WO2022229131A1 - Airbag arrangement - Google Patents

Airbag arrangement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2022229131A1
WO2022229131A1 PCT/EP2022/060964 EP2022060964W WO2022229131A1 WO 2022229131 A1 WO2022229131 A1 WO 2022229131A1 EP 2022060964 W EP2022060964 W EP 2022060964W WO 2022229131 A1 WO2022229131 A1 WO 2022229131A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
retention
airbag
section
retention member
steering wheel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2022/060964
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Cuneyt GÜRSEL
Original Assignee
Autoliv Development
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autoliv Development filed Critical Autoliv Development
Publication of WO2022229131A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022229131A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60RVEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R21/00Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
    • B60R21/02Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
    • B60R21/16Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
    • B60R21/20Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
    • B60R21/203Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in steering wheels or steering columns
    • B60R21/2035Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in steering wheels or steering columns using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit
    • B60R21/2037Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in steering wheels or steering columns using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation

Definitions

  • the holding surface and the middle section of the retention member are not in contact to one another during normal operation of the vehicle and the positioning between the airbag module (namely its accommodation unit) and the mounting element is provided by separate (often relatively weak) positioning elements and the retention element and the resilient retention member only serve for holding the accommodation unit in case of deployment of the airbag if the positioning elements break.
  • Such an airbag arrangement is for example described in WO 2009/149776.
  • a common resilient retention member is provided, which can especially be a bent wire.
  • this bent wire consists of metal, especially of steel.
  • Figures 2 to 7 show the hom plate 30 and the retention spring 40 being mounted to this horn plate 30.
  • Figures 3 show the arrangement is symmetric; so what is described for one side also applies to the other side.
  • the invention can also be applied to steering wheels without a horn plate, such that the airbag module is directly snapped to the armature of the steering wheel meaning that the armature forms the mounting element. If in this case it is desired that the module can be pressed down towards the steering wheel body (floating module concept), springs or other elastic elements must be provided directly between the module and the steering wheel body (for example its armature). If such a layout is chosen, the holding surfaces lose contact the retention spring when the airbag module is pressed down.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)

Abstract

An airbag arrangement comprises a mounting element, at least one retention element extending from one of the accommodation unit or the mounting element, said retention element having a holding surface, and a retention interface arranged on or being formed by the other of the accommodation unit or the mounting element. The retention interface has an opening (32) through which the retention element extends, a first retention surface (34) at a first side of the opening (32) and a second retention surface (36) at a second side of the opening (32). Further, a resilient retention member (40) being held at the retention interface is provided. In order to prevent an unsnapping during the deployment of the airbag cushion, the first retention surface (34) comprises an additional area (34b) having a restraining feature countering a displacement of the retention member (40) along the first retention surface (34) when the retention member (40) is bent by means of the retention element.

Description

Airbag Arrangement
Description
The invention relates to an airbag arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a steering wheel according to claim 11 .
As is commonly known, almost every steering wheel of a motor vehicle, especially of a passenger car, is equipped with an airbag module. So, the steering wheel comprises a steering wheel body having a recess in its hub area, and the airbag module being located in this hub area and being directly or indirectly connected to the steering wheel body. This airbag module comprises an airbag cushion, an in- flator for inflating this airbag cushion and an accommodation unit in which the air- bag cushion is located. This accommodation unit often comprises a housing and a cover. In a known technique, a mounting element is provided at which the airbag module is held. In this case, at least one retention element - most often in form of a hook - extends either from the accommodation unit of the airbag module or the mounting element, said retention element having a holding surface. Further, an interface is arranged on the other of the accommodation unit or the mounting element and this retention interface has an opening through which the retention element extends. A first retention surface is provided on a first side of the opening and a second retention surface is provided on a second side of the opening. These retention surfaces are oriented substantially oppositely to the holding sur- face of the retention element. A resilient retention member - usually in form of a wire, especially a U- or W-shaped wire - is held at the retention surfaces and is positioned such that a first section of the retention member extends along the first retention surface, a second section of retention member extends along the second retention surface and a middle section extending between the first section and the second section crosses the opening. The mounting of the airbag module to the mounting element is a snap-in process during which the resilient retention member is elastically deformed by the retention element. ln one known embodiment, the holding surface and the middle section of the retention member are not in contact to one another during normal operation of the vehicle and the positioning between the airbag module (namely its accommodation unit) and the mounting element is provided by separate (often relatively weak) positioning elements and the retention element and the resilient retention member only serve for holding the accommodation unit in case of deployment of the airbag if the positioning elements break. Such an airbag arrangement is for example described in WO 2009/149776.
In other embodiments, the holding surface of the retention element and the middle section of the resilient retention member are (at least when the airbag module is not pressed down due to horn activation) in permanent contact to one another such that the holding surface and the resilient retention member define the axial position of the airbag module. Especially in this case it is known to form the retention element such that its holding surface is slanted relative to the retention surfaces. By means of this shape, the resilient retention member can pull the accommodation unit towards the mounting element such that an exact axial positioning can be achieved and rattling noises can be avoided. The resilient retention member is in this case permanently biased. Such an airbag arrangement is easy to manufacture and easy to assemble. A drawback of such a slanted holding surface is that there is a risk of an unsnapping of the airbag module from the mounting element in case of the deployment of the airbag when a high pulling force away from the steering wheel body acts from the airbag cushion to the accommodation unit.
Starting from this prior art, the invention sets itself the task to improve a generic airbag arrangement in such a way that an unsnapping of the airbag module from the mounting element can safely be prevented.
This task is fulfilled by an airbag arrangement having the features of claim 1 . A steering wheel comprising such an airbag arrangement is defined in claim 11. According to the invention, at least the first retention surface comprises an additional area, said additional area having a restraining feature countering a displacement of the first section of the retention member along the first retention surface when the middle section of the retention member is bent by means of the holding surface of the retention element. This means that during the assembly process and during normal operation of the airbag arrangement, the restraining feature of the additional area is without function such that the restraining feature does neither affect the assembly nor the normal operation. Especially it does not affect the force transmission between the resilient retention member and a slanted holding surface, such that an axial positioning and an avoidance of rattling noises can be achieved as described above. But, when the holding surface exerts a force to the middle section of the resilient retention member in axial direction, the resilient retention member (which usually consists of steel) is slightly bent such that it comes into contact with the additional area and its restraining feature such that a radial movement of the middle section and thus an unsnapping is prevented.
The just described effect is usually strongest if the additional area is adjacent to the opening.
In order to ease the production, it is usually preferred that the additional area and the remaining retention surface are made of the same material. Especially in this case, the restraining feature can comprise at least one notch, usually a plurality of notches, such that it has a teethed structure. In this case, the teeth should not extend over the remaining retention surface which usually is a flat area.
In order to enhance the inventive effect, it can be preferred that also the second retention surface comprises an additional area, said additional area also having a restraining feature countering a displacement of the second section of the retention member along the second retention surface the when the middle section of the retention member is bent by means of the holding surface of the hook. This additional area of the second retention surface can be positioned and designed analog to the additional area of the first retention surface. Most often, at least the first section, the second section and the middle section of the resilient retention member lie in one plane. In this case, the first retention surface and the second retention surface should also define a plane.
As has been mentioned, the invention is especially useful when the holding surface is in contact to the middle section of the retention member and if the holding surface is slanted towards the plane defined by the at least one retention surface, because in this case the danger of an unsnapping during deployment is especially high, but the invention can also be used in cases in which the holding surface is not in contact to the middle section of the retention member as long as the airbag cushion is not deployed as is for example described in WO 2009/149776.
Of course, it is preferred that at least two retention elements, two openings and two pairs of retention surfaces are provided.
As is known in the prior art, it is preferred that a common resilient retention member is provided, which can especially be a bent wire. Usually, this bent wire consists of metal, especially of steel.
The inventive airbag arrangement is usually part of a steering wheel which further comprises a steering wheel body. Often it is desired that the airbag module can be pressed down towards the steering wheel body against the force of at least one elastic element (usually several springs). In this case it is often preferred that the elastic element extends between the steering wheel body and the mounting element such that the whole airbag arrangement can be pressed down towards the steering wheel body while the distance between the accommodation unit and the mounting element remains constant and the holding surface keeps its contact to the middle section of the resilient retention member. In this case the mounting element forms a so-called horn plate.
In other embodiments, the mounting element can also be an armature of the steering wheel body such that the airbag module is directly snapped to the steering wheel body. The invention will now be described by means of a preferred embodiment in view of the figures. The figures show: Figure 1 The elements of a steering wheel comprising an inventive airbag arrangement in a schematic sectional representation in a partially unassembled state,
Figure 2 the hom plate and the resilient retention member shown in Figure 1 after the resilient retention member has been mounted to the horn plate,
Figure 3 what is shown in Figure 2 in a plan view from direction R in Figure 2, Figure 4 a sectional view taken along plane l-l in Figure 3 (identical to the detailed D1 in Figure 2),
Figure 5 a sectional view taken along plane ll-ll in Figure 3, Figure 6 a sectional view taken along plane Ill-Ill in Figure 3,
Figure 7 the detailed D2 in Figure 3 in a more detailed perspective representation, Figure 8 the sub-assembly of Figure 2 being attached to the steering wheel body by means of springs and not shown guiding- and positioning- elements,
Figure 9 what is shown in Figure 8 after the airbag module has been snapped to the hom plate (thus the complete steering wheel),
Figure 10 the detail D3 in Figure 9 (in a representation according to Figure 4), Figure 11 a sectional view taken along plane IV-IV in Figure 10 and
Figure 12 what is shown in Figure 11 during deployment of the airbag.
Figure 1 shows the components of a steering wheel comprising an airbag arrangement according to the invention.
An airbag module 10 comprises a housing 16 and a cover 14 forming an accommodation unit, in which an airbag cushion 11 is located in its un-deployed state. Further, an inflator 12 (for example in form of a pyrotechnic gas generator) is provided, wherein the outflow openings of this inflator 12 are located inside the airbag cushion 11. Two hooks 18 - each forming a retention element - extend from the bottom of the housing 16. Although these hooks 18 can be in one piece with the housing 16 they do not belong to the accommodation unit according to the definitions chosen here.
The hooks 18 each have a first section 18a extending from the bottom of the housing 16 and a second section 18b (the “hook section”) at the end of the first section. The second sections 18b have a surface pointing towards the housing 16; these surfaces are the holding surfaces 19. In the embodiment shown these holding surfaces 19 extend inwardly starting from the first section 18a, which is preferred but not strictly mandatory. As can clearly be seen from Figure 1 the holding surfaces 19 are slanted, such that the distance to the bottom of the housing 16 increases starting from the first sections 18a of the hooks 18.
Further, a mounting element in form of a hom plate 30 is provided. This hom plate 30 forms a retention interface and shows an opening 32 for each hook 18. In the embodiment shown, these openings are holes having a closed edge, but in other embodiments, the openings could also be indentions extending from the edge of the hom plate 30. The horn plate 30 has a side pointing towards the airbag module 10 and a side pointing away from the airbag module 10. From the latter side, L-shaped positioning elements 39 extend on both sides of the openings 32. The side pointing towards the airbag module 10 shows abutment surfaces 38 on which the bottom of the housing 16 rests in the mounted state. Preferably three such abutment surfaces 38 are present.
A resilient retention member in form of a U-shaped retention spring 40 is provided which is held at the horn plate 30 by means of the positioning elements 39. In other embodiments, several retention members with different shapes can be used.
In the shown embodiment the hom plate 30 can be pressed downwards relative to the steering wheel body 20 in order to activate the hom. For this purpose springs 22 are provided.
Figures 2 to 7 show the hom plate 30 and the retention spring 40 being mounted to this horn plate 30. One sees from Figure 3 that the arrangement is symmetric; so what is described for one side also applies to the other side.
Each opening 32 is crossed by the retention spring 40 such that the retention spring 40 has - on each side - a first section 44, a second section 46 and a middle section between the first section 44 and the second section 46. The first section 44, the second section 46 and the middle section 48 are located in one plane. This middle section 48 spans over the opening 32. The first section 44 of the retention spring 40 extends along a first retention surface of the hom plate 30 and the second section 46 of the retention spring 40 extends along a second retention surface of the horn plate 30. Both retention surfaces have two areas, namely a flat area 34a, 36a and an additional area 34b, 36b between a flat area and the opening 32. These additional areas each have a restraining feature, here in form of teeth such that the surface of each additional area has a saw tooth treat design with the teeth extending substantially parallel to the respective section of the retention spring extending along the retention surface. The tops of the teeth do not extend beyond the plane of the flat areas; in the embodiment shown, they extend just to this plane. This allows not to impact the movement of the retention spring 40 during the mounting operations of the airbag module 10. Figure 8 shows the sub-assembly of Figure 2 (the horn plate 30 and the retention spring 40) being mounted to the steering wheel body 20 (usually to an armature of the steering wheel body). This sub-assembly can be pressed down towards the steering wheel body 20 against the force of the springs 22 being located between the steering wheel body 20 and the horn plate 30.
Figure 9 shows what is shown in Figure 8 and the airbag module 10 being snapped to the sub-assembly of Figure 2. One can see that after this snap-in process the middle sections 48 of the retention spring 40 are moved inwards such that the retention spring 40 is biased and the middle sections 48 exert an outward force to the holding surfaces 19. Due to this and due to the fact that the holding surfaces 19 are slanted, the airbag module 10 is pulled downwards onto the abutment surfaces 38 of the horn plate 30.
Figure 10 shows the detail D3 in Figure 9 and Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along plane IV-IV in Figure 10.
When the airbag deploys it exerts a pulling force to the housing in axial direction and thus each holding surface 19 exerts a force onto the middle section 48 of the retention spring 40 to which it is in contact. Without additional measures this could lead to an un-snapping of the module because the slanted holding surfaces would push the middle sections 48 of the retention spring inwards. But, as can be seen from Figure 12, the middle section 48 and at least parts of the first and second section 44, 46 are bent towards the horn plate 30 and so the first and second section 44, 46 come into contact with the toothed additional areas and are thus hindered from moving inward. So, the restraining features of the additional areas counter a displacement of the first and second sections of the resilient retention member in case of the deployment of the airbag, but are without function during normal operation such that they do not hinder the axial positioning of the airbag module.
Although not shown in the Figures, the invention can also be applied to steering wheels without a horn plate, such that the airbag module is directly snapped to the armature of the steering wheel meaning that the armature forms the mounting element. If in this case it is desired that the module can be pressed down towards the steering wheel body (floating module concept), springs or other elastic elements must be provided directly between the module and the steering wheel body (for example its armature). If such a layout is chosen, the holding surfaces lose contact the retention spring when the airbag module is pressed down.
List of reference numbers
11 airbag cushion 12 inflator 14 cover
16 housing 18 retention element (hook)
19 holding surface
20 steering wheel body 22 spring
30 steering wheel armature (hom plate) 32 opening 34 first retention surface 34a flat area 34b additional area
36 second retention surface 36a flat area 36b additional area 38 abutment surface 40 resilient retention member (retention spring)
44 first section 46 second section 48 middle section

Claims

Claims
1 . Airbag arrangement comprising: an airbag module comprising an accommodation unit, an airbag cushion (11) located inside the accommodation unit, and an inflator (12) being mounted to the accommodation unit, a mounting element, at least one retention element (18) extending from one of the accommodation unit or the mounting element, said retention element (18) having a holding surface (19), a retention interface arranged on or being formed by the other of the accommodation unit or the mounting element, said retention interface having an opening (32) through which the retention element (18) extends, a first retention surface (34) at a first side of the opening (32) and a second retention surface (36) at a second side of the opening (32), wherein both retention surfaces (34, 36) are oriented substantially oppositely to the holding surface (19), a resilient retention member (40) being held at the retention interface, wherein a first section (44) of the retention member (40) extends along the first retention surface (34), a second section (46) of the retention member (40) extends along the second retention surface (46) and a middle section (48) of the retention member (40) being located between the first section (44) and the second section (46) crosses the opening (32), characterized in that at least the first retention surface (34) comprises an additional area (34b), said additional area (34b) having a restraining feature countering a displacement of the first section (44) of the retention member (40) along the first retention surface (34) when the middle section (48) of the retention member (40) is bent by means of the holding surface (19) of the retention element (18).
2. The airbag arrangement of claim 1 , characterized in that the additional area (34b) is adjacent to the opening (32).
3 The airbag arrangement of claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the restraining feature comprises at least one notch.
4 The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that also the second retention surface (36) comprises an additional area (36b), said additional area (36b) having a restraining feature countering a displacement of the second section (46) of the retention member (40) along the second retention surface (36) when the middle section (48) of the retention member (40) is bent by means of the holding surface (19) of the retention element (18), wherein it is preferred that the additional area (36b) of the second retention surface (36) is adjacent to the opening (32) and wherein it is further preferred that its restraining feature comprises at least one notch.
5. The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first retention surface (34) and the second retention surface (36) define a plane.
6. The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the holding surface (19) is in contact to the middle section (48) of the retention member (40).
7 The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the holding surface (19) is not in contact to the middle section (48) of the retention member (40) as long as the airbag cushion (11) is not deployed.
8. The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least two retention elements (18), two openings (32) and two pairs of retention surfaces (34, 36) are provided.
9. The airbag arrangement of claim 8, characterized in that a common resilient retention member (40) is provided, said common resilient member (40) being preferably a bent wire.
10. The airbag arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the resilient retention member (40) enters into contact with the restraining feature only when the resilient retention member (40) is bent, in particular upon actuation of the airbag module (10).
11. A steering wheel comprising a steering wheel body (20), and an airbag arrangement of any one of the claims 1 to 9.
12. The steering wheel according to claim 11, characterized in that the mounting element forms a horn plate (30) such that the whole airbag arrange- ment including the mounting element can be pressed down against the steering wheel body (20).
13. The steering arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the mounting element forms an armature of the steering wheel body (20).
PCT/EP2022/060964 2021-04-27 2022-04-26 Airbag arrangement WO2022229131A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102021110731.8A DE102021110731B3 (en) 2021-04-27 2021-04-27 Airbag arrangement
DE102021110731.8 2021-04-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2022229131A1 true WO2022229131A1 (en) 2022-11-03

Family

ID=81846311

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2022/060964 WO2022229131A1 (en) 2021-04-27 2022-04-26 Airbag arrangement

Country Status (2)

Country Link
DE (1) DE102021110731B3 (en)
WO (1) WO2022229131A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060208470A1 (en) * 2005-03-16 2006-09-21 Takata Corporation Steering wheel with airbag apparatus
WO2009149776A1 (en) 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Autoliv Development Ab Steering wheel unit
WO2011054449A1 (en) * 2009-10-27 2011-05-12 Autoliv Development Ab Air bag module
DE202013002988U1 (en) * 2013-03-28 2013-05-02 Autoliv Development Ab Steering wheel unit with a steering wheel body and a gas bag module

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060208470A1 (en) * 2005-03-16 2006-09-21 Takata Corporation Steering wheel with airbag apparatus
WO2009149776A1 (en) 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Autoliv Development Ab Steering wheel unit
WO2011054449A1 (en) * 2009-10-27 2011-05-12 Autoliv Development Ab Air bag module
DE202013002988U1 (en) * 2013-03-28 2013-05-02 Autoliv Development Ab Steering wheel unit with a steering wheel body and a gas bag module

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102021110731B3 (en) 2022-09-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP1268240B1 (en) Snap-in driver's airbag module
US6196573B1 (en) Mounting mechanism for inflatable restraint system
EP1322501B1 (en) Mounting an inflatable element
JP4870214B2 (en) Horn actuator and safety device for automobile equipped with horn actuator
US5433472A (en) Quick-locking device for retention of an inflator in a passenger-side canister
US7481447B2 (en) Initiator retainer
JP6185798B2 (en) Steering wheel
EP1354770A2 (en) Mounting arrangement for an airbag
EP1720740B1 (en) Snap-in castanet airbag module for a vehicular steering wheel
US6237944B1 (en) Mounting mechanism for inflatable restraint system
US11414038B2 (en) Steering wheel with vibration damping mass
JP2007309420A (en) Structure for connecting interior member and body panel of automobile to each other
WO2022229131A1 (en) Airbag arrangement
US6199899B1 (en) Airbag module
US20020027337A1 (en) Airbag door of a vehicle
US7422236B2 (en) Apparatus and method for providing a horn contact mechanism
KR960029165A (en) Car safety devices
EP4234364A1 (en) Steering wheel and method of manufacturing same
JP7311836B2 (en) vehicle pillar structure
US20090051146A1 (en) Snap-in attachment of inflator for airbag
JP3701590B2 (en) Case reinforcement structure for automobile airbag device
WO2019154894A1 (en) Airbag module, method for manufacturing an airbag module and steering wheel
EP3995365B1 (en) Safety airbag assembly
JP3005724B2 (en) Car steering structure
WO2024046944A1 (en) Steering wheel with an airbag module

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 22725468

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 22725468

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1