Airbag cover

Abstract

The utility model provides an air bag cover. The airbag cover includes: a main cover assembled to an airbag case to cover an airbag cushion provided in the airbag case, the main cover including a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover, and being rotatable around the hinge portion and opened when the airbag cushion is inflated; and an inner cover assembled to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion, and opened together with the main cover, in which the inner cover includes an extension portion disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, and the extension portion is extendable when the main cover is opened, and in which the inner cover is attached to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion. The rigidity of the hinge part is smaller than that of the main cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to an airbag cover that can prevent damage to the inner cover when the driver's airbag inflates. Background Technology

[0002] The driver's airbag is assembled onto the steering wheel.

[0003] The airbag module of the driver's airbag is configured such that the airbag cushion and the inflator are housed in the airbag housing, and the airbag housing is covered by the airbag cover.

[0004] When the inflator's sensor detects a signal indicating a vehicle accident, a gas-forming agent is released instantaneously and ignited by an igniter, thus producing gas.

[0005] The generated gas is supplied to the airbag cushion, and the airbag cushion inflates appropriately to absorb the impact applied to the driver, thereby ensuring the driver's safety.

[0006] Additionally, the airbag cover of the driver's airbag can be equipped with a vehicle-specific marking, and the marking can be illuminated.

[0007] When a sign is equipped with an illumination structure, the weight of the sign increases due to the illumination structure. Therefore, to ensure stable installation of the illuminated sign, the structure of the airbag cover needs to be reinforced.

[0008] Therefore, the inner cover is connected to the inner surface of the main cover that defines the outer surface of the airbag cover, and the luminous sign is assembled to the inner cover, thereby improving the reliability of the luminous sign mounting structure.

[0009] However, since the main cover and inner cover rotate together when the airbag is deployed, a potential problem is that the inner cover may be subjected to excessive tension due to the difference in the radius of curvature between the main cover and the inner cover, thus damaging the inner cover.

[0010] The details described in the background art are intended only to facilitate understanding of the background of this utility model and should not be construed as an admission of prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0011] Therefore, this disclosure was made in view of the above problems, and the purpose of this disclosure is to provide an airbag cover that can prevent damage to the inner cover when the driver's airbag inflates.

[0012] The objectives of this utility model are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description other objectives of this utility model not mentioned above.

[0013] In one general aspect, an airbag cover includes: a main cover assembled to an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag pad disposed in the airbag housing, the main cover including a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover, and the main cover configured to rotate and open about the hinge portion when the airbag pad is inflated; and an inner cover assembled to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion, and the inner cover configured to open together with the main cover, wherein the inner cover includes an extension disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, and the extension is configured to extend when the main cover is opened, and wherein the stiffness of the hinge portion is less than the stiffness of the main cover.

[0014] The hinge portion can be formed with an S-shaped groove, wherein the extension portion has a corrugated shape.

[0015] The extension may include two ends that are bent to protrude toward the main cover.

[0016] The extension may be spaced apart from the main cover.

[0017] The extension may include: a plurality of protrusions that protrude toward the main cover; at least one recess that protrudes toward the airbag cushion, and the uppermost protrusion of the extension is configured to face the hinge portion, wherein the protrusions and recesses may be alternately connected to each other.

[0018] The forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion and the bending direction of the protrusion can be consistent with each other.

[0019] The uppermost protrusion can be spaced outward from the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusions can be spaced out from the inner surface of the main cover.

[0020] The uppermost protrusion can be accommodated in the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusions can be spaced apart from the inner surface of the main cover.

[0021] The uppermost protrusion can be accommodated in the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusions can contact the inner surface of the main cover.

[0022] The inner surface of the main cover includes a mounting portion, wherein the lowermost protrusion of the extension is in surface contact with and supported by the mounting portion.

[0023] In another general aspect, an airbag cover for a vehicle includes: a main cover assembled to an airbag housing to cover an airbag pad housed within the airbag housing, the main cover including a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover and having reduced stiffness such that the main cover can rotate and open about the hinge portion when the airbag pad is inflated; and an inner cover assembled to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion, the inner cover including an extension adjacent to the hinge portion, wherein, when the main cover is opened, the inner cover is configured to open together with the main cover, and the extension is configured to extend.

[0024] The hinge portion may be formed with an S-shaped groove, wherein the extension portion may have a corrugated shape.

[0025] The extension may include two ends that are bent to protrude toward the main cover.

[0026] The extension may be spaced apart from the main cover.

[0027] The extension may include: a plurality of protrusions that protrude toward the main cover; at least one recess that protrudes toward the airbag cushion; and an uppermost protrusion that faces the hinge portion, wherein the protrusions and recesses may be alternately connected to each other. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure will become clearer from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a driver airbag according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 2 This is a view showing the shape of the hinge portion according to this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a view showing the shape of the extension according to this disclosure.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a view showing the structure of a first embodiment according to an extension of this disclosure.

[0033] Figure 5 This is a view showing the structure of a second embodiment according to an extension of this disclosure.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a view showing the structure of a third embodiment according to an extension of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0035] In the following description of the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions of known functions or configurations relevant to the present invention are omitted if they would obscure the subject matter of the invention. The accompanying drawings are provided to aid in the easy understanding of the various technical features, and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited to the drawings. Therefore, except for those specifically set forth in the drawings, this disclosure should be construed as extending to any modifications, equivalents, and substitutions.

[0036] It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be construed as being limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another.

[0037] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “one,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0038] It will be further understood that, when used in this specification, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” etc., specify the presence of the said feature, integer, step, operation, element, component, or combination thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0039] Typically, suffixes such as “module” and “unit” may be used to refer to elements or components to facilitate the preparation of the instruction manual, as used in the following description. Such suffixes are used herein solely for the convenience of the description and do not imply any special meaning or function.

[0040] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as "connected to" another component, there may be intermediate components, or the component may be directly connected to the other component. Conversely, it should be understood that when a component is referred to as "directly connected to" another component, there are no intermediate components.

[0041] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brevity in the description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components may be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0042] The airbag cover according to this disclosure may include: a main cover 100 configured to cover an airbag cushion 400 housed in an airbag housing 300, and the main cover 100 having a hinge portion 110 formed in an inner surface of the main cover 100 and having low stiffness to allow the main cover 100 to rotate about the hinge portion 110 and open when the airbag cushion 400 is inflated; and an inner cover 200 assembled to the inner surface of the main cover 100 to cover the hinge portion 110 and open together with the main cover 100, and the inner cover 200 including an extension 210 adjacent to the hinge portion 110 that extends when the main cover 100 is opened.

[0043] Reference Figures 1 to 3 Specifically, the airbag module of the driver's airbag device may include an airbag housing 300, an airbag cover, an inflator 500, and an airbag cushion 400.

[0044] The airbag housing 300 can be configured to present a cylindrical shape with an open top end, and be vertically perforated therein to receive the inflator 500.

[0045] The airbag cushion 400 can be connected to the inflator 500, and gas can be supplied to the airbag cushion 400. The airbag cushion 400 can be housed in the airbag housing 300 in the deflated state.

[0046] The airbag cover may have the shape of covering the retracted airbag pad 400 and may be assembled onto the airbag housing 300.

[0047] The airbag cover may include a main cover 100 and an inner cover 200.

[0048] The main cover 100 may be formed in the form of an arch. The hinge portion 110 may be formed in the inner surface of the main cover 100 adjacent to the edge of the upper end of the airbag housing 300, and may have a lower stiffness than the rest of the main cover 100.

[0049] Therefore, when the airbag 400 inflates, the main cover 100 can rotate and open around the hinge portion 110.

[0050] The inner cover 200 can be assembled with the main cover 100 to cover a portion of the inner surface of the main cover 100, and the luminous sign 600 can be assembled with the portion of the inner cover 200 that overlaps with the top surface of the main cover 100. Therefore, the luminous sign 600 can rotate together with the inner cover 200 when the main cover 100 rotates.

[0051] Specifically, the inner cover 200 may be provided with an extension 210, which is formed at a position adjacent to the hinge portion 110 between the hinge portion 110 and the airbag housing 300. The extension 210 can extend when the inner cover 200 is rotated.

[0052] In other words, when the airbag inflates, the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 can rotate and open around the hinge portion 110 by means of the inflation force of the airbag cushion 400.

[0053] Here, because the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 rotate around the hinge portion 110, the radius of curvature of the inner cover 200 can become larger than the radius of curvature of the main cover 100.

[0054] Therefore, when the inner cover 200 rotates, the extension 210 can extend the length difference of the radius of curvature between the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200. Thus, excessive pulling force can be prevented from being applied to the portion of the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110, thereby preventing damage to the inner cover 200.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 According to this disclosure, the hinge portion 110 may be formed in the form of a groove (e.g., an S-shaped groove), and the extension portion 210 may be formed in the form of a corrugated shape.

[0056] Specifically, because the hinge portion 110 with an arched groove is formed in the inner surface of the main cover 100, the portion of the main cover 100 that forms the hinge portion 110 can have reduced stiffness, thereby allowing the main cover 100 to rotate around the hinge portion 110.

[0057] Furthermore, since the extension 210 is formed in a Z-shape at the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110, the corrugated portion can be stretched, thereby increasing the length of the extension 210.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 According to this disclosure, the two ends of the extension 210 can be bent to protrude toward the main cover 100.

[0059] For example, the extension 210 can be bent in a Z-shape several times.

[0060] Specifically, the upper and lower ends of the extension 210 (corresponding to the start and end points of the extension, respectively) can be formed to protrude toward the main cover 100.

[0061] The extension 210 may be spaced apart from the main cover 100.

[0062] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, typically, the width (L1) of the hinge portion 110 formed on the main cover 100 and the lateral length (L2) of the corrugated extension 210 can be different from each other, and it is difficult to make the lateral lengths the same.

[0063] Therefore, preferably, the extension 210 is geometrically spaced from a portion of the main cover 100.

[0064] For example, the extension 210 can be completely spaced apart from the main cover 100, such as Figure 4 As shown.

[0065] Alternatively, the extension 210 may be partially spaced from the main cover 100, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown.

[0066] The shape of the extension 210 according to this disclosure and the relationship between the extension 210 and the hinge portion 110 will now be described in detail. The extension 210 may consist of a protrusion protruding toward the main cover 100 and a recess 212 protruding toward the airbag cushion 400, wherein the protrusion and the recess alternate. The uppermost protrusion 211 of the extension 210 may be configured to face the hinge portion 110.

[0067] For example, the uppermost protrusion 211 can be formed to protrude toward the main cover 100, the recess 212 protruding toward the airbag housing 300 can be connected to the lower end of the uppermost protrusion 211, and the lowermost protrusion 213 protruding toward the main cover 100 can be connected to the lower end of the recess 212, such as... Figure 4 As shown.

[0068] The hinge portion 110 may be formed on the portion of the main cover 100 facing the uppermost protrusion 211.

[0069] In particular, the forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the forming direction of the protrusion facing the groove can be consistent with each other.

[0070] Since the forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the forming direction of the uppermost protrusion 211 can be aligned with each other, the uppermost protrusion 211 and the hinge portion 110 can bend in the same direction when the airbag inflates, thereby allowing the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 to rotate and open more easily.

[0071] According to this disclosure, the uppermost protrusion 211 can be spaced outward from the hinge portion 110, and the remaining protrusions can be spaced out from the inner surface of the main cover 100.

[0072] In other words, since the uppermost protrusion 211 is positioned to avoid the hinge portion 110, it can be substantially prevented from interfering with the hinge portion 110, thereby allowing the main cover to rotate stably during airbag inflation.

[0073] Furthermore, since the lowest protrusion 213 is positioned at a distance from the main cover 100, the lowest protrusion 213 will not interfere with the main cover during airbag inflation, thereby allowing the main cover to rotate more stably.

[0074] Alternatively, such as Figure 5As shown, this disclosure can be configured such that the uppermost protrusion 211 is received in a groove in the hinge portion 110, and the remaining protrusions are spaced apart from the inner surface of the main cover 100.

[0075] In other words, the uppermost protrusion 211 can be accommodated in the groove of the hinge portion 110 in a way that it can be fitted into the groove.

[0076] In this embodiment, since the forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the bending direction of the uppermost protrusion 211 are the same, although the uppermost protrusion 211 partially interferes with the inner surface of the hinge portion 110, it is compatible with... Figure 4 In the different implementation shown, the uppermost protrusion 211 and the hinge portion 110 can bend in the same direction during airbag inflation, thereby allowing the main cover to rotate easily.

[0077] Furthermore, since the lowest protrusion 213 is positioned at a distance spaced from the main cover 100, it is in harmony with... Figure 4 The embodiment shown is similar, with the lowermost protrusion 213 not interfering with the main cover 100 during airbag inflation, thus allowing the main cover to rotate more stably.

[0078] Alternatively, this disclosure can be configured such that the uppermost protrusion 211 is received in a groove in the hinge portion 110, and the remaining protrusions can contact the inner surface of the main cover 100, such as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0079] In other words, since the forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the bending direction of the uppermost protrusion 211 are the same, although the uppermost protrusion 211 is accommodated in the groove in the hinge portion 110, the uppermost protrusion 211 partially interferes with the inner surface of the hinge portion 110, similar to... Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the uppermost protrusion 211 and the hinge portion 110 can bend in the same direction during airbag inflation, thereby allowing the main cover to rotate easily.

[0080] like Figure 4 As shown, according to this disclosure, the mounting portion 120 may be formed on the inner surface of the main cover 100 to protrude therefrom, and the lowermost protrusion 213 of the extension 210 may be in surface contact with the mounting portion 120 and may be supported therefrom.

[0081] For example, the upper end of the inner cover 200 can be used to assemble the luminous sign 600 onto the top surface of the main cover 100.

[0082] The lower end of the inner cover 200 may extend between the outer side of the housing and the inner side of the main cover 100, and may protrude toward the main cover 100. A hook-shaped mounting portion 120 may be provided on the inner side of the main cover so as to protrude toward the inner cover, and may be placed on the lower end of the inner cover 200 and thereby supported.

[0083] In particular, because the lower surface of the lowest protrusion 213 can be placed on and supported on the upper surface of the mounting portion 120, the luminous sign 600 can be securely assembled to the airbag module.

[0084] As described above, according to this disclosure, since the extension 210 extends the length difference of the radius of curvature between the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 when the inner cover 200 rotates, excessive pulling force can be prevented from being applied to the portion of the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110, thereby preventing damage to the inner cover 200.

[0085] As is evident from the above description, this disclosure provides the advantage of preventing excessive tensile force from being applied to the portion of the inner cover adjacent to the hinge portion, thereby preventing damage to the inner cover, because when the inner cover rotates, the extension extends the length difference in the radius of curvature between the main cover and the inner cover.

[0086] The effects that can be obtained by this utility model are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the accompanying description other effects of this utility model not mentioned above.

[0087] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments without changing its technical concept or features.

[0088] Cross-reference to related applications

[0089] This application claims priority and benefit to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0099601, filed on July 26, 2024, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

Claims

1. An airbag cover, characterized in that, The airbag cover includes: A main cover, assembled to an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed within the airbag housing, the main cover including a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover, and the main cover configured to rotate and open about the hinge portion when the airbag cushion inflates; and An inner cover, assembled to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion, and configured to open together with the main cover. The inner cover includes an extension disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, and the extension is configured to extend when the main cover is opened. The stiffness of the hinge portion is less than the stiffness of the main cover.

2. The airbag cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge portion is formed with an S-shaped groove, and The extension has a corrugated shape.

3. The airbag cover according to claim 2, characterized in that, The extension includes two ends that are bent to protrude toward the main cover.

4. The airbag cover according to claim 2, characterized in that, The extension is spaced apart from the main cover.

5. The airbag cover according to claim 2, characterized in that, The extension includes: Multiple protrusions protrude toward the main cover; At least one recess, the at least one recess protruding toward the airbag cushion, and The uppermost protrusion of the extension is configured to face the hinge portion. The uppermost convex portion and the concave portion are alternately connected to each other.

6. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, The forming direction of the groove in the hinge portion and the bending direction of the uppermost protrusion of the extension portion are consistent with each other.

7. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, The uppermost protrusion of the extension is spaced outward from the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusions of the extension are spaced outward from the inner surface of the main cover.

8. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, The uppermost protrusion of the extension is received in the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusions of the extension are spaced apart from the inner surface of the main cover.

9. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, The uppermost protrusion of the extension is received in the groove in the hinge portion, and the remaining protrusion of the extension contacts the inner surface of the main cover.

10. The airbag cover according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner surface of the main cover includes a mounting portion, and The lowermost protrusion of the extension is in surface contact with the mounting portion and is supported by the mounting portion.

11. An airbag cover for a vehicle, characterized in that, The airbag cover includes: A main cover, assembled to an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed within the airbag housing, the main cover including a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover, and the main cover configured to rotate and open about the hinge portion when the airbag cushion inflates; and An inner cover, assembled to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion, the inner cover including an extension disposed adjacent to the hinge portion. When the main cover is opened, the inner cover is configured to open together with the main cover, and the extension is configured to extend.

12. The airbag cover according to claim 11, characterized in that, The hinge portion is formed with an S-shaped groove, and The extension has a corrugated shape.

13. The airbag cover according to claim 12, characterized in that, The extension includes two ends that are bent to protrude toward the main cover.

14. The airbag cover according to claim 12, characterized in that, The extension is spaced apart from the main cover.

15. The airbag cover according to claim 12, characterized in that, The extension includes: Multiple protrusions protrude toward the main cover; At least one recess, the at least one recess protruding toward the airbag cushion; and The uppermost protrusion faces the hinge portion. The uppermost convex portion and the concave portion are alternately connected to each other.

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