DE10039803B4 - Vehicle roof, in particular for a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Vehicle roof, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a roof skin and a headliner connectable therewith, which covers the roof skin toward the vehicle interior, and with at least one airbag module as a safety device comprising at least one rollover airbag with at least one gas generator associated therewith, wherein the at least one rollover airbag a vehicle rollover as an impact protection in the roof area above at least one occupant seat area is inflatable, wherein the headliner (4) comprises a support plate (6), on which in the assembled state of the headliner (4) to the vehicle interior facing carrier plate underside of the at least one rollover airbag (7, 8, 16, 19) is arranged folded together in the non-activated ground state, so that the at least one rollover airbag (7, 8, 16, 19) is preferably inflatable over a large area in the vehicle interior (5) in the region below the headliner (4) t, that a single both a front occupant area (13) and a rear passenger area (14) covering Rolloverairbag (19) is provided, which is preferably associated with a vehicle longitudinal direction seen in the front or rear roof edge area (25) preferably centrally arranged gas generator (26).

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle roof, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A conventional, generally known vehicle roof comprises a roof skin and a roof lining which covers the roof skin toward the vehicle interior. In a vehicle rollover, a so-called. Rollover, there is a risk that the occupants with the head on the vehicle roof or other hard structures such. B. a sunroof edge, bounce. The headroom is additionally limited in such a rollover by the deformation of the vehicle roof. Such a head impact is particularly problematic if the vehicle occupant is improperly not buckled.

From the US Pat. No. 5,470,103 a safety device is known, which has an attached to the roof skin airbag module, the airbag has an E-shape in the activated and inflated state. Furthermore, a headliner is provided, which covers the structure from below in a conventional manner. Impact protection is possible here to the front of the windshield area as well as the side window area and between two adjacent seating positions, while protective measures are not provided upwards to the roof area for a rollover.

A generic vehicle roof is from the US 5,775,726 known. This vehicle roof comprises a roof skin and a headliner connectable therewith, which covers the roof skin toward the vehicle interior. In addition, at least one airbag module is provided here as a safety device which comprises at least one rollover airbag with at least one gas generator associated therewith, wherein the rollover airbag can be inflated in the roof area above at least one occupant seat area in the event of a vehicle rollover.

Specifically, an airbag module is provided here, which is arranged in the region between the roof skin and the headliner, wherein the airbag module is fastened here to the roof skin and the headliner covers the arrangement in a conventional manner from below. In order to create an impact protection, the airbag extending over the entire front and / or rear passenger area can be inflated in the area between the roof skin and the headliner. In order to enable a development and increase in volume in the area between the roof skin and the headliner, a sufficient distance is provided for this purpose in the ground state between the headliner and the roof skin from the outset. As a result, however, a relatively high roof structure is created overall, which may possibly affect the headroom in the vehicle interior. In addition, in this construction, the vehicle occupant first encounters the headliner in the event of a vehicle breakdown, before damping by the rollover airbag can take place. The contact forces can thus be relatively large in case of an impact, if necessary. Alternatively, the headliner can also be made of an elastic material, which also expands upon deployment of the airbags. However, such a headliner is relatively bulky and therefore relatively expensive to assemble.

Furthermore, from the DE 198 31 133 A1 a motor vehicle with a substantially vertically liftable roof segment, wherein an airbag system is provided in the vehicle interior in the roof area.

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative vehicle roof, in particular for a motor vehicle, which is simple and inexpensive and easy and quick to assemble and with which the force acting on impact contact forces can be reduced in a rollover.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

In accordance with claim 1, the headliner comprises a carrier plate, on whose in the assembled state of the headliner toward the vehicle interior facing carrier plate underside of at least one rollover airbag is folded folded in the non-activated ground state, so that the at least one Rolloverairbag at a vehicle rollover in the vehicle interior in the area below Headliner is preferably inflatable over a large area.

With such a construction, the at least one rollover airbag can advantageously be inflated quickly and well below the headliner, so that in the event of an impact, an impact absorption occurs directly and directly via the rollover airbag. As a result, the contact forces in the event of an impact, in particular during a head impact, can be considerably reduced if necessary.

In addition, such a structure is overall very compact executable, so that no headroom possibly impairing high roof structures are required. Likewise, on such a support plate further also equipment elements such. B. handles, sun visors, coat hooks, lighting elements, etc. are mounted in a simple manner.

In principle, there are various possibilities for arranging or supporting at least one rollover airbag in the non-activated state on the underside of the carrier plate. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the at least one Rolloverairbag is folded in the non-activated state over a large area over the area to be covered in such a way that when activating the at least one Rolloverairbags a deployment substantially downwards towards the vehicle interior. Advantageously, this achieves a particularly rapid and reliable airbag deployment in the impact-critical areas, since the airbag essentially only has to inflate downwards.

According to a further particularly preferred embodiment, the gas generators of the at least one airbag module associated with the at least one rollover airbag are likewise arranged on the carrier plate of the headlining for forming a headliner mounting unit. Advantageously, therefore, a particularly advantageous part and functional integration is created by the fact that the at least one airbag module is integrally formed and manufactured with the headliner. As a result, the airbag module, together with the headliner, forms a single assembly unit which can be permanently assembled in a simple manner, so that the assembly times during final assembly as well as the assembly costs can be reduced. In addition, such a final assembly is much easier to perform, since the roof tile assembly unit here only z. B. needs to be clipped in a conventional manner with the roof skin. The gas generators are preferably cold gas generators, with which advantageously the thermal component loads can be reduced. Furthermore, with such cold gas generators, the service life of the airbags can be increased because with these a pressure loss by gas cooling is avoidable.

According to an embodiment which is alternative to the embodiment just described, it can be provided that the at least one gas generator is arranged on the vehicle body at the roof roof. A gas generator may, for example, be arranged in the region of an A-pillar and / or a B-pillar and / or a C-pillar and / or a boot and be connected to the respective associated airbag via a hose and / or a gas lance.

Basically, depending on the actual installation situations, there are various possibilities for covering the impact-critical area. In a specific embodiment of a comparative example, a front occupant rollover airbag covering a large area in the activated state and a rear passenger occupant rollover airbag covering a large area covering a rear passenger area is provided in the activated state. With two such Rolloverairbags an effective impact protection is made in the particularly critical impact area above the rear and front occupants, the less impact critical, seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction middle roof area is not covered here, creating a volume reduction and material savings is achieved.

In a first specific development of the comparative example, it is provided that both the rear passenger roll-over airbag and the front passenger roll-over airbag are each assigned a separate gas generator. Preferably, the inflator associated with the front passenger rollover airbag inflator is seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the front Dachhimmelrandbereich and the Rear passenger Rolloverairbag associated inflator seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction arranged at a rear Dachhimmelrandbereich, which are preferably arranged centrally on the respective Dachhimmelrandbereich. Thus, a fast and reliable deployment and activation of the airbag in each desired area is possible. Alternatively, however, a gas generator may also be arranged in a middle region between the front occupant area and the rear passenger area, wherein the gas generator is preferably configured in two stages and a first inflator stage is coupled to the front occupant rollover airbag and a second inflator stage is coupled to the rear occupant rollover airbag.

In a first embodiment, a single Rolloverairbag is provided, which comprises a front occupant area over a large area covering the front occupant airbag area and the rear passenger area extensively covering rear passenger airbag area, which are interconnected by at least one hose-shaped connector. With the at least one tubular connector is achieved that the inflation volume is not too large here.

The carrier plate may in principle be made of any suitable material. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the carrier plate is made of a plastic material and / or at least partially made of an energy absorption material. Thus, in addition to the at least one rollover airbag, impact damping with targeted and controlled energy absorption can take place via the carrier plate in the event of an impact. For example, the carrier plate is here completely made of an energy absorption foam, for. B. a polyurethane foam.

In principle, the airbag can here be folded and formed in such a way that it shields the headliner down toward the vehicle interior. However, in a preferred embodiment, the at least one airbag is shielded toward the vehicle interior by means of a fabric layer, which is z. B. can be stretched over the at least one Rolloverairbag together with carrier plate. The fabric layer is formed by the inflating airbag, preferably along the Airbagrandbereiche to Sollaufreißlinien, rupturable. This results in a good shielding towards the vehicle interior, wherein a visually and design-technically favorable adaptation to the vehicle interior design is possible in particular via this fabric layer. The fabric layer can be z. B. be glued to the airbag fabric itself. In addition, this ensures that the fabric layer does not hinder the inflation process.

To detect an impending or actual rollover, a rollover sensor device is provided, which is coupled to the at least one airbag module and activates it, if necessary. This high functional reliability is achieved in conjunction with a timely activation of the structure as a safety device.

In order to ensure that the Rolloverairbag is always activated only in the area in which a seat occupant sits, may also be provided a device for detecting the seat occupancy, with the activation of the airbag modules only in response to a sensed seat occupancy is feasible.

For energy absorption, in which the gas in the airbag is not only pushed back and forth in the event of an impact and with which the risk of a head bleed can advantageously be reduced, the at least one airbag can advantageously be subdivided into at least two airbag chambers, which are provided by overflow openings connected to each other. By dividing the at least one airbag into chambers, the inflation volume of the airbag can also advantageously be reduced for targeted and rapid inflation. Thus, a targeted and controlled energy absorption is possible.

For a long service life of preferably several seconds, the at least one airbag is made of a gas-impermeable fabric and / or the at least one airbag has no outflow openings. Furthermore, cold gas generators can be used to increase the service life, as with these a pressure loss by gas cooling is avoidable. In addition, with such cold gas generators advantageously also the thermal component loads can be reduced.

In order to provide a particularly effective impact protection, it may further be provided that the at least one rollover airbag in the inflated state additionally covers a lateral roof frame and / or a sliding roof cutout.

Advantageously, the headliner is also fixable in a conventional manner with clip elements and / or screw on the roof skin.

Such a structure can also be integrated in a particularly simple manner in an existing production vehicle, without the need for major structural redesign on the vehicle itself must be made. Optionally, in addition to at least one rollover airbag, at least one further preferably arranged on the edge side airbag, preferably a side airbag and / or an interaction airbag and / or a windshield airbag and / or a Heckaufprallairbag, be arranged on the support plate, where appropriate, this or this correspondingly associated gas generators also are arranged integrally on the support plate.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Show it:

1 a schematic plan view of a vehicle roof according to a comparative example,

2 a schematic sectional view taken along the line AA of 1 in a non-activated basic position of the Rolloverairbags,

3 a schematic representation of the structure according to 2 in the activated state of the Rolloverairbags,

4 a schematic embodiment according to the invention of a headliner with a subdivided into several chambers airbag, and

5 a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a Rolloverairbags invention.

In 1 is a schematic plan view of a vehicle roof 1 , a motor vehicle 2 shown. This vehicle roof 1 includes, in particular, this 2 it can be seen that a section along the line AA of 1 shows a roof skin 3 as well as a clip element not shown here releasably connectable headliner 4 who's the roof skin 3 to the vehicle interior 5 covering.

The headliner 4 forms here at the same time the safety device and is made of a support plate 6 , which is preferably made of a plastic material, constructed on which to the vehicle interior 5 towards the underside of the backing plate here, for example, a front passenger Rolloverairbag 7 and a rear passenger rollover airbag 8th im in the 2 shown unactivated state over a large area folded, ie in the folded state substantially on a rear passenger area 14 and a front passenger area 13 extending, are arranged.

Like this in the 1 is shown only very schematically, is the front occupant Rolloverairbag 7 a gas generator 9 and the rear passenger rollover airbag 8th a gas generator 10 assigned, which is also integral with the headliner 4 are formed so that the headliner 4 a simple and fast with the roof skin 3 is to be connected headliner assembly unit. As connecting means are here z. B. conventional clip elements used. As gas generators 9 . 10 be z. B. cold gas generators used.

The front passenger rollover airbag 7 associated gas generator 9 is seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a front middle Dachhimmelrandbereich 11 , z. B. in the region of an upper windshield cross member, arranged during the rear passenger Rolloverairbag 8th associated gas generator 10 seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a rear central roof edge area 12 , z. B. in the region of an upper rear window cross member is arranged.

The headliner 4 further comprises a fabric layer 15 leading to the vehicle interior 5 over the two airbags 7 . 8th stretched or glued to the airbag fabric.

Each of the two gas generators 9 . 10 is coupled with a rollover sensor device, not shown here as well as with a device for detecting the seat occupancy. With such a rollover sensor device is a threatening or actual rollover of the motor vehicle 2 The two airbag modules are detected and ignited by igniting the gas generators 9 . 10 activated. With the device for detecting the seat occupancy is detected and detected whether a seating area, for. B. the rear passenger area 14 , is occupied by seat users, so that in a sensational rollover, if necessary, only the gas generator 9 , the front passenger rollover airbag 7 is assigned, is activated.

In the activated state is via the gas generators 9 . 10 Gas in the Rolloverairbags 7 . 8th blown, making this substantially down towards the vehicle interior 5 unfold like this in the 3 is shown schematically and exemplified. Through this increase in volume, the fabric layer 15 in the edge areas of the Rolloverairbags 7 . 8th torn open to allow its rapid deployment. Preferably not shown here in detail Sollaufreißlinien are provided for this purpose.

For long service life, the Rolloverairbags 7 . 8th be made here without outflow or from a gas-impermeable fabric.

With such in the vehicle interior 5 inflated rollover airbag 7 . 8th is a direct, effective impact protection in a rollover possible, in which the contact forces in an actual impact on the vehicle roof 1 over the Rolloverairbags 7 . 8th can be significantly reduced.

In the 4 is an inventive structure of a Rolloverairbags 16 shown schematically. The Rolloverairbag 16 is here in individual airbag chambers 17 divided, which communicate with each other through overflow openings 18 are connected. As a result, the risk of piercing the head can be reduced.

In the 5 Finally, another embodiment of a Rolloverairbags invention 19 shown that both the front occupant area 13 large area covering front occupant airbag area 20 as well as a the rear passenger area 14 Covering the rear passenger airbag area over a large area 21 has, z. B. by three tubular connectors 22 . 23 and 24 connected to each other, resulting in an advantageous volume reduction in the less impact critical area between the front passenger area 13 and the rear seat area 14 results. This Rolloverairbag 19 is part of an airbag module, which also has a seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction of a here exemplarily selected rear central roof edge area 25 of the headliner 4 arranged gas generator 26 includes. The structure and operation is here according to the one, as in connection with the 1 to 3 is explained in more detail, so that will not be discussed in more detail.

In principle, it is also conceivable that every single seat in the motor vehicle 2 each associated with its own Rolloverairbag, but this is not shown here. It should the gas generators 9 . 10 in principle be arranged in the roof area so that they pose no danger to the occupants.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle roof

2

motor vehicle

3

roof

4

headliner

5

Vehicle interior

6

support plate

7

Front occupant rollover airbag

8th

Fond occupant rollover airbag

9

inflator

10

inflator

11

front roof edge area

12

rear headliner area

13

Front passenger area

14

Fond passenger area

15

fabric layer

16

Rollover airbag

17

airbag chamber

18

overflow

19

Rollover airbag

20

Front passenger airbag area

21

Rear passengers airbag area

22

joint

23

joint

24

joint

25

rear headliner area

26

inflator

Claims (14)

Vehicle roof, in particular for a motor vehicle, having a roof skin and a headliner connectable therewith, which covers the roof skin toward the vehicle interior, and with at least one airbag module as a safety device comprising at least one rollover airbag with at least one gas generator associated therewith, wherein the at least one rollover airbag a vehicle rollover as impact protection in the roof area above at least one occupant seat area is inflatable, the headliner ( 4 ) a carrier plate ( 6 ), on whose in the mounted state of the headliner ( 4 ) to the vehicle interior facing carrier plate underside of at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) is arranged folded in the non-activated ground state, so that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7.8 ; 16 ; 19 ) in a vehicle overturn in the vehicle interior ( 5 ) in the area below the headliner ( 4 ) is preferably inflatable over a large area, characterized in that a single one both a front occupant area ( 13 ) as well as a rear seat occupant area ( 14 ) covering rollover airbag ( 19 ) is provided, preferably a seen in the vehicle longitudinal direction in the front or rear headliner edge area ( 25 ) preferably centrally arranged gas generator ( 26 ) assigned. Vehicle roof according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) is folded in the non-activated state over a large area over the area to be covered in each case in such a way that upon activation of the at least one rollover airbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) a deployment substantially downwards in the direction of the vehicle interior ( 5 ) he follows. Vehicle roof according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) associated gas generators ( 9 . 10 ; 26 ), preferably cold gas generators, the at least one airbag module for forming a headliner mounting unit also on the support plate ( 6 ) of the headliner ( 4 ) are arranged. Vehicle roof according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the at least one gas generator ( 9 . 10 ) is arranged on the vehicle body, preferably in the region of an A-pillar and / or a B-pillar and / or a C-pillar and / or a luggage compartment and connected to the one or more associated airbags via a hose and / or a gas lance is. Vehicle roof according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the Rolloverairbag ( 19 ) one the front occupant area ( 13 ) covering a large area front occupant airbag area ( 20 ) and a the rear passenger area ( 14 ) covering a large area rear passenger airbag area ( 21 ), which by at least one tubular connector ( 22 . 23 . 24 ) are interconnected. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier plate ( 6 ) is made of a plastic material and / or at least partially made of an energy absorption material. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) to the vehicle interior ( 5 ) by means of a fabric layer ( 15 ) is shielded in such a way that the fabric layer ( 15 ) by the inflatable Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) preferably tears along the Airbagrandbereiche to Sollaufreißlinien. Vehicle roof according to claim 7, characterized in that the fabric layer ( 15 ), preferably a fabric layer, is glued to the airbag fabric. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rollover sensor device for detecting a impending or actual vehicle rollover is provided, which is coupled to the at least one airbag module and this if necessary. Activated. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that; that the at least one rollover airbag ( 16 ) in at least two airbag chambers ( 17 ) is divided by overflow openings ( 18 ) are interconnected. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) has no outflow openings and / or is made of a gas-impermeable fabric. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one Rolloverairbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) additionally covers a lateral roof frame and / or a sliding roof cutout in the inflated state. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the headliner ( 4 ) as an assembly unit with clip elements and / or screw elements on the roof skin ( 3 ) is determinable. Vehicle roof according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the at least one rollover airbag ( 7 . 8th ; 16 ; 19 ) at least one further preferably arranged on the edge side airbag, preferably a side airbag and / or an interaction airbag and / or a front windbag and / or a rear impact airbag, on the support plate ( 6 ) is arranged, which may also together with the or the correspondingly associated gas generators also integrally on the support plate ( 6 ) are arranged.

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