DE102004046866B4 - airbag cover - Google Patents

Abstract

An airbag cover comprising a protective portion (21) for covering a folded airbag, the protective portion (21) having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the folded airbag and having a tear line (25) configured in this manner in that the inflating airbag easily splits the tear line (25) and a first openable door section separated by the tear line (25) and a trim part (3) attached to the first surface, the trim part (3 ) spans both sides of the tear line (25) and has a notch (35) which faces the tear line (25) and is widened towards the latter, the protective section (21) having a recess (23) in which the trim part (3 ), wherein the tear line (25) penetrates the protective portion (21) where the tear line (25) crosses the recess (23) so as to form a through slot (27) corresponding to the notch (35) of the Ziertei Is (3) facing.

Description

The invention relates to a cover for an airbag device which is installed in a vehicle and from which an airbag is deployed into a vehicle passenger compartment to protect an occupant in an emergency.

An airbag cover is produced by an injection molding process and is generally made of a soft plastic to ensure cleavage at predetermined lines of relatively low to high temperatures and the formation of a doorway, which allows the deployment of an airbag into a vehicle passenger compartment. The airbag is installed and housed in a center cushion of a steering wheel. The center cushion is decorated with ornaments, such as logos of the vehicle and the vehicle manufacturer.

At the time when the vehicles were equipped with airbag devices, such emblems were integrally formed with the center pad and determined by unevenness without color changes. Therefore, the emblems had little visible effect. Recently, in view of the increasing visible effect such as beauty, many attempts have been made such that, for example, plastic plaques or metal emblems separately manufactured are attached to the center pad. Some of these attempts yielded a remarkable improvement in the tasteless appearance of the center pad.

However, the main function of the prior art airbag cover has been to limit the size and shape of such emblems, especially in the center of the center pad, which provides a high visual impact, as the cover must be torn open in a dimension sufficient to prevent deployment of the airbag to allow the vehicle occupant space inside. The airbag cover generally has tear lines which are less strong and therefore easily tear. In the prior art, the tear lines are laid around the emblem formed on the airbag cover, and therefore, the emblem must be formed in a relatively small dimension. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application JP H07-228211 A and JP 2001-163156 A Such an airbag cover is disclosed.

The DE 199 48 044 C2 discloses an airbag cover having a protective portion having a tear line which is covered by a trim part, the fastening element is split together with the tear line in the deployment of the airbag.

The DE 203 04 056 U1 describes an airbag cover with a protective portion having a tear line which is covered by a trim part with a notch, wherein the trim part is split together with the tear line in the deployment of the airbag.

The DE 94 02 922 U1 discloses an airbag cover having a protective portion to which a trim member is mounted within a recess.

The invention provides a cover for an airbag which allows the installation of a relatively large emblem or a relatively large ring-like decoration and allows easy, quick and secure splitting of the airbag cover and the decoration and the formation of a door shape for the deployment of the airbag.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an airbag cover having a protective portion for covering a folded airbag, the protective portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the folded airbag and having a tear line configured such that that the inflating airbag easily splits the tear line and a first openable door section separated by the tear line and a trim part attached to the first surface. The trim part spans both sides of the tear line and has a notch facing the tear line and widened towards it. The protective portion has a recess in which the trim piece is mounted, the tear line penetrating the guard portion where the tear line crosses the recess so as to form a through-slot facing the notch of the trim piece.

According to a second aspect of the invention, an airbag cover is provided with a protective portion for covering a folded airbag, the protective portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the folded airbag and having a tear line configured such that that the inflating airbag easily splits the tear line and a first openable door section separated by the tear line and a trim part attached to the first surface. The trim part spans both sides of the tear line and has a notch facing the tear line and widened towards it. The protective portion has a recess in which the trim part is mounted, wherein the tear line, where it crosses the recess, forms a thin wall, which faces the notch of the trim part.

Preferably, the protective portion is further provided with a second openable door portion at one with respect to the tear line on the other side of the first door section to be opened.

Preferably, the passage slot or the thin wall of the protection portion and the notch of the trim part are arranged one above the other.

The airbag cover according to the invention provides the following advantages. (1) A relatively large trim can be used to give an efficient visible effect. (2) The tear line splits easily so that the door section opens slightly, whereby the airbag can be unfolded properly. (3) The trim part splits into two parts which accompany the respective door sections, whereby the trim part does not hinder the deployment of the airbag.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing show:

1 a perspective view of an airbag mode according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 an exploded perspective view of the airbag module 1 ;

3 a perspective view of a trim part, which is attached to a cover of the airbag module, wherein in particular the leg portions are shown for attachment to the cover;

4 a section of the cover and the trim part in a state in which the legs of the trim part are riveted to a rear surface of the cover, in particular the environment of a tear line is shown;

5 a section of the cover and the trim part, wherein in particular the deformation of the tear line is shown;

6 a section of the cover and the trim part according to a modified embodiment of the invention; and

7 a perspective view of the cover and the trim part in a state in which the trim part spans both sides of the tear line.

Regarding 1 to 7 An embodiment of the invention will now be described.

A housing section 1 to accommodate an airbag is with a base plate 10 and a cover attached to it 2 Mistake. The base plate 10 is die-cast from a magnesium alloy and integral with holders 11 for fastening to hub portions of a steering wheel (not shown), a projection 12 for positioning relative to the hub portions, and a peripheral wall 13 provided, which forms a chamber for accommodating the airbag.

The cover 2 is molded from an elastomeric plastic of the olefin group, which is usually sold under the trade name "SUMIFLEX TPE" (Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), for example, by an injection molding method. The cover 2 is with a protection section 21 facing the occupant and panel sections 22 provided by the protection section 21 hang down and at intervals from each other around the perimeter wall 13 are arranged around. An annular first trim part 3 and a rectangular second trim part 4 are on the protection section 21 appropriate.

The protection section 21 is at its front surface with an annular first recess 23 and a rectangular second recess 24 provided, as in 2 is shown. On a rear surface of the protection section 21 run cracks 25 as with the dashed lines in 1 is shown. The first recess 23 has a plurality of through holes 26 and tear line slots 27 on. The second recess 24 has locking slots 28 and a protruding rib 29 on.

The first ornament 3 is molded from a soft plastic such as an elastomer of the polyester group, which is usually sold under the trade name "PELPRENE" (Toyobo Co., Ltd.), for example, by an injection molding method. A design area 32 of the first trim part 3 is processed with a fine embossing treatment and further plated to have an appearance of light metallic luster, as in aluminum. The first ornament 3 is on its back surface with a plurality of legs 31 provided, which the respective through holes 26 assigned.

The second trim part 4 is formed from a metal such as steel, by printing a logo and deep drawing, and has a substantially bottomless box shape. The second trim part 4 has a design area 42 a peripheral wall section 40 and legs 41 on. The legs 41 are the detent slots 28 assigned. When attaching the trim parts 3 and 4 at the protection section 21 become the legs 31 and 41 in the through holes 26 or the locking slots 28 used and then deformed to be engaged. The ends of the legs 31 are riveted, as in 4 shown, and the legs 41 are bent to an L-shape. The protruding ribs 29 support the middle of the second trim part 4 from.

The rift lines 25 are essentially H-shaped notches that are on the back surface of the protecting portion 21 are formed, and have a center line 25a which runs essentially in the middle and a detour down to the second trim part 4 around, a few side lines 25b , each having T-shaped overlaps with both ends of the centerline 25a form, oblique lines 25c extending from either end of the sidelines 25b extend, and end sections 25d on. An injection mold of the cover 2 has reverse versions of the tear lines 25 on, causing the rift lines 25 during the injection molding process integral with the cover 2 be formed. In the places where the midline 25a the first recess 23 crosses, forms the midline 25a Tear line slots 27 ,

Each tear line slot 27 is a narrow passageway through the protection section 21 penetrates, a length of substantially equal to the full width of the first recess 23 , for example, 10 mm, and has a width L2 of about 1 mm, and is straight in the depth direction, as in 1 and 4 is shown. According to the tear line slots 27 has the first trim part 3 V-shaped notches 35 to split on, as in 3 and 4 is shown. Every V-shaped notch 35 widened from a floor 36 to the rear surface with an opening angle α of about 90 ° or more (ie at an obtuse angle) and an opening width L1 greater than L2, for example 5 mm.

The metallic appearance of the first trim part 3 , as described above, leads to a visible effect, ie a decorative effect. If, for example, the protection section 21 the cover 2 is matt black and the first trim part 3 matt silver, the overall appearance gives the impression of a high-tech finishing, resulting in a sporty and high-performance overall impression of the vehicle. The right or obtuse opening angle α of the V-shaped notches 35 leads to a discharge of vulnerabilities, where a local collapse of the surface of the cover 2 takes place, which follows the shrinkage caused by the difference in thickness after injection molding, whereby a smooth surface of the cover 2 and excellent metallic appearance after plating can be achieved. Plating on the first trim part 3 can be performed under an optimal condition, since the first trim part 3 separated from the cover 2 is formed. An additional treatment, such as masking the cover 2 , can be omitted, and therefore the manufacturing processes are simplified.

Hereinafter, the operation of the airbag cover according to the embodiment of the invention with reference to 1 . 4 and 5 described.

When inflating the airbag (not shown), the inflating airbag breaks through the tear line 25 and lift the two sides of the protection section 21 to Airbag doors 5 and 6 become. At the same time, the V-shaped notches split 35 of the first trim part 3 at the bottom 36 and, in each case, the airbag doors 5 and 6 accompanying, separated. The first ornament 3 can on the floors 36 the V-shaped notches 35 be bent slightly at a relatively large angle when the airbag doors 5 and 6 are open, as in 5 shown is because the notches 35 are provided with a right or obtuse opening angle α. In addition, the inclined surfaces arrive 35a and 35b when bending do not conflict with each other. Therefore, the tensile force is effectively concentrated on the bends P, so that the V-shaped notches 35 Slightly split at the bending points P and therefore such splitting does not lift the airbag doors 5 and 6 with special needs. In addition, the softness of the first trim part contributes 3 , which is made of soft plastic as described above, for splitting and lifting the respective elements. Therefore, the columns of the protection section 21 with the first trim part 3 essentially equal to the autonomous columns of the protection section 21 , The second trim part 4 is made by a known technique and much smaller than the first trim part 3 designed. Therefore, a detailed explanation in the description will be omitted.

The rippling slits 27 are not necessarily designed as through-slots, but can also with thin walls 30 be left as in 6 is shown. The thin walls 30 can as an example in 6 on the front surface of the protection section 21 be arranged, or may be on the back surface or about a median plane of the protection section 21 be arranged around. The thin walls 30 are behind the first trim part 3 hidden, so that the arrangement does not affect the appearance. Moreover, the above description has been made with reference to the embodiment in which the cover 2 is shaped in a Doppelklappenart with H-shaped tear lines, however, the cover 2 also be shaped in an alternative way, as in 7 is shown, in which the cover 2 a C-shaped tear line and the trim part both sides 50 and 51 spans the tear line. The trim can be made with wood effect, metallic effect, marble effect or carbon blend effect to increase the visible effect. In any case, a relatively large trim part can be used in the invention to increase the visible effect, ie the decorative effect.

According to the invention, the visible effect of the trim part on the airbag cover can be made more effective.

Claims (5)

Airbag cover, comprising a protective section ( 21 ) for covering a folded airbag, wherein the protective portion ( 21 ) has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the folded airbag and a tear line (Fig. 25 ) configured such that the inflating airbag ruptures the tear line ( 25 ) and a first openable door section, which passes through the tear line ( 25 ) and a decorative part ( 3 ), which is attached to the first surface, easily splits, wherein the trim part ( 3 ) both sides of the tear line ( 25 ) and a notch ( 35 ), the crack line ( 25 ) and is widened towards this, wherein the protective section ( 21 ) a recess ( 23 ), in which the trim part ( 3 ), and wherein the tear line ( 25 ) the protection section ( 21 ) where the crack line ( 25 ) the recess ( 23 ) penetrates in such a way that a passage slot ( 27 ), which of the notch ( 35 ) of the trim part ( 3 ) is facing. Airbag cover, comprising a protective section ( 21 ) for covering a folded airbag, wherein the protective portion ( 21 ) has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface facing the folded airbag and a tear line (Fig. 25 ) configured such that the inflating airbag ruptures the tear line ( 25 ) and a first openable door section, which passes through the tear line ( 25 ) and a decorative part ( 3 ), which is attached to the first surface, easily splits, wherein the trim part ( 3 ) both sides of the tear line ( 25 ) and a notch ( 35 ), the crack line ( 25 ) and is widened towards this, wherein the protective section ( 21 ) a recess ( 23 ), in which the trim part ( 3 ), and wherein the tear line ( 25 ) where the recess ( 23 ) crosses a thin wall ( 30 ) which forms the notch ( 35 ) of the trim part ( 3 ) is facing. Airbag cover according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protective portion ( 21 ) further comprises a second openable door portion at a with respect to the tear line ( 25 ) on the other side of the first door section to be opened. Airbag cover according to claim 1, wherein the passage slot ( 27 ) of the protection section ( 21 ) and the notch ( 35 ) of the trim part ( 3 ) are arranged one above the other. Airbag cover according to claim 2, wherein the thin wall ( 30 ) of the protection section ( 21 ) and the notch ( 35 ) of the trim part ( 3 ) are arranged one above the other.

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