Shielding device for airbag device, airbag assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a shielding device (5) for an airbag device (2) of a vehicle, the shielding device comprising a planar shielding element (6), a fixing element (7) and an elastically deformable clip (12), the fixing element being fixed to the inner side of the shielding element (6) and being designed to be U-shaped in cross section, the clip being designed to lock the fixing element (7) to a body element (4) of the vehicle, wherein the shielding element (6) is designed to deform at least partially when the airbag device (2) is triggered so as to open a through opening (19) for an airbag package (3) of the airbag device (2). It is provided that the fixing element (7) has a predetermined breaking point (17) which is at least partially torn apart when the airbag device (2) is triggered.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shielding device for an airbag device of a vehicle, the shielding device comprising a planar shielding element, a fixing element and an elastically deformable clip, wherein the fixing element is fixed on the inner side of the shielding element and is designed to be U-shaped in cross section, and the clip is designed to lock the fixing element on a body element of the vehicle, wherein the shielding element is designed to be at least partially deformed when the airbag device is triggered so as to open a through-opening of an airbag package of the airbag device.

[0002] The invention further relates to an airbag module for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an airbag device, which is arranged on a body element of the vehicle, and a shielding device which surrounds the airbag device on the body element via the shielding element. Background Art

[0003] The shielding device of the aforementioned type is known from the prior art. Patent document US 8 480 120 B1 discloses such a shielding device, which has a shielding element, which surrounds the airbag device on the body element and is retained on the body element by at least one clip element. In this case, a U-shaped fixing element is arranged on the inner side of the shielding element, and a coupling element extends through the bottom plate of the fixing element, and the coupling element also acts on the rear of the body element. The coupling element has a clip, which ensures that the shielding element that is squeezed away from the body element by the airbag package can be detached from the body element by breaking the coupling element when the airbag device is triggered, but is still retained on the body element by the clip to prevent loss. This avoids or at least prevents individual components from being thrown through the vehicle interior due to the triggering of the airbag device. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved cover device which allows a through-opening of the airbag package to be realized in a simple manner and which allows the cover element to remain on the body element in an inexpensive manner.

[0005] The technical problem is solved according to the present invention by a shielding device for an airbag device of a vehicle, the shielding device having a planar shielding element, a fixing element and an elastically deformable clip, the fixing element being fixed on the inner side of the shielding element and being designed to be U-shaped in cross section, the clip being designed to lock the fixing element on a body element of the vehicle, wherein the shielding element is designed to deform at least partially when the airbag device is triggered so as to open a through opening for an airbag package of the airbag device, wherein it is provided that the fixing element has a predetermined breaking point, which is at least partially torn when the airbag device is triggered. This has the advantage that the above technical problem is solved despite the reduction in the number of components. Here, the shielding device is stable and inexpensive in terms of manufacture and assembly.

[0006] The shielding device according to the invention is characterized in that the fixing element, in particular in the connection area relative to the shielding element, has a predetermined breaking point, which at least partially tears when the airbag device is triggered. This enables the shielding element to be separated, in particular partially, from the fixing element, while the connection of the fixing element relative to the body element is not impaired. Due to the separation, in particular partially, of the shielding element from the fixing element, the shielding element can be further deformed or broken open or turned open in order to enlarge the through-opening for the airbag package. By means of the predetermined breaking point, the shielding device can be split or torn at the position provided for this purpose, so that the deformation of the shielding element is achieved as desired.

[0007] Preferably, the clip is designed to connect the fastening element directly to the body element. The clip thus preferably grips behind the fastening element and the body element or is designed to clip directly behind the fastening element and the body element in order to hold them to one another. This eliminates the need for additional coupling elements, such as are provided in the prior art, and reduces the number of components. This reduces the manufacturing and assembly effort.

[0008] It is also preferably provided that the fixing element has two arms connected to the shielding element and a base plate which can be assigned to / assigned to the body element, the base plate connecting the two arms to each other on the side facing away from the shielding element, wherein an opening is formed in the base plate, the clip passes through or can pass through the opening, and the clip is supported on the side of the base plate facing the shielding element, in particular by a barb (Hintergriff) or a laterally protruding flange. Therefore, when the clip is also connected to the body element, the clip supported on the base plate holds the fixing element on the body element. Here, the clip is particularly designed as an insertable clip, which can be inserted into the opening of the body element under elastic deformation and can be locked in the opening or behind the opening. The clip is designed to be supported on the base plate of the fixing element, thereby making it possible to directly connect the fixing element and the body element by means of the clip.

[0009] Furthermore, preferably, the fixing element is arranged eccentrically on the shielding element when viewed in a cross section of the shielding element. In this case, the section of the shielding element that extends away from the fixing element and that is longer when viewed in a cross section is advantageously deformable or can be broken apart or flipped open by the airbag device, so that a through opening for the airbag package is produced between the shielding element and the body element, in particular at the free end of this longer section of the shielding element. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the arms of the fixing element are oriented parallel to the longitudinal extension direction of the shielding element. Therefore, the arms are oriented in particular perpendicularly to the bending direction of the shielding element and therefore ensure, on the one hand, that the fixing element is firmly held on the shielding element, so that when the shielding element is flipped open when the airbag is triggered, these arms do not hinder the deformation of the shielding element.

[0010] Preferably, the arm of the fixing element which is arranged closer to the center of the shielding element, viewed in cross section, has the predetermined breaking point. The predetermined breaking point is therefore located in the region of the fixing element which is subjected to the greatest load when the shielding element is folded open. By tearing or ripping open the predetermined breaking point, a further deformation of the shielding element can be achieved, which enlarges the through-opening.

[0011] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the predetermined breaking point is configured at the end of the first arm assigned to the shielding element. Thus, when a corresponding load is applied by the airbag device, the connection between the shielding element and the arm is advantageously released or broken. In the non-deployed state of the airbag device, the connection between the fixing element and the shielding element still ensures a sufficiently high stability of the shielding device.

[0012] Particularly preferably, the predetermined breaking point is designed as a constriction of the arm. As a result, the predetermined breaking point is constructed in the arm in an inexpensive and simple manner. The constriction preferably extends over the entire longitudinal extension of the arm, thereby ensuring that the arm as a whole detaches or can detach from the shielding element, or the shielding element detaches or can detach from the arm, when the airbag device is triggered.

[0013] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that, in the case of an eccentric arrangement of the fastening element, the shielding element has a higher rigidity in a shorter section starting from the fastening element than in a longer section starting from the fastening element, as viewed in cross section. As a result, the longer section of the shielding element, as described above, can be elastically deformed more easily than the shorter section of the associated fastening element, as viewed in cross section. This allows the shielding element to deform advantageously when the airbag device is triggered in order to enlarge and maximize the through-opening, while the high rigidity of the shorter section ensures that the shielding element remains firmly attached to the body element, in particular when the airbag device is triggered.

[0014] According to a preferred extended design of the present invention, the shielding element has at least two U-shaped fixing elements, which are arranged one after another in the longitudinal extension direction of the shielding element and are respectively provided with clips. By providing a plurality of fixing elements, the stability of the shielding device on the body element is improved.

[0015] The technical problem is also solved according to the invention by an airbag assembly for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising an airbag device and a shielding device, wherein the airbag device is arranged on a body element of the vehicle and the shielding device surrounds the airbag device on the body element via the shielding element, wherein it is provided that the shielding device is designed according to the above-mentioned type. This results in the advantages already mentioned.

[0016] Further advantages and preferred features and feature combinations result in particular from the above description and the following description of exemplary embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings:

[0018] Figure 1 An advantageous airbag module for a motor vehicle is shown in a simplified cross-sectional view; and

[0019] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Schematic detailed views of an airbag assembly are shown in different states. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Figure 1 An advantageous airbag module 1 for a motor vehicle, not shown in detail here, is shown in a simplified cross-sectional view. The airbag module 1 has an airbag device 2 with an airbag package 3, which is fastened to a body element 4 of the motor vehicle, for example to a roof section of the motor vehicle. In the normal state, the airbag package 3 is held folded on the body element 4 and expands explosively when the airbag device 2 is triggered.

[0021] The airbag device 2 is equipped with a shielding device 5, which in the normal state at least substantially surrounds the airbag device 2 via a shielding element 6, but at least surrounds the airbag package 3 on the body element 4, so that the airbag package 3 is reliably protected from external influences. For this purpose, the shielding element 6 is designed to be U-shaped or V-shaped when viewed in cross section and to rest on the vehicle body or the body element 4 at the end side in order to surround the airbag device 2.

[0022] The shielding device 5 also has a fixing element 7 arranged on the inner side of the shielding element 6, which is designed to be U-shaped when viewed in cross section and is therefore designed to be dome-shaped. Here, the fixing element 7 has two arms 8, 9, which are each fixed to the shielding element 6 at one end and are connected to each other via the base plate 10 at the other end. The arms 8, 9 are particularly constructed in one piece with the shielding element 6 and the base plate 10, so that the fixing element 7 is molded on the shielding element 6 as a whole. In order to save material and reduce weight, the fixing element 7 is designed to have a free space or be hollow between the arms 8, 9. Figure 1 As shown, the fastening element 7 optionally has a web 11 which increases the stability or the load-bearing capacity of the fastening element 7 .

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, when viewed in cross section of the shielding element, the fixing element 7 is arranged eccentrically on the shielding element 6, so that Figure 1 In the extension of the shielding element 6 , a section I is produced on the left side of the fastening element, and a section II is produced on the right side of the fastening element which is longer than the section I. Here, the airbag device 2 or at least the airbag package 3 is located between the section II and the body element 4 .

[0024] In order to fix the shielding element 6 to the body element 4, there is also an elastically deformable clip 12, which locks the fixing element 7 to the body element 4. For this purpose, the body element 4 has an opening 13 and the base plate 10 of the fixing element 7 has an opening 14, through which the clip 12 is respectively passed. The clip element 12 has a barb or a laterally protruding flange 15 at one end, which is supported on the side of the base plate 10 facing the shielding element 6, so that the clip 12 is held on the fixing element 8 in a form-fitting manner.

[0025] Under elastic deformation, the clip element 12 can be guided through the openings 14 and 13 until the barb 15 is supported on the base plate 10. The clip 12 also has a clip section 16, the width of which is at least greater than the clear width of the opening 13 of the body element 4, so that the clip element 12 can only be passed through the opening 13 under elastic deformation. As soon as the clip section 16 has passed through the opening 13, the clip 12 widens again due to its inherent elasticity, so that the clip section 16 is locked behind the body element 4 on the side facing away from the fixing element 7. By designing as a plug-in clip, a positive locking of the fixing element 7 and thus the shielding element 6 on the body element 4 is achieved in a simple manner.

[0026] At least the arm 9 which is closer to the section II and thus closer to the center of the shield element 6, as viewed in cross section, has a predetermined breaking point 17 at its end facing the shield element 6. Figure 1As shown, both arms 8 , 9 have such a predetermined breaking point 17 . The predetermined breaking point 17 is formed by a constriction 18 in the arm 9 in the transition region or connection region of the arm 9 to the shield element 6 .

[0027] Figure 2A and Figure 2B The shielding device 5 is shown in the region of the fixing element 7 in the normal state ( Figure 2A ) and state of emergency ( Figure 2B ) shows that in an emergency, the airbag device 2 has been triggered.

[0028] If the airbag device is triggered, the airbag package 3 expands explosively and exerts force on the inner side of the shielding element 6 in section II. The predetermined breaking point 17 is designed so that since the airbag package 3 exerts a predetermined force, the predetermined breaking point 17 is torn and the arm 9 is separated from the shielding element 6, as shown in FIG. Figure 2B As the connection between the shielding element 6 and the arm 9 is released, the shielding element 6 can be as shown in FIG. Figure 2B As shown by the arrow in , it is broken open or folded open to a greater extent. Therefore, a through-opening 19 is generated between the cover element 6 and the body element 4, which is particularly large and enables the airbag package 3 to escape into the vehicle interior in an advantageous manner.

[0029] Optionally, the fixing element 7 is also provided with one or more reinforcing ribs 20, which are designed or arranged in particular only on the side of the fixing element 7 facing away from the arm 9, in particular extending between the arm 8 and the shielding element 6. The shielding element 6 is thus reinforced on the side of the fixing element 7 facing away from the airbag package 3, which ensures that the shielding element 6 is held particularly firmly on the body element 4. The load forces generated when the airbag device 2 is triggered are advantageously and uniformly introduced into the clip element 12 and cause deformation, in particular only the section II of the shielding element 6. In the cavity of the fixing element 7, further ribs are optionally present, such as, for example, in the Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , a further reinforcing rib 20 is formed between the covering element 6 and the intermediate wall 11 on the side of the fastening element 7 facing away from the airbag package.

[0030] Furthermore, optionally a plurality of fastening elements 8 are arranged one behind the other on the shield element 6 and spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal extension direction of the shield element 6 and are designed as described above.

[0031] Reference numerals list

[0032] 1 Airbag assembly

[0033] 2 Airbag device

[0034] 3 Airbag Package

[0035] 4 Body components

[0036] 5. Shielding device

[0037] 6. Blocking elements

[0038] 7 Fixing elements

[0039] 8 arms

[0040] 9 arms

[0041] 10. Bottom Plate

[0042] 11. Partition

[0043] 12 Clip

[0044] 13 Opening

[0045] 14 Opening

[0046] 15 Barb

[0047] 16 Clip Section

[0048] 17 Rated breaking point

[0049] 18 Narrowing

[0050] 19 Through hole

[0051] 20 Reinforcement ribs

Claims

1. A shielding device (5) for an airbag device (2) of a vehicle, the shielding device comprising a planar shielding element (6), a fixing element (7) and an elastically deformable clip (12), wherein the fixing element is fixed to the inner side of the shielding element (6) and is designed to be U-shaped in cross section, and the clip is designed to lock the fixing element (7) to a body element (4) of the vehicle, wherein: The shielding element (6) is designed to be elastically deformed at least partially when the airbag device (2) is triggered so as to open a through opening (19) of an airbag package (3) of the airbag device (2), characterized in that the fixing element (7) has a predetermined breaking point (17) which is at least partially torn when the airbag device (2) is triggered, so that the shielding element (6) is partially detached from the fixing element (7) and the shielding element (6) can be further deformed, wherein the fixing element (7) has two arms (8, 9) connected to the shielding element (6) and the two arms are connected to each other at their free ends. A connected base plate (10), wherein, when viewed in a cross section of the shielding element (6), the fixing element (7) is arranged eccentrically on the shielding element (6), wherein an arm (9) of the fixing element (7) which is arranged closer to the center of the shielding element when viewed in the cross section has the rated breaking point (17), wherein, when viewed in the cross section, the shielding element (6) has a smaller rigidity in a longer section (II) starting from the fixing element (7) than in a shorter section (I) starting from the fixing element (7), wherein the airbag device (2) or at least the airbag package (3) is located between the longer section (II) and the body element (4).

2. The shielding device (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The clip (12) is designed to connect the fastening element (7) directly to the body element (4).

3. The shielding device (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that An opening (14) is formed in the base plate, the clip (12) passes through the opening (14), and the clip (12) is supported on the side of the base plate facing the shield element (6).

4. The shielding device (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The predetermined breaking point (17) is formed at the end of the arm (9) associated with the shielding element (6).

5. The shielding device (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The predetermined breaking point (17) is designed as a constriction (18) of the arm (9).

6. The shielding device (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least two U-shaped fixing elements (7) are arranged in sequence and at intervals from each other along the longitudinal extension direction of the shielding element (6), and each of the fixing elements is provided with a clip (12).

7. An airbag assembly (1) for a vehicle, the airbag assembly comprising an airbag device (2) and a shielding device (5), the airbag device being arranged on a body element (4) of the vehicle, the shielding device enclosing the airbag device (2) on the body element (4) via a shielding element (6), characterized in that: The shielding device (5) is designed according to any one of the preceding claims.

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