CA2219445A1 - Cover cap for an airbag module - Google Patents
Cover cap for an airbag module Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2219445A1 CA2219445A1 CA002219445A CA2219445A CA2219445A1 CA 2219445 A1 CA2219445 A1 CA 2219445A1 CA 002219445 A CA002219445 A CA 002219445A CA 2219445 A CA2219445 A CA 2219445A CA 2219445 A1 CA2219445 A1 CA 2219445A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cover cap
- leather
- airbag module
- region
- covering
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
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
-
- 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
- B60R21/217—Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
-
- 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
- B60R2021/21543—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 with emblems
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
In the case of a cover cap (1) for an airbag module (4) arranged in the hub region (2) of a steering wheel (3) and having a base part (5) of relatively firm plastic, a support (6) of relatively soft plastic and a covering (7) of leather it is provided that the covering (7) of leather extends without a parting seam over the entire surface of the cover cap (1) - with the exception of a central region (8) for receiving a company logo - and reaches around said cap at the edges, and that the cover cap (1) is designed as a component which swings open as a single piece, has a predetermined breaking line (9) and an opposite jointed region (10).
Description
CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 Cover cap for an airbag module Description The invention relates to a cover cap for an airbag module arranged in the hub region of a steering wheel and having a base part of relatively firm plastic, a support of relatively soft plastic and a covering of leather.
In the case of such cover caps, there has previously been provided a parting line of weakness running approximately in the middle transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and at the lateral edges, along which line the cover cap tears open when the airbag is activated, allowing the cover cap to swing open, upward and downward, in two parts.
Thus, the same cover cap design was used for the embodiment with a leather covering as for those without a leather covering. This gave rise to the necessity to design the leather covering in such a way that it likewise tears open at the parting line of weakness provided in the cover cap. In other words, it had to be ensured that the tearing open is not hindered by the leather covering.
While it is readily possible to provide cover caps produced from plastic with parting lines of weakness which tear open reliably in the event of an CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 accident but remain undamaged during normal use, this is achieved only extremely incompletely in the case of the natural product leather. On the one hand, the line of weakness in the plastic part of the cover cap must be made weaker by the amount of tearing resistance of the leather and, on the other hand, the leather must improve the final strength of the cover cap by the amount of the additional weakening in the plastic part.
It is obvious that these conflicting requirements can be met only incompletely with a weakening of the leather covering along the parting line of weakness in the plastic part of the cover cap, especially since, even with the same material thickness, the leather may have very different strength values, which can also change considerably by ageing and in dependence on atmospheric humidity. If the leather is too strong, the tearing open of the cover cap is hindered uncontrollably, if it is too weak it breaks along the lines of weakness even during normal use.
The object is consequently to develop a cover cap of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that its tearing open and functional behavior is largely independent of the natural product leather.
Thus, the intention is to provide a leather-covered cover cap in which the leather does not impair the functions of the cover cap.
CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 This object is achieved according to the invention by the covering of leather extending without a parting seam over the entire surface of the cover cap - with the exception of a central region for receiving a company logo - and reaching around said cap at the edges and by the cover cap being designed as a component which swings open as a single piece, has a predetermined breaking line and an opposite jointed reg1on.
The invention is based on the consideration that it is not absolutely necessary in modern vehicles for the cover cap for the airbag module accommodated in the hub region of a steering wheel to swing open in two parts, and that a cover cap swinging open upward as a single part in the direction of the windshield in no way constitutes the potential dangers previously assumed. On the one hand, the airbag modules can in the meantime be accommodated in a more space saving manner and therefore no longer require such large cover caps and, on the other hand, the distance from the point of articulation to the windshield is generally so great that destruction of the windshield by the swinging open cover cap does not have to be feared. In addition, there is the possibility of designing the cover cap in such a way that it is relatively soft and compliant, at least in the state in which it has been torn away on one side.
CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 It has consequently been made possible to cover the cover cap completely with leather and arrange the parting lines of weakness or predetermined breaking lines in such a way that no measures for specific tearing open have to be taken any longer in the leather material itself. This consequently achieves the desired disassociation between the necessities of tearing open and the material properties of the natural product leather.
Advantageous refinements of the idea of the invention are described in subclaims 2 to 6. Further details are explained more specifically with re~erence to the exemplary embodiment represented in Figures 1 to 3.
Figure 1 shows a section through a steering wheel Figure 2 shows a first fastening variant on an enlarged scale Figure 3 shows a second fastening variant on an enlarged scale.
The steering wheel 3, represented in section, has a hub region 2 and a cover cap 1 for the centrally arranged airbag module 4. The cover cap 1 comprises a base part 5 of relatively firm plastic, a support 6 of relatively soft plastic and a covering 7 of leather.
The covering 7 of leather extends over the entire surface of the cover cap 1 - if appropriate with the CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 exception of a central region 8 for fltting a company logo. For aesthetic reasons, it has no parting seam and reaches around the edges of the base part 5, or the support 6 located on the base part 5. The cover cap 1 is designed as a component which swings open as a single piece, has a predetermined breaking line 9 and an opposite jointed region.
The refinement according to the invention of the cover cap 1 makes it possible to arrange the predetermined breaking line 9 in such a way that the covering 7 of leather can remain undamaged when the airbag is activated, i.e. the natural product leather is not involved in the critical region of the predetermined breaking line 9, with the result that the conflicting requirements regarding durability under all normal stresses during the service life of a vehicle can be met and satisfactory tearing open when the airbag suddenly unfolds can be accomplished with very close tolerances.
In the case of such cover caps, there has previously been provided a parting line of weakness running approximately in the middle transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and at the lateral edges, along which line the cover cap tears open when the airbag is activated, allowing the cover cap to swing open, upward and downward, in two parts.
Thus, the same cover cap design was used for the embodiment with a leather covering as for those without a leather covering. This gave rise to the necessity to design the leather covering in such a way that it likewise tears open at the parting line of weakness provided in the cover cap. In other words, it had to be ensured that the tearing open is not hindered by the leather covering.
While it is readily possible to provide cover caps produced from plastic with parting lines of weakness which tear open reliably in the event of an CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 accident but remain undamaged during normal use, this is achieved only extremely incompletely in the case of the natural product leather. On the one hand, the line of weakness in the plastic part of the cover cap must be made weaker by the amount of tearing resistance of the leather and, on the other hand, the leather must improve the final strength of the cover cap by the amount of the additional weakening in the plastic part.
It is obvious that these conflicting requirements can be met only incompletely with a weakening of the leather covering along the parting line of weakness in the plastic part of the cover cap, especially since, even with the same material thickness, the leather may have very different strength values, which can also change considerably by ageing and in dependence on atmospheric humidity. If the leather is too strong, the tearing open of the cover cap is hindered uncontrollably, if it is too weak it breaks along the lines of weakness even during normal use.
The object is consequently to develop a cover cap of the type mentioned at the beginning in such a way that its tearing open and functional behavior is largely independent of the natural product leather.
Thus, the intention is to provide a leather-covered cover cap in which the leather does not impair the functions of the cover cap.
CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 This object is achieved according to the invention by the covering of leather extending without a parting seam over the entire surface of the cover cap - with the exception of a central region for receiving a company logo - and reaching around said cap at the edges and by the cover cap being designed as a component which swings open as a single piece, has a predetermined breaking line and an opposite jointed reg1on.
The invention is based on the consideration that it is not absolutely necessary in modern vehicles for the cover cap for the airbag module accommodated in the hub region of a steering wheel to swing open in two parts, and that a cover cap swinging open upward as a single part in the direction of the windshield in no way constitutes the potential dangers previously assumed. On the one hand, the airbag modules can in the meantime be accommodated in a more space saving manner and therefore no longer require such large cover caps and, on the other hand, the distance from the point of articulation to the windshield is generally so great that destruction of the windshield by the swinging open cover cap does not have to be feared. In addition, there is the possibility of designing the cover cap in such a way that it is relatively soft and compliant, at least in the state in which it has been torn away on one side.
CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 It has consequently been made possible to cover the cover cap completely with leather and arrange the parting lines of weakness or predetermined breaking lines in such a way that no measures for specific tearing open have to be taken any longer in the leather material itself. This consequently achieves the desired disassociation between the necessities of tearing open and the material properties of the natural product leather.
Advantageous refinements of the idea of the invention are described in subclaims 2 to 6. Further details are explained more specifically with re~erence to the exemplary embodiment represented in Figures 1 to 3.
Figure 1 shows a section through a steering wheel Figure 2 shows a first fastening variant on an enlarged scale Figure 3 shows a second fastening variant on an enlarged scale.
The steering wheel 3, represented in section, has a hub region 2 and a cover cap 1 for the centrally arranged airbag module 4. The cover cap 1 comprises a base part 5 of relatively firm plastic, a support 6 of relatively soft plastic and a covering 7 of leather.
The covering 7 of leather extends over the entire surface of the cover cap 1 - if appropriate with the CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 exception of a central region 8 for fltting a company logo. For aesthetic reasons, it has no parting seam and reaches around the edges of the base part 5, or the support 6 located on the base part 5. The cover cap 1 is designed as a component which swings open as a single piece, has a predetermined breaking line 9 and an opposite jointed region.
The refinement according to the invention of the cover cap 1 makes it possible to arrange the predetermined breaking line 9 in such a way that the covering 7 of leather can remain undamaged when the airbag is activated, i.e. the natural product leather is not involved in the critical region of the predetermined breaking line 9, with the result that the conflicting requirements regarding durability under all normal stresses during the service life of a vehicle can be met and satisfactory tearing open when the airbag suddenly unfolds can be accomplished with very close tolerances.
2~ In the exemplary embodiment represented, the base part 5 is provided with inwardly pointing ribs 11 and 12, which serve for fastening the cover cap on the airbag module 4. In this case, the predetermined breaking line 9 is formed in the one rib 11 and the jointed region 10 is formed on the opposite rib 12.
The predetermined breaking line 9 is formed as a weakening of the material of the rib 11 above the CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 fastening 13, while the jointed region 10 is formed as a weakening of the material above the fastening 14. In the case of activation, the rib 11 tears open along the predetermined breaking line 9, and the cover cap 1 as a whole swings open upward about the jointed region 10 in the rib 12. It goes without saying that the jointed region 10 can be realized by selection of an adequately bendable plastic material instead of by a weakening of the material.
Figure 2 shows on an enlarged scale a first variant of the fastening of the cover cap 1 on the airbag module 4. The latter has a housing wall 15 of sheet metal, in which a lug 16 joined in one piece with the housing wall is formed by punching out and convex doming. The lower edge of the rib 11 is fashioned as a doubling of material 18, with the result that this edge can be fitted onto the lug 16 and connected to the lug 16 by means of a rivet 17 and washer 19. Provided in the rib 11 above the fastening location is the predetermined breaking line 9. Since the lug 16 is convexly domed outward, the rivet head 20 can be accommodated in the punching-out reglon of the lug 16, without projecting into the interior of the housing.
In the case of the embodiment according to Figure 3, no predetermined breaking line is provided.
Instead, the doubling of material 18' is provided with downwardly open slits. In this way, a clamping - CA 022l944~ l997-ll-l4 connection which is designed in such a way that the doubling of material 18' can slip upward out of the clamping connection with the lug 16 when the airbag is activated can be realized by means of the rivet 17 and washer 19.
Both types of fastening have proved to operate absolutely reliably in tests.
The predetermined breaking line 9 is formed as a weakening of the material of the rib 11 above the CA 0221944~ 1997-11-14 fastening 13, while the jointed region 10 is formed as a weakening of the material above the fastening 14. In the case of activation, the rib 11 tears open along the predetermined breaking line 9, and the cover cap 1 as a whole swings open upward about the jointed region 10 in the rib 12. It goes without saying that the jointed region 10 can be realized by selection of an adequately bendable plastic material instead of by a weakening of the material.
Figure 2 shows on an enlarged scale a first variant of the fastening of the cover cap 1 on the airbag module 4. The latter has a housing wall 15 of sheet metal, in which a lug 16 joined in one piece with the housing wall is formed by punching out and convex doming. The lower edge of the rib 11 is fashioned as a doubling of material 18, with the result that this edge can be fitted onto the lug 16 and connected to the lug 16 by means of a rivet 17 and washer 19. Provided in the rib 11 above the fastening location is the predetermined breaking line 9. Since the lug 16 is convexly domed outward, the rivet head 20 can be accommodated in the punching-out reglon of the lug 16, without projecting into the interior of the housing.
In the case of the embodiment according to Figure 3, no predetermined breaking line is provided.
Instead, the doubling of material 18' is provided with downwardly open slits. In this way, a clamping - CA 022l944~ l997-ll-l4 connection which is designed in such a way that the doubling of material 18' can slip upward out of the clamping connection with the lug 16 when the airbag is activated can be realized by means of the rivet 17 and washer 19.
Both types of fastening have proved to operate absolutely reliably in tests.
Claims (6)
1. A cover cap (1) for an airbag module (4) arranged in the hub region (2) of a steering wheel (3) and having a base part (5) of relatively firm plastic, a support (6) of relatively soft plastic and a covering (7) of leather, wherein the base part (5) is provided with two inwardly pointing ribs (11, 12), which serve for fastening the cover cap (1) on the airbag module (4), wherein one of the ribs (11) has a predetermined breaking line (9) and the opposite rib (12) has a jointed region, wherein the cover cap (1) is designed as a component which swings open as a single piece and wherein the covering (7) of leather extends without a parting seam over the entire surface of the cover cap (1) and reaches around said cap at the edges.
2. The cover cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clearance for fitting a company logo is arranged in the central region (8) of the covering (7) of leather.
3. The cover cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the predetermined breaking line (9) is formed as a weakening of the material above the fastening (13) of the one rib (11) on the airbag module (4).
4. The cover cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein the jointed region (10) is formed as a weakening of the material above the fastening (14) of the other rib (12) on the airbag module (4).
5. The cover cap as claimed in claim 2, wherein a bendable plastic material is provided for the jointed region (9).
6. The cover cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein a clamping fastening (19) between the one rib (11') and the airbag module (4) is provided on a rib (11') instead of a predetermined breaking line (9).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE19647253.9-21 | 1996-11-15 | ||
| DE1996147253 DE19647253A1 (en) | 1996-11-15 | 1996-11-15 | Cover cap for an airbag module |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2219445A1 true CA2219445A1 (en) | 1998-05-15 |
Family
ID=7811761
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002219445A Abandoned CA2219445A1 (en) | 1996-11-15 | 1997-11-14 | Cover cap for an airbag module |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0842825A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH10211855A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR19980042377A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9705711A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2219445A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE19647253A1 (en) |
| MX (1) | MXPA97008567A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE10040248A1 (en) * | 2000-08-14 | 2002-03-28 | Magna Eybl Systemtechnik Gmbh | Occupant protection device for a vehicle and method for its production |
| EP2783923B1 (en) | 2013-03-28 | 2016-05-18 | Volvo Car Corporation | Airbag housing assembly |
Family Cites Families (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2848547A1 (en) * | 1978-11-09 | 1980-05-22 | Daimler Benz Ag | COVER FOLDING DOWN FOR A FOLDED GAS PILLOW |
| JPH0443145A (en) * | 1990-06-08 | 1992-02-13 | Takata Kk | Module cover for air bag device |
| DE9011350U1 (en) * | 1990-08-02 | 1990-11-15 | Autoliv-Kolb Gmbh & Co, 8060 Dachau, De | |
| DE4035975A1 (en) * | 1990-11-12 | 1992-05-14 | Erwin Schaefer | Leather cover for crash plates on steering wheel - incorporates fracture lines for emergence of air bag |
| GB9115187D0 (en) * | 1991-07-13 | 1991-08-28 | Uta Clifford Limited | Crash protection device |
| JP3082460B2 (en) * | 1992-08-31 | 2000-08-28 | タカタ株式会社 | Airbag device |
| DE4229562C1 (en) * | 1992-09-04 | 1993-12-23 | Daimler Benz Ag | Cover for an airbag |
| JP2766775B2 (en) * | 1993-03-23 | 1998-06-18 | ティーアールダブリュー・ヴィークル・セーフティ・システムズ・インコーポレーテッド | Housing assembly and device |
| GB2279302B (en) * | 1993-06-21 | 1996-06-12 | Autoliv Dev | Improvements in or relating to a cover for an air-bag |
| GB9315047D0 (en) * | 1993-07-20 | 1993-09-01 | Klippan Autoliv Snc | Improvements in or relating to a cover for an air-bag |
| US5378013A (en) * | 1993-08-06 | 1995-01-03 | Ford Motor Company | Cover retainer assembly for inflatable restraint air bag |
| GB9508470D0 (en) * | 1995-04-26 | 1995-06-14 | Alliedsignal Deutschland Gmbh | Fastener |
-
1996
- 1996-11-15 DE DE1996147253 patent/DE19647253A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1997
- 1997-10-30 EP EP97118878A patent/EP0842825A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-11-06 MX MX9708567A patent/MXPA97008567A/en unknown
- 1997-11-13 JP JP32958397A patent/JPH10211855A/en active Pending
- 1997-11-13 KR KR1019970059692A patent/KR19980042377A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1997-11-14 CA CA002219445A patent/CA2219445A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-11-14 BR BR9705711A patent/BR9705711A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPH10211855A (en) | 1998-08-11 |
| DE19647253A1 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
| MXPA97008567A (en) | 2002-08-13 |
| BR9705711A (en) | 1999-04-27 |
| KR19980042377A (en) | 1998-08-17 |
| EP0842825A1 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20001114 |