case. This carrier section can assume the hinge function and also the energy management function during opening -6 - of the airbag flap itself due to its flexible and deformable material property. It is advanta- geous in this case that a fabric inlay in the carrier section is not necessary for this pur-pose.
A further object of the invention relates to a vehicle having the airbag assembly according to one of the preceding claims.
Further features, advantages, and effects of the invention result from the following de-scription of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention. In the figures: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an airbag assembly for a vehicle in the non- activated state, wherein the section line extends in the vehicle longitu-dinal direction; Figure 2a shows a sectional view of an airbag assembly from Figure 1 in the acti-vated state; Figure 2b shows a detail view of an opened airbag flap of the airbag assembly from Figure 2a; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of an airbag housing and an airbag flap from below; Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the airbag housing and the airbag flap from Figure 4 along section line V-V; Figure 5 shows an alternative sectional view of the airbag housing and the air-bag flap from Figure 4 along section line V-V; Figure 6 shows installation instructions of the airbag housing and the airbag flap from Figures 4 and 5 in the sectional view along section line V-V.
Parts corresponding to one another or identical parts are respectively provided in the fig-ures with identical reference signs.
Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an airbag assembly 1 along a section line in a first di-rection, in particular in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The airbag assembly 1 is arranged in a vehicle (not shown), in particular a passenger automobile or truck, below a windshield 2 of the vehicle.
The airbag assembly I comprises a base structure implemented as an instrument panel 3, a container-shaped airbag housing 4, an airbag 5, and an airbag flap 6.
In a non-activated state N, the airbag 5 is arranged folded and/or rolled together in the airbag housing 4. The airbag flap 6 is fastened on the instrument panel 3 in particular. It forms a visually and/or functionally openable or at least partially detachable subregion of the instrument panel 1. The airbag housing 4 is arranged below the airbag flap 6, so that it is covered by the airbag flap 6 and is not visible from a vehicle interior of the vehicle in the non-activated state N of the airbag 5.
As shown in Figure 2a, the airbag flap 6 opens around a first hinge point 8 in the event of an activation A of the airbag 5, in particular in the event of an impact of the vehicle, and releases the airbag housing 4, so that the airbag 5 can unfold in the direction of one or more occupants in the vehicle interior and protect them from injuries.
The airbag assembly 1 has a restraint device 9, which is arranged between the airbag housing 4 and the airbag flap 6 in the non-activated state N of the airbag 5 according to Figure 1.
The restraint device 9 is connected to the instrument panel S and the airbag flap 6. It has a carrier section 10 and a flexible section Il. The carrier section 10 is implemented as a plastic strip or plastic plate. The flexible section is implemented as a flexible planar for-mation.
The restraint device 9 is implemented for the purpose of absorbing kinetic energy during the opening of the airbag flap 6, as shown in Figure 2a, in particular in the activated state A of the airbag 5. For example, the restraint device 9 is implemented for the purpose of decelerating an opening speed of the airbag flap 6 and/or holding back the airbag flap 6 and therefore preventing it from spinning away into a vehicle interior of the vehicle. Dam-age to the windshield 2, in the direction of which the airbag flap 6 opens, is also prevented by the restraint device 9, since a maximum opening angle of the airbag flap 6 is limited thereby. -8 -
In particular if the carrier section 10 and/or the flexible section 11 extends over a large part of an opening width of the opened airbag flap 6, the carrier section 10 and/or the flex-ible section 11 assumes a chute channel function or supplements an existing further chute channel. In particular, the carrier section 10 and/or the flexible section 11 are implemented for the purpose of guiding the unfolding airbag 5 in the correct direction in the case of opened airbag flap 6 and unfolding its full protective effect in relation to the occupants of the vehicle.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a section of the airbag housing 4 from below in the non-activated state N of the airbag 5 (Figure 2a). The section of the airbag housing 4 is covered by the airbag flap 6. It has multiple side walls 17, which form a chute channel for the airbag 5. The airbag 5 expands in the activated state A along the chute channel in the direction of the occupant or occupants of the vehicle in the vehicle interior (Figure 2).
A slotted receptacle 18 for the carrier section 10 of the restraint device 9 is introduced into one of the side walls 17 of the airbag housing 4. The carrier section 10 can be guided through the slotted receptacle 18 or inserted therein, so that after it is guided through or inserted therein, it is arranged between the one side wall 17 and the airbag flap 6 and protrudes with a subregion 19 (see Figure 6) behind the one side wall 17.
The restraint device 9 and its installation location in the airbag assembly I are shown in Figures 4 and 5 in two alternative embodiments and in a more detailed sectional view along section line Y-Y from Figure 3.
The restraint device 9 comprises the carrier section 10 and the flexible section 11. The carrier section 10 and the flexible section 11 are connected to one another at a second hinge point 12 and/or merge into one another at the second hinge point 12. Alternatively, the flexible section 11 exits from the carrier section 10 at the second hinge point 12.
The flexible section 11 is fastened at an engagement point 15 on the airbag flap 6. The engagement point 15 is arranged spaced apart from the first hinge point 8 at one free end 14 of the airbag flap 6 or in the direction of the free end 14 of the airbag flap 6, when the airbag flap 6 is opened.
Figure 2b shows an enlarged detail from the illustration of Figure 2a. The first hinge point 8 is in particular arranged spaced apart by a spacing L from the second hinge point 12 in -9 - the opened state A of the airbag flap 6. Both hinge points 8; 12 form an open triangle to-gether with the engagement point 16.
The greater the spacing L between the first and second hinge points 8; 12 is, in particular S the longer the carrier section 10 is implemented, the more effectively can the restraint device 9 absorb the kinetic energy during the opening of the airbag flap 6 and/or hold back the airbag flap 6.
The carrier section 10 is fastened on the instrument panel 3 and/or on the airbag housing 4. One possible fastening is the formfitted and/or friction-locked fastening of the carrier section 10 with the instrument panel 3 and the airbag housing 4 by means of a screw 16, a pin 16, or a rivet 16, as shown in Figures 1, 2a, and 2b.
In an alternative possibility of the fastening according to Figures 4 and 5, the carrier sec-tion 10 has a recess 7, in particular a hole or a slot. The carrier section 10 rests on the instrument panel 3 and a dome 13 or a rib 13 of the instrument panel 3 engages in the recess 7. The carrier section 10 is thus connected in a formfitting manner to the instru-ment panel 3.
According to Figure 4, a base material of the carrier section 10 is formed from a fiber- reinforced thermoplastic, wherein the carrier section 10 is implemented as rigid. The man- ufacturing of the carrier section 10 from the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic has the ad-vantage that it can be produced from the same material as the airbag housing 4 and/or the airbag flap 6 and thus cost savings can be achieved in the material purchase as a result of possible quantity discounts. In addition, the use of the same material has the ad-vantage that in the event of external influences such as heat, cold, and/or incident light in the vehicle, no differences are displayed in the aging process of the material and the posi-tive appearance of the airbag assembly can be maintained.
The flexible element 11 is formed according to Figure 4 from a fabric, for example, from a textile mesh fabric. In particular, the fabric is implemented as a hinge fabric. The flexible element 11 is extrusion-coated by the base material, in particular the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, of the carrier section 10 or embedded therein. At the second hinge point 12, the flexible element 11 exits from the carrier section 10 and extends in its longitudinal extension outside and free of the airbag flap 6. The flexible element 11 is connected at the -10 -end at the engagement point 15 in an integrally-joined manner to the airbag flap 6 and/or is extrusion-coated using the base material of the airbag flap 6.
As a result of the rigid base material due to the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic of the carrier section 10, the fabric embedded therein assumes a hinge function in the implementation as the flexible element 11 during the opening of the airbag flap 6 (Figure 2). At the same time, energy management, in which the kinetic energy is at least partially absorbed during the opening of the airbag flap 6, is ensured by the embedded fabric as the flexible element 11.
As shown in Figure 5, the carrier section 10 can alternatively be formed from an elasto- meric material, for example, from an ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). The carri-er section 10 is thus implemented as deformable and/or bendable and/or it has flexible material properties.
The flexible element 11 is implemented according to Figure 5 as a film hinge and is injec- tion-molded in the joint injection-molding process at the second hinge point 12 on the car-rier section 10. In particular, the film hinge as the flexible element 11 is formed from the same material, in particular from the elastomeric material of the carrier section 10.
The hinge function and the energy management in the case of which the kinetic energy is at least partially absorbed during the opening of the airbag flap 6, are assumed in the al-ternative exemplary embodiment according to Figure 4 as a result of the deformability and bendability, by the carrier device 10 and optionally additionally of the film hinge as the flexible element 11. In particular, the film hinge is stretched as the flexible element 11 dur-ing the opening of the airbag flap 6 and transmits the traction force thus resulting to the carrier device 10.
Figure 6 shows the installation sequence during an installation of the airbag assembly 1 in the vehicle in the sectional illustration along section line V-V from Figure 3.
Firstly, the carrier section 10, which is connected via the flexible element 11 to the airbag flap 6, is guided through the slotted receptacle 18 of the one side wall 17 of the airbag housing 4 or inserted therein, so that the subregion 19 of the carrier section 10 protrudes behind the side wall 17. In this subregion 19, the carrier section 10 has the recess L After the carrier section 10 is guided through or inserted in the slotted receptacle 18, the dome 13 or the rib 13 of the instrument panel 3 engages in the recess 7 of the carrier section 10, -11 -so that the carrier section 10 is connected in a formfitting manner to the instrument panel 3.
While at least one exemplary embodiment was disclosed in detail above, it is to be acknowledged that a variety of variations according to the invention exist. It is also to be acknowledged that the at least one exemplary embodiment only has exemplary character and does not represent a limit of the scope of protection, the areas of application, or the configuration. Rather, the present disclosure is to be a convenient roadmap for imple-menting at least one exemplary embodiment. Therefore, it is to be acknowledged that various variations of the function or the arrangement of the elements of the at least one exemplary embodiment can be implemented, without leaving the scope which is specified by the claims and their legal equivalents.
List of reference numerals: 1 airbag assembly 2 windshield 3 instrument panel 4 airbag housing airbag 6 airbag flap 7 recess 8 first hinge point 9 restraint device carrier section 11 flexible element 12 second hinge point 13 dome or rib 14 free end of the airbag flap engagement point 16 screw1 pin, or rivet 17 sidewall 18 receptacle 19 subregion -13 -
Claims (15)
- Patent Claims: 1. An airbag assembly (1) fora vehicle, having an airbag flap (6), a base structure (3), an airbag housing (4), and an airbag (5), wherein the airbag (5) is arranged in the airbag housing (4), wherein the airbag flap (6) is fastened on the base structure (3), and wherein the airbag flap (6) covers the airbag housing (4) in a non-activated state (N) of the air-bag(5), wherein the airbag flap (6) opens around a first hinge point (8) and releases the airbag (5) for unfolding during and/or after an activation of the airbag (5) and in a cross section of the airbag assembly (1) along a section line extending in a first di-rection, wherein the airbag assembly (1) has a restraint device (9) for the airbag flap (6), wherein the restraint device (9) comprises a carrier section (10) and a flexible sec-tion (11), wherein the flexible section (11) is fastened at an engagement point (15) on the airbag flap (6), wherein the carrier section (10) and the flexible section (11) are connected to one another and/or merge into one another at a second hinge point (12), wherein the first hinge point (8) is arranged spaced apart by a spacing (L) from the second hinge point (12) in the opened state (A) of the airbag flap (6), and wherein both hinge points (8; 12) form an open triangle together with the engagement point (15).
- 2. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the restraint device (9) is implemented for the purpose of absorbing kinetic energy during the opening of the airbag flap (6).
- 3. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the carrier section (10) is connected in a formfitted and/or friction-locked manner to the base structure (3).-14 -
- 4. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a base material of the carrier section (10) is formed from an elastomeric material.
- 5. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 4, wherein the carrier section (10) is deformed during the opening of the airbag flap (6) and thus assumes a hinge func-tion and an energy management function, in the case of which the kinetic energy is at least partially absorbed during the opening of the airbag flap (6).
- 6. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a base material of the carrier section (10) is formed from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic.
- 7. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible section (11) is, at the engagement point (15) connected in an integrally- joined manner to the airbag flap (6) and/or is extrusion-coated using a base mate-rial of the airbag flap (6).
- B. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible section (11) extends in a longitudinal extension between the engagement point (15) and the second hinge point (12) outside and/or free of the airbag flap (6).
- 9. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible section (11) is formed from a fabric.
- 10. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 9, wherein the flexible section (11) as the fabric is embedded in an integrally-joined manner in the base material of the carrier section (10) and/or is extrusion-coated by the base material of the carrier section (10).
- 11. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 10, wherein the fabric, which is em-bedded in the base material of the carrier section (10) and/or extrusion-coated by the base material, has and/or implements a hinge function.
- 12. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of Claims I to 8, wherein the flexible section (11) is implemented as a film hinge. -15 -
- 13. The airbag assembly (1) according to Claim 12, wherein the flexible section is in-jection-molded as the film hinge on the carrier section (10).
- 14. The airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier section (10) and/or the flexible section (11) are implemented for the pur-pose of implementing a chute channel function in the case of opened airbag flap (6) and/or guiding the unfolding airbag (5) in an unfolding direction:
- 15. A vehicle having the airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE201310011971 DE102013011971A1 (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2013-07-18 | Airbag arrangement for a vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201411553D0 GB201411553D0 (en) | 2014-08-13 |
| GB2517074A true GB2517074A (en) | 2015-02-11 |
Family
ID=51410313
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB201411553A Withdrawn GB2517074A (en) | 2013-07-18 | 2014-06-27 | Airbag assembly for a vehicle |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE102013011971A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2517074A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11440498B2 (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2022-09-13 | Riedel Communications International GmbH | Airbag cover |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1055567A2 (en) * | 1999-05-24 | 2000-11-29 | Ford Motor Company | Inflatable restraint system door assembly and tether to limit the movement of the door |
| WO2001079040A1 (en) * | 2000-04-18 | 2001-10-25 | Textron Automotive Company Inc | Inflatable restraint apparatus |
| US20020084634A1 (en) * | 1999-06-08 | 2002-07-04 | Heinz-Dieter Adomeit | Airbag module for steering wheels |
| US20110181028A1 (en) * | 2008-10-02 | 2011-07-28 | Faurecia Interieur Industrie | Interior trim assembly for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle |
| US20110278827A1 (en) * | 2007-11-14 | 2011-11-17 | Faurecia Innenraum Systeme Gmbh | Rebound strap for an airbag cover and method for producing a trim part |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5398960A (en) * | 1994-02-01 | 1995-03-21 | Morton International, Inc. | Airbag module doors having slip-in and snap-in tether attachments |
| DE29722780U1 (en) * | 1997-12-23 | 1998-04-23 | Trw Occupant Restraint Systems Gmbh, 73551 Alfdorf | Airbag module with cover |
-
2013
- 2013-07-18 DE DE201310011971 patent/DE102013011971A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2014
- 2014-06-27 GB GB201411553A patent/GB2517074A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1055567A2 (en) * | 1999-05-24 | 2000-11-29 | Ford Motor Company | Inflatable restraint system door assembly and tether to limit the movement of the door |
| US20020084634A1 (en) * | 1999-06-08 | 2002-07-04 | Heinz-Dieter Adomeit | Airbag module for steering wheels |
| WO2001079040A1 (en) * | 2000-04-18 | 2001-10-25 | Textron Automotive Company Inc | Inflatable restraint apparatus |
| US20110278827A1 (en) * | 2007-11-14 | 2011-11-17 | Faurecia Innenraum Systeme Gmbh | Rebound strap for an airbag cover and method for producing a trim part |
| US20110181028A1 (en) * | 2008-10-02 | 2011-07-28 | Faurecia Interieur Industrie | Interior trim assembly for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11440498B2 (en) * | 2018-08-24 | 2022-09-13 | Riedel Communications International GmbH | Airbag cover |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE102013011971A1 (en) | 2015-01-22 |
| GB201411553D0 (en) | 2014-08-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |