DE102019130849A1 - Airbag assembly, structural element and airbag unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag assembly (1) for a motor vehicle. The airbag assembly (1) has an airbag unit (6) which is held by a latching or locking connection (14, 15) on a structural element (7) such as a support strut or a frame of a vehicle seat. The latching or locking connection (14, 15) has a latching or locking element (17a, 17b), a spring (21a, 21b) and a latching or locking projection (18a, 18b). The latching or locking element (17a, 17b) is preferably held on a mounting plate (12) of the airbag unit (6) via a pivot bearing (16a, 16b).
According to the invention, the assembly of the airbag unit (6) on the structural element (7), in particular the vehicle seat, can be simplified and automated assembly can also be made possible.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an airbag assembly for a motor vehicle. The airbag assembly has a structural element and an airbag unit. The airbag unit can contain a side airbag, in which case the structural element can be a strut or a frame of the vehicle seat to which the airbag unit can be attached laterally. However, it is also possible for the airbag unit used in the airbag assembly according to the invention to use any other airbag (for example a driver airbag, a passenger airbag, a front airbag, a side airbag in a door panel, a head airbag, a knee airbag, a rear seat airbag, a rear airbag, a belt airbag), in which case the structural element denotes the support body to which the airbag unit is attached and held.

In addition, the invention relates to a structural element which is used in the airbag assembly and which is designed to be suitable for fastening the airbag unit. Finally, the invention also relates to an airbag unit that can be used in the airbag assembly.

STATE OF THE ART

U.S. 6,045,182 discloses a vehicle seat unit with a vehicle seat, the backrest of which has a lateral side surface. The side surface forms an airbag mounting area with a housing having a recess. A box-shaped airbag unit can be arranged in the recess in such a way that the outer surface of the airbag unit is flush with the lateral side surface of the backrest. A metallic frame extends in the foam material of the backrest. The bottom of the recess of the housing can be fastened to the metallic frame by means of a snap connection, for example by means of bolts which extend from the bottom of the recess of the housing into bores in the metallic frame. The box-like airbag unit can also be fastened to the metallic frame by means of a snap connection by means of a bolt which extends through a bore in the bottom of the housing, whereby the bottom of the recess of the housing between the metallic frame and the box-like airbag unit is trapped. The housing has openings on the side. The side walls of the box-shaped airbag unit have projections that can snap into the side openings of the housing, which can be used to secure additional position.

U.S. 6,126,192 discloses an airbag unit having an airbag which can be inflated via a cylindrical elongate inflator in the event of a collision. The cylindrical inflation device is held in one end region on a base plate via a bearing eye. In the area of the bearing eye and in a half-shell-shaped receptacle arranged in the other end area of the inflation device, the inflation device can be fixed by means of elastic tensioning straps. On the side facing away from the airbag and the inflation device, elastic hook elements extend from the base plate, which hook elements are passed through corresponding bores of a holding bracket and can be hooked to the holding bracket on the exit side. In this state, mounted on the mounting bracket, housing parts of the airbag unit and a section of the airbag itself are caught between the base plate and the mounting bracket. The bracket is in turn fastened to a carrier of a vehicle seat via a screw connection.

DE 10 2004 007 630 B4 proposes an attachment of an airbag unit to a strand-like support structure that widens in a longitudinal and assembly direction. For this purpose, the airbag unit has a holding plate which is bent into a U-shape in a cross section. The free end regions of the side legs of the U-shaped cross section of the retaining plate are angled towards one another. The retaining plate with the U-shaped cross-section and the bends can be pushed onto the support structure in the longitudinal and assembly direction and pushed along the same until the support structure is caught between the side legs of the U of the retaining plate as a result of the increasing width, thus creating an end position of the retaining plate is reached and the airbag unit is held on the support structure. In one end area, the retaining plate can have an elastic tab which can be latched in a recess or opening in the support structure, with which the airbag unit can be additionally secured to the support structure, in particular in the dismantling direction. Alternatively, it is possible for the latching element to be provided on the support structure and for it to interact with an opening or depression in the holding plate.

According to DE 201 16 196 U1 an airbag unit is attached to a support structure of a backrest via the box-shaped gas generator. For this purpose, an upper hook of the gas generator can be hooked to the rear of the support structure through an opening on the bottom of a housing of the airbag unit and a corresponding opening in the support structure. In the lower end area, the gas generator has a flap which can be screwed through a hole in the support structure with a plug-in sword Vehicle seat can be screwed. DE 201 16 196 U1 also mentions that in addition to this screw connection, instead of hooking, the gas generator and thus the airbag unit can also be clipped onto the support structure.

Further prior art can be found in the publications DE 100 65 795 A1 , DE 10 2010 039 899 A1 and DE 10 2013 105 970 A1 known.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

• - einer Montage und Demontage und/oder
• - einer Automatisierung der Montage und/oder
• - einer Montage- und/oder Prozesssicherheit

verbessert ist.The invention is based on the object of proposing an airbag assembly that is particularly relevant with regard to

• - an assembly and disassembly and / or
• - an automation of the assembly and / or
• - assembly and / or process reliability

is improved.

Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of proposing a structural element and an airbag unit that can be used in the context of an airbag assembly that is improved as explained above.

SOLUTION

The object of the invention is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent patent claims. Further preferred embodiments according to the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an airbag assembly for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or truck, wherein the airbag assembly can have, for example, a side airbag held on a vehicle seat. The airbag assembly has a structural element which, for the example mentioned, can be a carrier or frame of the vehicle seat. The airbag assembly has an airbag unit. The structural element has an airbag mounting area on which the airbag unit can be mounted and held via a connection by means of a structural element mounting area of the airbag unit. The connection has a latching or locking connection.

In the context of the invention, the latching or locking connection is particularly designed: The latching or locking connection has a latching or locking element, which is preferably designed as a separate and separately movable element. In addition, the latching or locking connection has a spring. Finally, the latching or locking connection has a latching or locking projection or a latching or locking recess. To name just a few examples, the latching or locking projection or the latching or locking recess can be designed as a recess, groove, step or with any other contour.

In the airbag assembly according to the invention, the latching or locking element is designed separately and is movable along a latching or locking degree of freedom between a latched or locked position and an unlocked or unlocked position. In the unlocked position or unlocked position, the latching or locking element is acted upon by the spring in the direction of the latched or locked position. As a result, the spring for bringing about the latched or locked position can automatically move the latching or locking element along the latching or locking degree of freedom, with which a simple latching or locking can be brought about and still create a reliable connection can be. In the latched or locked position, the latching or locking element engages behind the latching or locking projection or in the latching or locking recess.

• Eine Rastverbindung kann dabei durch Aufbringung hinreichender Montagekräfte oder Demontagekräfte verrastet und entrastet werden. Die Montagekräfte führen dazu, dass das Rastelement entgegen der Beaufschlagung der Feder von dem Rastvorsprung oder aus der Rastvertiefung bewegt werden kann, ohne dass separat auf das Rastelement eingewirkt werden muss. Hierzu verfügt vorzugsweise der Rastvorsprung, die Rastvertiefung und/oder das Rastelement in Montagerichtung und/oder Demontagerichtung über eine Schrägfläche, welche die Montagekraft umwandelt in eine quer zur Montagekraft wirkende Lösekraft, wobei das Verhältnis der Lösekraft zu der Montagekraft durch den Neigungswinkel der Schrägfläche gegenüber der Montagekraft/Demontagekraft vorgegeben ist. Überschreitet die Lösekraft die Kraft der Feder, die das Rastelement in Richtung der verrasteten Stellung beaufschlagt, kann das Rastelement außer Eingriff mit dem Rastvorsprung oder der Rastvertiefung kommen und entlang desselben bewegt werden, womit das Verrasten und Entrasten erfolgen kann.

In the context of the invention, a distinction is made between a latching connection and a locking connection:

• A locking connection can be locked and unlocked by applying sufficient assembly forces or disassembly forces. The assembly forces mean that the locking element can be moved against the action of the spring by the locking projection or out of the locking recess without having to act separately on the locking element. For this purpose, the locking projection, the locking recess and / or the locking element has an inclined surface in the assembly direction and / or disassembly direction, which converts the assembly force into a release force acting transversely to the assembly force, the ratio of the release force to the assembly force being determined by the angle of inclination of the inclined surface with respect to the Assembly force / disassembly force is specified. If the release force exceeds the force of the spring which acts on the latching element in the direction of the latched position, the latching element can disengage from the latching projection or the latching recess and be moved along it, with which the latching and unlocking can take place.

In contrast, a locking connection denotes a connection which, under certain circumstances, can be created by simply applying an assembly force, but cannot be released by simply applying a disassembly force in the disassembly direction. Rather, in addition to “unlocking”, separate action on the locking element is required in order to bring the locking element out of engagement with the locking projection or the locking recess. This is particularly the case when the aforementioned inclined surface of the locking element, the locking projection or the locking recess is oriented in the extreme case at 90 ° with respect to the dismantling force and direction of dismantling, so that an increase in the dismantling force cannot lead to a release force which the locking element transversely can move to the dismantling direction. In this case, the locking can only be released by destroying the locking connection or by acting separately on the locking connection.

For the latching or locking degree of freedom, there are various possibilities within the scope of the present invention. For example, the latching or locking element can be moved translationally transversely to the assembly and disassembly direction or along any desired, possibly curved or curved degree of freedom. An example of a translational degree of freedom of a latching or locking element is, for example, a latching ball that is displaceable transversely to the assembly direction and disassembly direction in a bore, which is urged outwards by a spring in the base of the bore and is urged into engagement with a latching groove.

For a particular embodiment of the invention, however, the latching or locking degree of freedom is a pivoting degree of freedom of the latching or locking element. For this purpose, the latching or locking element can be mounted in a pivot bearing. The latching or locking element is then pivoted between the latched or locked position and the unlocked or unlocked position by means of a pivoting movement about the pivot bearing. Such a configuration of the latching or locking degree of freedom already provides a particularly reliable latching or locking connection, with the required assembly and disassembly forces and the latching or locking force also being able to be specified via the pivoting radius of the latching or locking element and the dimensioning of the spring.

• Die Montageführung stellt einen Montagefreiheitsgrad bereit. Ist in einem ersten Montageschritt die Montageführung zwischen dem Strukturelement und der Airbag-Einheit bereitgestellt worden, können in einem folgenden Montageschritt die Airbag-Einheit und das Strukturelement entlang des durch die Montageführung bereitgestellten Montagefreiheitsgrads relativ zueinander bewegt werden. Die Bereitstellung der Montageführung führt damit zu einer Teilmontage der Airbag-Einheit und des Strukturelements mit Reduzierung der Freiheitsgrade dieser Bauelemente auf den Montagefreiheitsgrad. Um lediglich einige die Erfindung nicht beschränkende Beispiele zu nennen, kann die Montageführung eine Schwenkverbindung sein, welche beispielsweise durch Einhängen eines Hakens der Airbag-Einheit in eine Ausnehmung des Strukturelements geschaffen wird. Für derart bereitgestellte Schwenkführung verbleibt lediglich ein Montagefreiheitsgrad in Form eines Schwenkfreiheitsgrads, der bei eingehängtem Zustand in der relativen Verschwenkung der Airbag-Einheit und des Strukturelements genutzt werden kann. Die Beseitigung auch dieses verbleibenden Montage- oder Schwenkfreiheitsgrads erfolgt dann, indem eine Verrastung oder Verriegelung einer Rast- oder Verriegelungsverbindung mit einer Bewegung entlang des Montagefreiheitsgrads herbeigeführt wird. Ist die Rast- oder Verriegelungsverbindung geschaffen, ist die Montage abgeschlossen, womit dann kein weiterer Freiheitsgrad verbleibt.

In a further embodiment of the airbag assembly according to the invention, the connection has, on the one hand, an assembly guide and, on the other hand, a latching or locking connection, which serve different purposes:

• The assembly guide provides a degree of assembly freedom. If the assembly guide has been provided between the structural element and the airbag unit in a first assembly step, the airbag unit and the structural element can be moved relative to one another along the assembly degree of freedom provided by the assembly guide in a subsequent assembly step. The provision of the assembly guide thus leads to a partial assembly of the airbag unit and the structural element with a reduction in the degrees of freedom of these components to the degree of assembly freedom. To name just a few non-limiting examples of the invention, the assembly guide can be a pivot connection which is created, for example, by hanging a hook of the airbag unit into a recess in the structural element. For a pivoting guide provided in this way, only one degree of assembly freedom remains in the form of a pivoting degree of freedom, which can be used in the relative pivoting of the airbag unit and the structural element in the hung-in state. The elimination of this remaining assembly or pivoting degree of freedom also takes place in that a latching or locking of a latching or locking connection is brought about with a movement along the assembly degree of freedom. Once the latching or locking connection has been created, assembly is complete, which means that no further degree of freedom remains.

In an alternative embodiment, the assembly guide can be a linear guide. To cite a non-limiting example in this regard as well, the airbag unit can have a guide extension which is precisely received in a guide recess of the structural element. If the airbag unit with the guide extension is introduced into the guide recess of the structural element, there remains a translational degree of freedom corresponding to the linear guide formed in this way. Depending on the geometry of the cross section of the guide extension and the guide recess, a degree of freedom of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the guide extension can also remain. This at least one remaining degree of assembly freedom is then eliminated in that the latching or locking connection is created as the airbag unit approaches the structural element with the movement predetermined by the linear guide. This then ends the assembly, since there is no longer any remaining degree of freedom and the connection created is reliably secured via the latching or locking connection.

It is also possible, however, for the connection to have two latching or locking connections, which can also be used together with the explained linear guide or swivel guide in order to create a redundant connection. However, the connection preferably has only two latching or locking connections, via which the airbag unit is then held on the structural element.

If two snap-in or locking connections are used, the degrees of freedom of the snap-in or locking elements of the snap-in or locking connections can in principle be oriented as desired. It is possible, for example, for one locking element in a latching or locking connection to have a translational degree of freedom, while the latching or locking element of the other latching or locking connection can have a rotational degree of freedom or a pivoting degree of freedom. For a special proposal of the invention, the latching elements of the latching or locking connections pivot about axes oriented parallel to one another, these then being pivoted from the unlocked or unlocked positions into the locked or locked positions in the same pivoting directions. Under certain circumstances, however, the security of the connection created can be increased if the latching or locking elements are pivoted from the unlatched or unlocked positions into the latched or locked positions in mutually opposite pivoting directions.

For a proposal of the invention, there is a stop against which the spring acts on the latching or locking element. With the assembly, the latching or locking element can then be moved away from the stop under the action of the spring as a result of the interaction with the latching or locking projection or the latching or locking recess as a result of the acting assembly force and the resulting release force.

For many embodiments, securing the airbag unit to the structural element as a result of the measures explained above and in particular through the at least one latching or locking connection is sufficient, with the securing effect also being influenced by the dimensioning of the latching element, a choice of the angle of inclination of the inclined surface (n ), the size of the latching or locking projection or the depth of a latching or locking recess and the spring stiffness and length of the spring used can be specified.

For a further embodiment of the airbag assembly, the safety can be increased in that the latched or locked position of the latching or locking element can (additionally) be secured via a safety device. To name just a few examples here, a free space remaining in the latched or locked position for a movement of the latching or locking element in the unlatching or unlocking direction can be blocked with an additional blocking body. It is also possible that the safety device eliminates the degree of freedom of movement of the latching or locking element by acting on a bearing or a guide. For example, the latching or locking degree of freedom in the latched or locked position can be eliminated by blocking a pivot bearing. To name just another example that does not limit the invention, a radial bearing pin can connect a pivot shaft to a bearing eye of the pivot bearing and thus block the pivot shaft.

For the airbag assembly, in particular for the design of the same as a side airbag assembly of a vehicle seat, the mounting direction of the latching or locking device can in principle be arbitrary. For a proposal of the invention, the assembly direction of the latching or locking device is oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the assembly direction preferably being oriented from the rear to the front.

For a further solution to the object on which the invention is based, a structural element is proposed which is suitably adapted for use in an airbag assembly of the type explained above. The structural element has an airbag mounting area. An airbag unit can be held on the airbag mounting area by bringing about a latching or locking connection between the airbag mounting area of the structural element and a structural element mounting area of the airbag unit. According to the invention, the airbag mounting area of the structural element has a spring and a latching or locking element. The latching or locking element can then be moved along a latching or locking degree of freedom between a latched or locked position and an unlocked or unlocked position. In the unlocked position or unlocked position, the latching or locking element is acted upon by the spring in the direction of the latched or locked position. In the latched or locked position, the latching or locking element can engage behind a latching or locking projection of the structural element assembly area of the airbag unit or engage in a latching or locking recess of the structural element assembly area of the airbag unit. While for this embodiment thus the structural element has the spring and the movably mounted latching or locking element and the airbag unit has the latching or locking recess or the latching or locking projection, it is alternatively also possible that the structural element has the latching or locking projection or the latching or Having locking recess, while then the spring and the latching or locking element are provided on the airbag unit.

Another solution to the problem on which the invention is based is an airbag unit which is suitably adapted for use in an airbag assembly of the type explained above. In this case, the airbag unit has a structural element mounting area in the area thereof the airbag unit can be held on a structural element by bringing about a latching or locking connection between the airbag mounting area of the structural element and a structural element mounting area of the airbag. The structural element mounting area of the airbag unit then has a spring and a latching or locking element for a first alternative, while the structural element mounting area of the airbag unit has the latching or locking projection for a second alternative.

As explained above, at least two latching or locking connections can also be used within the scope of the invention, in which case it is also possible for the spring and the latching or locking element to be provided on the airbag unit in the first latching or locking connection are, while in the second latching or locking connection, the spring and the latching or locking element are provided on the structural element.

Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the patent claims, the description and the drawings.

The advantages of features and of combinations of several features mentioned in the description are merely exemplary and can come into effect alternatively or cumulatively without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention.

With regard to the disclosure content - not the scope of protection - of the original application documents and the patent, the following applies: Further features can be found in the drawings - in particular the illustrated geometries and the relative dimensions of several components to one another and their relative arrangement and operative connection. The combination of features of different embodiments of the invention or of features of different patent claims is also possible in a way deviating from the selected back-references of the patent claims and is hereby suggested. This also applies to features that are shown in separate drawings or mentioned in their description. These features can also be combined with features of different patent claims. Features listed in the claims can also be omitted for further embodiments of the invention, but this does not apply to the independent claims of the granted patent.

The number of features mentioned in the claims and the description are to be understood in such a way that precisely this number or a greater number than the specified number is present without the explicit use of the adverb “at least” being required. So when a latching or locking connection is mentioned, for example, this is to be understood to mean that precisely one latching or locking connection, two latching or locking connections or more latching or locking connections are present. These characteristics can be supplemented by other characteristics or be the only characteristics that make up the product in question.

The reference signs contained in the claims do not restrict the scope of the subject matter protected by the claims. They only serve the purpose of making the claims easier to understand.

Figure list

• 1 zeigt in einer räumlichen Ansicht schräg von vorne einen Fahrzeugsitz mit einer Airbag-Baugruppe in Ausgestaltung als Seitenairbag-Baugruppe des Fahrzeugsitzes.
• 2 zeigt eine Rückenlehne des Fahrzeugsitzes gemäß 1 in einer schematischen Seitenansicht mit an einem Strukturelement der Rückenlehne gehaltener Airbag-Einheit.
• 3 zeigt in einem Detail die Verbindung der Airbag-Einheit mit dem Strukturelement der Rückenlehne mittels zwei Rast- oder Verriegelungsverbindungen, die hier mit zwei verschwenkten Rast- oder Verriegelungselementen ausgebildet sind.
• 4 zeigt in einer grundsätzlich 3 entsprechenden schematischen Seitenansicht eine alternative Ausgestaltung einer Verbindung eines Strukturelements des Fahrzeugsitzes mit einer Montageplatte einer Airbag-Einheit.
• 5 zeigt die Montageplatte mit einem Rast- oder Verriegelungselement gemäß 4 in einer Vorderansicht.
• 6 zeigt in einer grundsätzlich 4 und 5 entsprechenden schematischen Seitenansicht eine alternative Verbindung zwischen einem Strukturelement des Fahrzeugsitzes und einer Montageplatte einer Airbag-Einheit.
• 7 zeigt ein Detail der Rast- oder Verriegelungsverbindung gemäß 6 in der verrasteten oder verriegelten Stellung mit zusätzlicher Sicherung durch ein Sperrelement.

In the following, the invention is further explained and described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments shown in the figures.

• 1 shows, in a three-dimensional view obliquely from the front, a vehicle seat with an airbag assembly in the form of a side airbag assembly of the vehicle seat.
• 2 shows a backrest of the vehicle seat according to FIG 1 in a schematic side view with the airbag unit held on a structural element of the backrest.
• 3 shows in a detail the connection of the airbag unit to the structural element of the backrest by means of two latching or locking connections, which are formed here with two pivoted latching or locking elements.
• 4th shows in a fundamentally 3 corresponding schematic side view an alternative embodiment of a connection of a Structural element of the vehicle seat with a mounting plate of an airbag unit.
• 5 shows the mounting plate with a latching or locking element according to 4th in a front view.
• 6th shows in a fundamentally 4th and 5 corresponding schematic side view an alternative connection between a structural element of the vehicle seat and a mounting plate of an airbag unit.
• 7th shows a detail of the latching or locking connection according to 6th in the latched or locked position with additional security by a locking element.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION

In the following description of the figures, some components which correspond or are similar in terms of geometry and / or function are identified with the same reference numbers, these then being distinguished from one another by different additional letters a, b. In the description of the figures, reference is then made to these components with or without the supplementary letter.

In the figures, an airbag assembly 1 exemplary for a configuration of the same as a side airbag assembly 2 a vehicle seat 3 described. In the context of the invention, the airbag assembly 1 but can also be any other airbag assembly.

In the figures, the axis x identifies the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a sense of direction in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle. The axis y denotes a lateral direction in the direction of the vehicle transverse axis. Finally, the axis z identifies the vertical axis of the vehicle.

1 shows a side airbag assembly 2 that is in the area of a side face 4th a backrest 5 of the vehicle seat 3 in the backrest 5 is integrated.

As in the 2 and 3 can be seen, the airbag assembly has 1 via an airbag unit 6th and a structural element 7th . With the structural element 7th it is, for example, a frame or carrier of the vehicle seat 3 or the backrest 5 . From the structural element 7th are only welded recordings here 8th , 9 in the 2 and 3 to recognize.

The airbag unit 6th has the airbag 10 , an inflator 11 over which the airbag 10 can be inflated in the event of a crash, and a mounting plate 12th . The mounting plate 12th is fixed to the inflator 11 connected, in particular by screwing.

For that in the 2 and 3 illustrated embodiment has a connection 13th between the airbag unit 6th and the structural element 7th via two snap or locking connections 14th , 15th . The latching or locking connections 14th , 15th each have a pivot bearing 16 , a feather 21 and a latching or locking element 17th . The recordings 8th , 9 each form a latching or locking projection 18th out. The latching or locking elements 17th have a latching or locking lug 19th . The recordings 8th , 9 of the structural element 7th form receiving recesses 20th on in which the latching or locking projection 18th is arranged and in which the latching or locking element 17th can occur. Between the mounting plate 12th and the latching or locking elements 17th one spring acts in each case 21 . The feather 21 can be designed as a longitudinal or spiral spring or also a torsion spring or torsion leg spring, to name just a few non-limiting examples. It is also entirely possible that the spring is also formed from an elastomer body that is positioned between the mounting plate 12th and the latching or locking element 17th is arranged and the latching or locking element 17th in the swivel direction around the swivel bearing 16 is applied.

In the 2 and 3 is the airbag assembly 1 shown during assembly before the snap-in or locking connections 14th , 15th have reached the latched or locked position. The airbag unit 6th is in one mounting direction 22nd , which here corresponds to the vehicle longitudinal direction x, in the direction of the structural element 7th and the recordings 8th , 9 emotional. The latching or locking elements 17th step into the receiving recesses 20th of the recordings 8th , 9 of the structural element 7th a. With further entry of the latching or locking elements 17th into the receiving recess 20th come the latching or locking lugs 19th the latching or locking elements 17th with a first inclined surface 23 the latching or locking lug 19th for contact with a first inclined surface 24 the latching or locking projection 18th . Becomes an assembly force in the assembly direction 22nd on the airbag unit 6th exercised, the contact of the inclined surfaces leads 23 , 24 to the fact that on the latching or locking element 17th a release force acts that the latching or locking element 17th against the action of the spring from the latching or locking projection 18th moved away, with which the latching or locking lug 19th the latching or locking element 17th along the latching or locking projection 18th can slide. Finally, the latching or locking lug "snaps" 19th behind the latching or locking projection 18th with which the rest or locking protrusion 18th from the latching or locking lug 19th is reached from behind and the latched or locked position is reached.

Acts on the airbag unit 6th a dismantling force that is opposite to the direction of installation 22nd is oriented, is basically the unlatching or unlocking of the latching or locking elements 17th by the action of the spring 21 prevented. The latching or locking nose is in the dismantling direction 19th with a second bevel 25th on a second inclined surface 26th the latching or locking projection 18th at. The dismantling force generated as a result of the inclination angle of the inclined surfaces 25th , 26th a release force aimed at increasing the loading of the spring 21 to release the latch. About the preload of the spring 21 , the stiffness of the spring 21 , the height of the latching or locking projection 18th and the latching or locking lug 19th and in particular the angle of inclination of the inclined surfaces 25th , 26th can be structurally specified for which dismantling force the latching or locking connections 14th , 15th can be solved. In this case, it is therefore a matter of latching. On the other hand, are the inclined surfaces 25th , 26th Oriented at an angle of 90 ° (or slightly less while ensuring self-locking of the sliding movement of the locking lug along the locking projection due to the friction) transversely to the dismantling direction, it is a locking, since an applied dismantling force cannot lead to a releasing force and a Releasing the lock formed in this way is only possible with a destruction of the locking connections 14th , 15th or with a separate action directly on the locking element 17th for pivoting the same out of engagement with the latching or locking projection 18th .

By means of the pivot bearing 16 become detent or locking degrees of freedom 27 the latching or locking elements 17th given.

The structural element 7th has an airbag assembly area 28 . The airbag assembly area 28 serves the purpose of the airbag unit 6th on the structural element 7th attach. For the embodiment according to 2 and 3 is the airbag assembly area 28 with the recordings 8th , 9 , the receiving recesses 20th and the latching or locking projection 18th educated.

The airbag unit has accordingly 6th via a structural element assembly area 29 . The structural element assembly area 29 serves to be a structural element 7th on the airbag unit 6th to assemble. For that in the 2 and 3 The illustrated embodiment has the structural element mounting area 29 about the feathers 21 who have favourited Swivel Bearings 16 and the latching or locking elements 17th .

For the in 4th , 5 illustrated embodiment finds the latching or locking connection 15th corresponding 2 and 3 Use while instead of the latching or locking connection 14th according to 2 and 3 here an assembly guide 30th in the form of a linear guide 31 is provided. The linear guide 31 has a guide recess 32 the recording 8th , which is in particular a guide hole. The mounting plate 12th has a guide extension 33 , which is, for example, a cylindrical guide pin. With the movement of the airbag unit 6th , from the in 4th only the mounting plate 12th is shown in the mounting direction 22nd occurs the guide process 33 one into the guide recess 32 , wherein (different from the illustrated embodiment) the guide extension 33 can also have a lead-in or centering bevel or centering conical surface at the front. With the entry of the guide process 33 into the guide recess 32 All that remains is a single, here translational, degree of assembly freedom 34 that of the mounting direction 22nd corresponds to. Along this remaining degree of assembly freedom 34 can then use the mounting plate 12th continue with the recording 9 be approximated until the latched or locked position of the latching or locking connection 15th is brought about, whereby the assembly is completed and the airbag unit 6th reliable on the structural element 7th is secured.

It is possible that the linear guide 31 a reduction in the connection 13th to a remaining degree of assembly freedom 34 guaranteed, while this remaining degree of assembly freedom is fixed by the latching or locking connection 15th he follows.

It is possible that an additional securing takes place by a securing device, which here can for example consist of the recording 8th by means of a screw in the assembled position with the guide extension 33 is screwed.

6th shows an embodiment in which (corresponding to the embodiment according to 4th , 5 ) an assembly guide 30th together with a latching or locking connection 15th Is used, the latching or locking connection 15th is basically designed as previously explained. However, here is the assembly guide 30th as a swivel guide 35 educated. The mounting plate has for this purpose 12th via a hook 36 that is in a hook mount 37 of the structural element 7th can be hung. The airbag unit remains in such a suspended state 6th and the mounting plate 12th with the rest or Locking element 17th a single degree of freedom of assembly 34 that is pivoting around the hook 36 and the hook mount 37 formed swivel guide 35 consists. With the pivoting along the assembly degree of freedom 34 towards the recording 9 can then also the latching or locking connection 15th be transferred into the latched or locked position.

With regard to the further or alternative possibilities of designing a connection with a hook 36 and a hook holder 37 is exemplified in the pamphlets DE 201 16 196 U1 and DE 100 65 795 A1 referenced.

7th shows the securing of the latched or locked position of a latching or locking connection 14th , 15th through an additional safety device 38 . For the illustrated embodiment, the safety device 38 as a locking element 39 educated. The locking element 39 is in a free space of the receiving recess 20th arranged, which is on the side of the latching or locking element 17th located that engages the latching or locking lug 19th with the lead 18th is turned away. The locking element 39 blocks a release movement of the latching or locking element 17th . The locking element 39 can be inserted into the receiving recess after the latching or locking connection has been established 20th to be introduced. The locking element 39 can be introduced separately or, for example, via a push button, switch, etc. from the mounting plate 12th into the receiving recess 20th and the space is pushed in.

List of reference symbols

1

Airbag assembly

2

Side airbag assembly

3

Vehicle seat

4th

Side face

5

backrest

6th

Airbag unit

7th

Structural element

8th

Recordings

9

admission

10

Airbag

11

Inflator

12th

Mounting plate

13th

connection

14th

Snap or locking connection

15th

Snap or locking connection

16

Swivel bearing

17th

Latching or locking element

18th

Latching or locking projection

19th

Latching or locking nose

20th

Receiving recess

21

feather

22nd

Mounting direction

23

first inclined surface of the latching or locking nose

24

first inclined surface of the latching or locking projection

25th

second inclined surface of the latching or locking nose

26th

second inclined surface of the latching or locking projection

27

Detent or locking degree of freedom

28

Airbag assembly area

29

Structural element assembly area

30th

Assembly guide

31

Linear guide

32

Guide recess

33

Guide process

34

Assembly freedom

35

Swivel guide

36

hook

37

Hook mount

38

Protection scheme

39

Locking element

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• US 6045182 [0003]
• US 6126192 [0004]
• DE 102004007630 B4 [0005]
• DE 20116196 U1 [0006, 0051]
• DE 10065795 A1 [0007, 0051]
• DE 102010039899 A1 [0007]
• DE 102013105970 A1 [0007]

Claims (12)

Airbag assembly (1) for a motor vehicle a) with a structural element (7) with an airbag mounting area (28) and b) with an airbag unit (6) with a structural element mounting area (29), c) wherein the airbag -Unit (6) is held on the structural element (7) via a connection (13) of the airbag mounting area (28) with the structural element mounting area (29) and d) the connection (13) is a latching or locking connection (14, 15). characterized in that e) the latching or locking connection (14, 15) has - a latching or locking element (17), - a spring (21) and - a latching or locking projection (18) or a latching or locking recess, f) the latching or locking element (17) fa) being movable along a latching or locking degree of freedom (27) between a latched or locked position and an unlocked or unlocked position, fb) in the unlocked position or unlocked position via the spring ( 21) is acted upon in the direction of the latched or locked position and fc) in the latched or locked position engages behind the latching or locking projection (18) or engages in the latching or locking recess. Airbag assembly (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that the latching or locking degree of freedom (27) is provided by a pivot bearing (16) so that the movement of the latching or locking element (17) between the latched or locked position and the unlocked or unlocked position is a pivoting movement about the Swivel bearing (16) is. Airbag assembly (1) Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a) the connection (13) has an assembly guide (30) which provides a degree of assembly freedom (34) along which the airbag unit (6) and the structural element (7) are moved relative to one another during assembly, and b) the latching or locking connection (14, 15) is latched or locked with a movement along the assembly degree of freedom (34). Airbag assembly (1) Claim 3 , characterized in that the assembly guide (30) is a linear guide (31). Airbag assembly (1) Claim 4 , characterized in that the assembly guide (30) is a pivot guide (35). Airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection (13) has two latching or locking connections (14, 15). Airbag assembly (1) Claim 6 , characterized in that the latching or locking elements (17) of the two latching or locking connections (14, 15) are pivoted from the unlocked or unlocked positions into the locked or locked positions in mutually opposite pivoting directions. Airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring (21) urges the latching or locking element (17) against a stop. Airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latched or locked position of the latching or locking element (17) can be secured via a safety device (38). Airbag assembly (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mounting direction (22) of the latching or locking device (14, 15) is oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Structural element (7) for an airbag assembly according to one of the preceding claims with an airbag mounting area (28), in the area of which an airbag unit can be held by a latching or locking connection of the airbag mounting area (28) of the structural element ( 7) is brought about with a structural element mounting area of the airbag unit, the airbag mounting area (28) of the structural element (7) a) a spring (21) and a latching or locking element (17), which aa) along a latch - Or locking degree of freedom (27) between a locked or locked position and an unlocked or unlocked position is movable, ab) in the unlocked position or unlocked position via the spring (21) in the direction of the locked or locked position and ac) in the latched or locked position a latching or locking projection of the structural element assembly area of the airbag unit can engage behind or can engage in a latching or locking recess of the structural element assembly area of the airbag unit, or b) a latching or locking projection (18) which is a latching or locking element of the structural element assembly area can engage behind the airbag unit, or has a latching or locking recess into which a latching or locking element of the structural element mounting area of the airbag unit can engage. Airbag unit (6) for an airbag assembly according to one of the Claims 1 to 10 with a structural element mounting area (29), in the area of which the airbag unit (6) can be held on a structural element by a latching or locking connection of an airbag mounting area of the structural element with the structural element mounting area (29) of the airbag unit (6) is brought about, the structural element mounting area (29) of the airbag unit a) a spring (21) and a latching or locking element (17) which aa) latched along a latching or locking degree of freedom (27) between a or locked position and an unlocked or unlocked position is movable, ab) in the unlocked position or unlocked position via the spring (21) in the direction of the locked or locked position and ac) in the locked or locked position a latching or locking projection of the airbag assembly area of the structural element can engage behind or in a latching or locking recess of the A. irbag assembly area of the structural element can engage, or b) a latching or locking projection (18) which a latching or locking element of the airbag assembly area of the structural element can engage behind, or a latching or locking recess into which a latching or locking element of the Can engage airbag mounting area of the structural element.

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