Triggerable holding device

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuatable holding device (10) for a traction means (12) of an airbag, comprising: a holder (14); a locking part (16) which is movably mounted in the holder (14) and which can be adjusted between a locking position, in which the locking part holds the traction means (12) locked, and a release position, in which the traction means (12) is released; a pyrotechnic device (22) which is coupled to the locking part (16) such that the locking part is adjusted from the locking position into the release position when the pyrotechnic device (22) is activated; and a restraining means (38) which is rigidly connected to the closure part (16) and which interacts with a restraining geometry (40) in the holder (14) in the release position of the closure part (16) in order to retain the closure part (16) in the holder (14) in its release position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a triggerable retaining device for a traction means of an airbag. Background Art

[0002] Airbags are part of vehicle safety systems. A traction device is often attached to the airbag. The deployment of the airbag can be controlled by means of the traction device, for example by releasing the traction device after the airbag has been at least partially filled with gas. In this way, the desired deployment behavior of the airbag can be achieved.

[0003] In addition, the traction device can prevent the airbag from over-deploying in a certain direction when inflated. For example, this function can be used for adaptive airbag concepts or for active airbag deflation.

[0004] In order to release the pulling means, triggerable holding devices are known. When the holding device is triggered, for example, the locking part is moved by means of a pyrotechnic device out of a locked position in which it holds the pulling means locked. The disadvantage here is that after triggering the locking part moves in the surroundings in an uncontrolled manner.

[0005] In particular, in test devices when the vehicle safety system is not installed in the environment of mass-produced vehicles, additional safety precautions must be taken so that the locking element remains on the test device even after the retaining device has been triggered and does not damage surrounding objects, such as measuring devices. However, this is associated with additional effort. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a triggerable retaining device for a traction means of an airbag, in which retaining device additional safety precautions can be dispensed with.

[0007] According to the invention, the object is achieved by a triggerable retaining device for a traction device of an airbag, the retaining device comprising: a retainer; a locking component, which is movably supported in the retainer and can be adjusted between a locking position and a release position, in which the locking component keeps the traction device locked and in which the traction device is released; a pyrotechnic device, which is coupled to the locking component so that when the pyrotechnic device is activated, the locking component is adjusted from the locking position to the release position; and a restraining device, which is firmly connected to the locking component and which, in the release position of the locking component, cooperates with a restraining geometry in the retainer to hold the locking component in its release position in the retainer.

[0008] The holding device according to the invention has the advantage that the locking element cannot be released from the holding device in an uncontrolled manner. Thus, no additional safety precautions need to be taken in the test device.

[0009] A pyrotechnic device comprises, for example, a propellant charge and an igniter which in turn has an ignition head and electrical leads.

[0010] The locking component is preferably made of metal. Thus, the locking component can absorb large lateral forces.

[0011] According to one aspect, the restraining means is formed on a base in which the latching member is held, wherein the restraining means protrudes laterally from the base. As a result, the restraining geometry can also be arranged laterally to the base. This has the advantage that the restraining geometry is not arranged in the movement trajectory of the latching member, so that the assembly of the latching member in the holder is not hindered by the restraining geometry.

[0012] The base is preferably a plastic part and the locking element is overmolded with the plastic forming the base in the region of the pyrotechnic device. For example, when manufacturing the base, the locking element is placed as an insert in a corresponding mold and overmolded. As a result, the base is held particularly reliably on the locking element. In addition, fewer parts must be handled when assembling the holding device.

[0013] Alternatively, the locking component can be inserted into the base. Thus, the locking component and the base can be manufactured independently of each other and can be purchased from different suppliers.

[0014] For example, the restraining means is a lug that extends outwardly obliquely on the base. Therefore, the lug forms a hook that can be hooked in a corresponding restraining geometry, thereby the locking member can be particularly reliably restrained on the retainer.

[0015] In particular, the free end of the tab points towards the fastening geometry.

[0016] According to a variant, the tab is flexible. This is particularly advantageous in terms of assembling the retaining device, in particular when the locking element with the base fastened thereto is inserted into the retaining device. That is, when the base is pushed into the retainer, the tab can be pressed inwards to such an extent that the movement of the base is not blocked during assembly. In particular, the tab can be moved over the restraining geometry during assembly. When the locking element with the base is in an end position corresponding to the locking position of the locking element, the tab is erected again and in this state ensures that the locking element is securely restrained on the retainer.

[0017] The base is guided, for example, on the inner wall of the holder and the inner wall has a recessed portion which extends in the direction of movement of the locking member and into which the restraining device extends at least a certain distance. The recessed portion thus forms a free space in which the restraining device can move unhindered when the holding device is triggered. Thus, the locking member can move out of the locked position, but this movement is first blocked by the restraining device.

[0018] The length of the depression in the direction of movement of the closure member thus defines a possible displacement distance of the closure member from the closure position into the release position.

[0019] According to one aspect, the restraining geometry is a recess which extends to the outside of the retainer, and in the release position of the locking element the restraining means is accommodated in the recess, in particular extends through the recess. In this way, the restraining means hooks into the recess. Such a restraining geometry is particularly advantageous in combination with a corresponding restraining means, because even in the case of unfavorable tolerance positions the restraining means cannot slide beyond the restraining geometry when the retaining device is triggered.

[0020] The recess is, for example, axially adjacent to the depression. This means that the depression transitions into the recess. Therefore, when the restraining device reaches the end of the depression, it can move directly into the recess and the restraining device and the restraining geometry cooperate.

[0021] In particular, the inlet opening of the recess opens into the depression and is formed on an end wall of the depression.

[0022] The base is preferably guided in a rotationally fixed manner in the holder. In this way, it is ensured that the restraining means cooperates reliably with the restraining geometry.

[0023] Rather, the base is guided in a defined angular position in the holder.

[0024] In particular, a projection is formed on the base, and the holder has a groove or a slit on its inner wall, in which the projection is guided. In this way, a linear guidance is achieved.

[0025] According to a variant, the holder has a slot for receiving the pulling means, wherein the locking element is received in the holder on both sides of the slot. This ensures that the locking element is stably supported in the holder, which in turn enables the absorption of large transverse forces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Further advantages and features emerge from the following description and from the accompanying drawings to which reference is made. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1A sectional view showing a triggerable holding device according to the invention in a non-triggered state,

[0028] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The triggerable holding device in the embodiment is in a triggered state,

[0029] Figure 3 A detailed view showing the restraining mechanism of the retaining device,

[0030] Figure 4 The latching part of the holding device is shown together with the base part fixed thereto, and

[0031] Figure 5 A retainer of the retaining device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Figure 1 A triggerable holding device 10 for a traction means 12 of an airbag is shown.

[0033] The holding device 10 comprises a Figure 5 The holder 14 shown is, for example, a plastic injection molded part.

[0034] In the holder 14, a locking member 16 is supported movably, in particular linearly. More precisely, the locking member 16 can be moved from Figure 1 The locked position shown moves to Figure 2 Release position shown.

[0035] In the locked position, the locking element 16 locks the traction means 12 .

[0036] For this purpose, the traction means 12 , which in the present exemplary embodiment is a catch strap, has a loop 18 which is arranged around the closure element 16 in the closed position.

[0037] In order to accommodate the pulling means 12 , the holder 14 has a slot 20 .

[0038] In the present embodiment, the blocking member 16 is a sleeve.

[0039] Furthermore, a pyrotechnic device 22 is provided, which is coupled to the closure element 16 in such a way that when the pyrotechnic device 22 is activated, the closure element 16 moves from the closed position into the released position.

[0040] The pyrotechnic device 22 comprises, in particular, an electrical line 24 and an ignition head 26 , in which a pyrotechnic propellant is accommodated.

[0041] The locking element 16 is held in the seat 28 .

[0042] Rather, the closure element 16 is overmolded at one end in the region of the pyrotechnic device 22 with a plastic that forms the base 28 .

[0043] In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity, the base 28 is pushed onto the closure element 16 .

[0044] The base 28 is guided on an inner wall 30 of the holder 14 .

[0045] In particular, the base 28 is guided in the holder 14 in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0046] For this purpose, a projection 32 is formed on the base 28 and the holder 14 has a corresponding slot 34 on its inner wall 30, in which the projection 32 is guided. Instead of the slot 34, the holder 14 can also have a groove.

[0047] The pyrotechnic device 22 , more precisely the electrical line 24 , is also partially accommodated in the base 28 , through which the electrical line 24 extends.

[0048] For example, the electrical conductors 24 are formed by pins.

[0049] Furthermore, a receptacle 36 for an electrical connection is formed in the base 28 in order to electrically contact the conductors 24 .

[0050] The holding device 10 further comprises a securing means 38 which is firmly connected to the closure element 16 .

[0051] Specifically, the restraining device 38 is integrally formed in the base 28 .

[0052] Furthermore, the holding device 10 comprises a constraining geometry 40 which is integrally formed in the holder 14 .

[0053] The restraining device 38 and the restraining geometry 40 together form a restraining mechanism.

[0054] Figure 3 The diagram shows a detailed view of the holding device 10 in the region of the restraining means 38 and the restraining geometry 40 .

[0055] The restraining means 38 projects laterally from the base 28 .

[0056] More specifically, the restraining means 38 is a protruding piece that extends outwardly obliquely from the base 28. Figure 4 2, in which the locking element 16 is shown alone together with the base 28.

[0057] The tab is designed to be flexible.

[0058] In order to enable the locking member 16 to move from the locking position to the releasing position, a recessed portion 42 is formed on the inner wall 30 of the holder 14 , and the recessed portion extends along the movement direction of the locking member 16 .

[0059] The restraining member 38 extends at least a certain distance into the recess 42 .

[0060] The constraining geometry 40 is realized by a recess 44 which adjoins the depression 42 in the axial direction.

[0061] In this case, the recess 44 overlaps the depression 42 in such a way that an opening 48 is formed at the end side 46 of the depression 42 .

[0062] Starting from the opening 48 , the restraining geometry 40 , in particular the recess 44 , extends as far as the outer side 50 of the holder 14 .

[0063] In this case, the recess 44 does not extend as far as the inner side 50 .

[0064] When the retaining device 10 is triggered, the blocking element 16 is moved out of its blocking position due to the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic device 22 .

[0065] Firstly, the blocking element 16 can be moved unhindered, specifically when the securing means 38 is moved in the depression 42 .

[0066] When the restraining means 38 strikes the restraining geometry 40 , the movement of the locking element 16 stops.

[0067] In the released position of the locking element 16, the restraining means 38 cooperates with the restraining geometry 40, such as Figure 2 As shown in the diagram, a further movement of the blocking element 16 is blocked and the blocking element 16 is thus held in its release position in the holder 14 .

[0068] In particular, the securing means 38 is moved into the recess 44 of the securing geometry 40 and hooks therein, specifically in such a way that the securing means 38 extends through the recess 44 in the released position of the closure element 16 .

Claims

1. A triggerable retaining device (10) for a traction device (12) of an airbag, comprising: Retainer (14); a locking component (16) which is movably supported in the holder (14) and which can be adjusted between a locking position, in which the locking component holds the traction device (12) locked, and a release position, in which the traction device (12) is released; a pyrotechnic device (22) coupled to the locking element (16) such that the locking element is adjusted from a locking position to a released position when the pyrotechnic device (22) is activated; and a restraining device (38) which is firmly connected to the locking component (16) and which cooperates with a restraining geometry (40) in the retainer (14) in the released position of the locking component (16) to retain the locking component (16) in its released position in the retainer (14).

2. The holding device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The restraining means are formed on a base in which the locking element is held, wherein the restraining means protrude laterally from the base.

3. The holding device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that: The base (28) is a plastic part, and the closure element (16) is overmolded with the plastic forming the base (28) in the region of the pyrotechnic device (22), or the closure element (16) is inserted into the base (28).

4. The holding device (10) according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that The restraining device (38) is a protruding piece that extends outwardly at an angle on the base (28).

5. The holding device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that The tabs are flexible.

6. The holding device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that The base (28) is guided on the inner wall (30) of the holder (14), and the inner wall (30) has a recess (42) which extends in the movement direction of the locking component (16) and the restraining device (38) extends at least a certain distance into the recess.

7. Holding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The restraining geometry (40) is a recess (44) which extends to the outside of the holder (14), and the restraining means (38) is accommodated in the recess (44) in the release position of the locking part (16), in particular extends through the recess (44).

8. The holding device (10) according to claim 9 and in addition to claim 8, characterized in that The recess (44) is adjacent to the recess (42) in the axial direction.

9. Holding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims and additionally according to claim 2, characterized in that The base (28) is guided in a rotationally fixed manner in the holder (14).

10. The holding device (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that A projection (32) is formed on the base, and the holder (14) has a groove or a slit (34) on its inner wall (30), in which the projection (32) is guided.

11. Holding device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The holder (14) has a slot (20) for accommodating the pulling means (12).

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