FR3014791A1 - VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle security system (10) comprising - a body (14) defining a body opening (46), - a security device (16) received in the body opening (46) and having a firing channel ( 18) adapted to receive an airbag (20) and defining a deployment opening (22) for the airbag (22). The safety device (16) further comprises a thread (34) assembled on the firing channel (18), said thread (34) being embedded in a foam (58) covering the body (14), the thread (34) embedded in the foam (58) forming a first flap at least partially covering the deployment opening (22).

Description

The present invention relates to vehicle safety systems, in particular adapted to receive an airbag. A safety system is usually already known, in particular adapted to receive an airbag, comprising: a body defining a body opening, a safety device received in the body opening and comprising a suitable firing channel. to receive an airbag and defining a deployment opening of the airbag. Document EP2113428A discloses a safety system, in particular a vehicle dashboard, comprising a safety device comprising a firing channel adapted to receive a one-piece safety airbag with an airbag flap. The safety device is then assembled to a vehicle dashboard body. The vehicle dashboard is a board called "foamed" and foam 58 is injected on the body of the board and the shutter. JP2006306230 also describes an example of a security system as previously described comprising a security device. The safety device comprises a firing channel adapted to receive an airbag and a flap. The safety device is assembled to a dashboard body to form a security system. The body and the flap are then covered with a layer of foam. These achievements already equip some vehicles. However, there is a constant need to improve this type of device, especially from the point of view of operational safety. Thus, with a view to reducing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants while avoiding an increase in the mass and cost of the assembly, the present invention aims to improve existing systems. For this purpose, according to the invention, a safety system of the kind in question is characterized in that the safety device further comprises a thread assembled on the firing channel, said thread being embedded in a foam covering the body, the net embedded in the foam forming a first flap at least partially covering the opening 10 of deployment. Thanks to these arrangements, a robust assembly of the security system is carried out. The safety device received in the body opening can be securely retained by the body. In addition, the net fully embedded in the foam reduces the risk of ejection of elements in the passenger compartment and the risk of breakage, including the windshield. In preferred embodiments of the invention, one and / or other of the following arrangements may optionally be further used: the safety device is assembled to the body by snap-fastening. A snap-fit assembly reduces manufacturing costs, as compared to, for example, welding assembly. In addition, the snap-in connection is easy to implement; - The body has an outer face and an inner face, opposite to said outer face, the firing channel has a side wall and a transverse wall, and the transverse wall of the firing channel is opposite the outer face of the body. Thus, the safety device is easily put in place and retained by the body by supporting the transverse wall of the firing channel on the outer face of the body; - The net has a first and a second end, the first end of the net being secured to the transverse wall and / or the side wall of the firing channel by a rigid connection. The rigid connection provides a robust assembly of the net on one of the walls of the firing channel; - The second end of the net is assembled to the transverse wall and / or the side wall of the fire channel by adhesion. The adhesion assembly is easy to implement, and depending on the type of adhesive chosen, the firing channel and the thread 34 may, at the second end of the net, be easily detached or disassembled. the other ; - The net has a first and a second end, the first end of the net being secured to the transverse wall and / or the side wall of the firing channel and the support surface of the body by a screw connection. The screwed connection, for example a stud connection, is easy to implement and allows a robust assembly; - A bar is provided opposite the first end of the net, and wherein the first end of the net is arranged sandwiched between the bar and the transverse wall of the firing channel. The bar reinforces the connection between the net and the firing channel; - The security system further comprises a second component, said first and second components at least partially covering said deployment opening. The presence of a second component limits the projections in the passenger compartment and the risk of breakage; the second shutter and the firing channel form a one-piece assembly. Thus, unlike the first flap, which is formed after the introduction of the safety device into the body opening, and the foam injection 58, the second flap is already available on the firing channel and has come from material with said firing channel, which limits the number of parts to be assembled. The invention also aims at a method for manufacturing a security system, in particular for manufacturing a security system as previously described, comprising the following steps: a body delimiting a body opening is provided, a channel is provided; adapted to receive the airbag and defining a deployment opening of the airbag, -a net is provided, - a safety device is formed by assembling the net on the firing channel, - the device is introduced. at least partially in the body opening, a first flap at least partially covering the deployment opening is formed by injecting foam on the body and embedding the net in the foam. With these arrangements, the security system is implemented in two assembly steps, simple to implement and a molding step. According to an alternative embodiment, the firing channel is provided with a second flap, integral with the firing channel, and produced by injection molding, and in which the first and the second flap 25 are arranged one by relative to the other so as to cover at least in part said deployment opening. The presence of the second component limits the projections in the passenger compartment and the risk of breakage. The invention finally relates to a vehicle dashboard comprising a security system as previously described, an airbag being assembled to said security system. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the passenger compartment of a vehicle equipped with a safety system according to one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view. Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a security system of Figure 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements. Figure 1 shows schematically the passenger compartment of a vehicle 1 equipped with a vehicle interior trim part comprising a security system 10 according to the invention. In this case, the interior trim piece is a dashboard 12. However, in alternative embodiments, the interior trim part of the vehicle could be a door panel, a roof covering, a seat or still any other type of trim element fitted to the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The security system 10 is composed of a body 14 which, in the example below, constitutes a dashboard body 12. The security system 10 is furthermore composed of a security device 16. Tel 2 and 3, the safety device 16 comprises a firing channel 18 adapted to receive an airbag 20. More specifically, the firing channel 18 defines a housing 21 adapted to receive the airbag 20 The firing channel 18 further delimits a deployment opening 22 of the airbag 20.

The deployment opening 22 corresponds to an opening of the housing 21. In a known manner, during the rapid inflation of the airbag 20 following an impact on the vehicle, the airbag 20 deploys through the airbag. deployment opening 22 towards the interior of the passenger compartment. The firing channel 18 is delimited by lateral walls 24. More specifically, the housing of the firing channel 18 is delimited by side walls 24. The side walls 24 comprise, for example, cavities 26 or fixing holes for receiving hooks d. an airbag module 20, for fixing the module on the firing channel 18. The firing channel 18 further comprises a transverse wall 28. The side walls 24 extend in a lateral direction X. The wall transverse direction 28 extends in a transverse direction Y. The transverse and lateral directions may be substantially perpendicular. The transverse wall 28 defines the deployment opening 22 of the firing channel 18. The transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 has an outer face 30 and an inner face 32, opposite to said outer face 30. On a portion of the wall transverse 28 of the firing channel 18 is fixed a thread 34. More precisely the thread 34 is fixed on a portion of the outer face 30 of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. The thread 34 comprises for example a three-dimensional textile material . A three-dimensional textile material is a knitted and / or braided textile in the three dimensions, which therefore has a certain thickness which gives it a certain rigidity. Net 34 may be a plaited polypropylene net. Net 34 may comprise a waterproof base covered with a web of three-dimensional material. Net 34 may have a parallelepipedal general shape. The net 34 is adapted to cover, at least in part, the deployment opening 22. In this case the shape of the net 34 may be substantially the same as that of the deployment opening 22. The net 34 may have a overall dimension significantly larger than the size of the deployment opening 22, so as to cover it completely, as shown in Figure 2. However, the thread 34 may also have a reduced dimension relative to the deployment opening 22 , so as to cover only partially said deployment opening 22, as shown in Figure 3. The thread 34 may comprise a first portion, called the first end 36, facing a portion of the transverse wall 28, by which the net 34 is assembled to the firing channel 18, for example by an assembly member 38. In other words, the first end 36 is assembled to a fixing portion of the transverse wall 2 8 of the firing channel 18. In an alternative embodiment, the thread 34 could be assembled to a side wall of the firing channel 18. The fillet 34 is fixed for example fixed to the firing channel 18 by a complete and removable connection, as a connection by screw or stud. In other embodiments, the assembly of the thread 34 to the firing channel 18 can be achieved by any type of existing mechanical connection, with or without an insert, for example by snapping or riveting. The first end 36 may, especially in the case of a rectangular or square net 34, be close to an edge of the net 34. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a bar 40 may be provided above the first end 36 of the thread 34 and the fixing portion of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. The bar 40 may be made of metal or plastic material, for example. The bar 40 has a role of reinforcement of the net assembly 34 - firing channel 18. As visible in Figures 2 and 3, the first end 36 of the net 34 is sandwiched between the firing channel 18 and the bar 40. Specifically, the first end 36 of the thread 34 is sandwiched between the fastening portion of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 and the bar 40. The thread 34 further comprises a second end 42. The second end 42 may be, for example, near an edge of the thread 34, and in particular near an edge opposite the edge near the first end 36 of the thread 34. The thread 34 may also comprise third and fourth ends each connecting the first and second ends 36, 42. These third and fourth ends may also rest on an adhesion portion 44 on the outer face of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18.

In a first embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the net 34 is for example arranged to completely cover the deployment aperture 22 and in part the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. As shown in FIG. the second end 42 is facing an adhesion portion 44 of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. The transverse wall 28 of the firing channel may comprise a plurality of adhesion portions 44. The second end 42 is for example fixed on the outer face of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 by an adhesive or an adhesive joint. The adhesive, or glue joint can be fine and easily detachable. In a second embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the net 34 may partially cover the deployment opening 22. More particularly, the net 34 covers about half of the deployment aperture 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the second end 42 of thread 34 is arranged opposite a second flap 64, which will be described in more detail in the following description. As represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the assembly composed of the firing channel 18 and the net 34 assembled on the firing channel 18 forms a security device 16. The security device 16 is intended to be assembled on the body 14. The body 14 has a body opening 46. The body 14 has an outer face 48 and an inner face 50, the inner face 50 of the body 14 being opposite to the outer face 48. The safety device 16 is introduced into the body opening 46 so that the body opening 46 corresponds in part with the deployment opening 22. The inner face 32 of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 is placed opposite the outer face 48 20 of the body 14. One or more bearing portion (s) 52 of the safety device 16 comes to rest on a holding portion 54 of the body 14. The bearing portion 52 of the security device 16 is for example arranged on the face Inner 32 of the wall The body 14 may have a main portion and one or more recess (s) 56. The holding portion 54 of the body 14 may be provided on a recess 56 of the body 14, so that the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 and the thread 34 are for example in the extension of the main part of the body 14. For example the safety device 16 is assembled on the dashboard body 14 by latching. However, in alternative embodiments, other methods of assembly could be envisaged, such as a screw connection, for example.

The assembly of the safety device 16 on the body 14 can also be reinforced, in addition to the snap-fitting assembly, or simply made via a screw connection, for example by a stud. For example, the assembly member intended to assemble the thread 34 on the firing channel 18 can also be used for assembling and / or reinforcing the assembly of the fastening device on the body 14. For example, As shown in FIG. 2, a bolt, which forms the assembly member 38, can be used to first secure the thread 34 and the firing channel 18, then, in a second step, to be inserted into the In a cavity provided on the firing channel 18, the firing channel 18 can for example be easily made. Prepositioning of the security device 16 on the body 14 is shown. As shown in FIG. 2, a bearing portion 52 of FIG. safety device 16, provided in particular on the inner face 32 of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18 may be arranged directly opposite to the fastening portion provided on the outer face of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. other words, a p support member 52 of the safety device 16 and the fixing portion of the firing channel 18 may be located locally on either side of a portion of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. However, in variants these portions may be offset in the transverse direction. As shown in FIG. 2, support portions 52 of the safety device 16 may also be offset in the transverse direction with respect to the adhesion portions 44 of the transverse wall 28 of the firing channel 18. For example, portions adhesion 44 of the firing channel 18 may be provided on a recess of the side wall of the firing channel 18, so that the fillet 34, having a certain thickness and resting on the adhesion portions, come into the extension of the bearing portion 52 of the safety device 16. As shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment, the second end 42 of thread 34 is arranged facing a second flap 64. The second component 64 and the net 34 then at least partially cover the deployment aperture 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the second flap and the net 34 completely cover the deployment aperture 22. The second flight and 64, as shown in Figure 3 is monobloc (integrally) with the firing channel 18. For example, the second flap is molded with the firing channel 18 during the same molding step. A necking zone 66 is provided between the second flap 64 and the firing channel 16 towards a first end of the flap. The second flap 64 has an outer face and an inner face, the inner face being oriented towards the deployment opening 22. Reinforcing ribs 68 may be provided on the inner face of the second flap 64. The second flap 64 comprises a adhesion portion 44 to adhere thereto the thread 34. The second flap 64 may comprise a recess 70. The recess 70 is, for example provided on a second end of the second flap 64, opposite its first end and located in portion opposite the deployment opening 22. The recess 70 may form the adhesion portion 44 of the net 34. For example, an adhesive film may be provided on the recess so as to come "stick" or adhere the net 34. The recess 70 makes it possible to arrange the thread 34 in the extension of the second shutter 64. As represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, after assembly of the safety device 1 6 and the firing channel 35 18, the foam 58 is injected on the upper part of the body 14. The injected foam 58 comes to embed the net 34 assembled to the firing channel 18. To guarantee the seal and prevent foam leakage 58 during the injection, sealing members may be provided at certain portions forming an interface between the thread 34 and the firing channel 18, or between the thread 34 and the second flap, or between the safety device 16 and the body 14. The net 34 embedded in the foam 58 forms a rigid flap 60 adapted to open in the event of a violent impact.

The flap 60 at least partially covers the deployment opening 22. During a violent impact to the vehicle, the flap is intended to open and pivot about a hinge pin formed at the level of the fastener between the first end 36 of flap and the firing channel 18. In the first embodiment shown in Figure 2, a single flap 60 completely covers the deployment opening 22. This single flap 60, formed by the thread 34 embedded in the foam 58 is opened in a line of weakness 62 having for example the shape of a U, the base of the U being opposite the portion forming the hinge axis of the flap. For example, in this first embodiment the hinge axis of the flap can be on the side of the windshield of the vehicle, while the opening of the flap is made to the passenger. In the second embodiment, as visible in FIG. 3, the first flap 60 (formed of the thread 34 embedded in the foam 58) is opposite the second flap 64. The first and second flaps 60, 64 open for example along a line of weakness in the form of H. The first flap 60 is for example located on the passenger side in the passenger compartment while the second flap 64 is on the side of the windshield of the vehicle. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the firing channel 18 may comprise on its outer face a protruding portion 72 which partially surrounds at least the flap 60 formed by the thread 34. This projecting portion 72 makes it possible to create an area of less localized thickness of foam 58 during the injection of foam 58 on the body 14 and delimit a line of weakness. The foam 58 is then covered, for example in the case of a vehicle dashboard, with a skin 74.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Vehicle security system (10) comprising: - a body (14) defining a body opening (46), - a security device (16) received in the body opening (46) and comprising: - a channel firing device (18) adapted to receive an airbag (20) and delimiting a deployment opening (22) for the airbag (22), characterized in that the security device (16) further comprises a thread (34) assembled on the firing channel (18), said thread (34) being embedded in a foam (58) covering the body (14), the thread (34) embedded in the foam (58) forming a first component at least partially covering the deployment opening (22). 2. Security system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the safety device (16) is assembled to the body (14) by snapping, and wherein the body (14) has an outer face (48) and a face. interior (50) opposite to said outer face, the firing channel (18) has a side wall (24) and a transverse wall (28), and the transverse wall (28) of the firing channel (18) is opposite the outer face (48) of the body (14). 3. Security system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the thread (34) has a first and a second end (36, 42), the first end (36) of the thread (34) being secured to the transverse wall (28) and / or the side wall (24) of the firing channel (18) by a rigid connection, and wherein the second end (42) of the thread (34) is assembled to the transverse wall (28) of the firing channel (18) by adhesion. 4. Security system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the thread (34) has a first and a second end (42), the first end (36) of the thread (34) being secured to the transverse wall (28) and / or the side wall (24) of the firing channel (18) and the supporting surface of the body (14) by a screw connection. 5. Security system (10) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein a bar (40) is provided opposite the first end (36) of the thread (34), and wherein the first end (36) ) of the thread (34) is sandwiched between the bar (40) and the transverse wall (28) of the firing channel (18). The security system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second flap (64), said first and second flaps (60, 64) at least partially covering said deployment aperture (22). ). 7. Security system (10) according to claim 6, wherein the second flap (64) and the firing channel (18) 25 form a one-piece assembly. 8. A method for manufacturing a security system (10), in particular for manufacturing a security system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps of: - providing a body (14) delimiting a body opening (46) is provided a firing channel (18) adapted to receive the airbag (20) and delimiting a deployment opening (22) of the airbag, - a net (34) is provided; ), a safety device (16) is formed by assembling the thread (34) on the firing channel (18), the safety device (16) is introduced at least partly into the body opening ( 46), - forming a first flap (60) at least partially covering the deployment opening (22) by injecting foam (58) on the body (14) and embedding the thread (34) in the foam (58). 10 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the firing channel (18) is provided with a second flap (64), integral with the firing channel (18), and produced by injection molding, and wherein the first and second flaps (60, 64) are arranged relative to each other so as to at least partially cover said deployment opening (22). 10. Vehicle dashboard (12), characterized in that it comprises a security system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, an airbag (20) being assembled to said airbag system. security (10).