motor vehicle

Abstract

Motor vehicle with a structural crossmember (1) of a body extending in the transverse direction in the area of ​​an A-pillar, to which a knee airbag (2) is attached in a bridge-like manner via two attachment points (3), wherein the structural crossmember (1) has a screw-in opening (4) and a hook element (5) at each attachment point (3), whereas the knee airbag (2) has at each attachment point (3) a first opening (6) aligned with the screw-in opening (4) on the structural crossmember (1) and a second opening (7) in which the hook element (5) on the structural crossmember side can engage, or vice versa, characterized in that the knee airbag-side attachment point (3) is arranged on a flange (10) which transitions into a bridge-like support (9) and that the support (9) has a mass connection (12) which forms an integral part of the support (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle with a structural support extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle in the area of ​​an A-pillar, to which a knee airbag is attached in a bridge-like manner via two attachment points, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] From DE 10 2005 004 452 A1, a motor vehicle of this type is known with a structural cross member of a body extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle in the area of ​​an A-pillar, to which a knee airbag is attached in a bridge-like manner via two attachment points.

[0003] Further motor vehicles are known from DE 10 2004 006 845 A1 and US 2010 / 0 096 840 A1.

[0004] From DE 103 13 730 A1, a motor vehicle is known in which a knee airbag is mounted on the driver's side below the dashboard. The knee airbag comprises a housing containing at least one airbag, which is fixed in a bridge-like manner to a structural crossmember of the vehicle body below a steering column support. This is intended to achieve improved mounting of the knee airbag.

[0005] Another motor vehicle with a knee airbag is known from US 7 878 ​​532 B2.

[0006] In modern vehicles, airbags are no longer only installed in the dashboard or steering wheel area, as was previously common, but increasingly also in the side doors or as knee airbags. Knee airbags are located in the lower part of the dashboard and are designed to reliably prevent both the shins from striking the dashboard and the occupant from sliding under the seatbelt.

[0007] Knee airbags are usually only installed on the driver's side, but are also available for the passenger side as an optional extra. The main difficulty with knee airbags lies in their installation, which has so far required a comparatively high level of effort.

[0008] The present invention therefore deals with the problem of providing an improved or at least an alternative embodiment for a motor vehicle of the generic type, which is characterized in particular by an easy-to-install knee airbag.

[0009] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] The present invention is based on the general concept of providing an assembly aid for the simplified installation of a knee airbag on a structural crossmember. This assembly aid is designed in the form of hook elements by means of which the knee airbag is first hooked in place for installation and only screwed in place in a further step, thus eliminating the need for cumbersome holding during the actual screwing process and considerably simplifying the installation. The vehicle according to the invention has a structural crossmember of the body extending transversely in the area of ​​an A-pillar, to which the knee airbag is attached in a bridge-like manner via two mounting points.According to the invention, the structural crossbeam has a screw-in opening and a hook element at each attachment point, whereas the knee airbag has a first opening aligned with the screw-in opening on the structural crossbeam and a second opening at each attachment point, in which the hook element on the structural crossbeam can be hooked. It is also conceivable, of course, that the hook element is arranged not on the structural crossbeam but on the knee airbag, and in this case, the second opening is provided on the structural crossbeam. The design according to the invention not only significantly simplifies the installation of the knee airbag, but also allows for a reduction of the knee airbag connection to a maximum of two attachment points, including a pre-fixing point.The previously required additional screws for fixing the knee airbag to the structural cross member can be eliminated by the hook element provided according to the invention, which, in conjunction with a corresponding screw, allows for easy and secure fixing of the knee airbag to the structural cross member.

[0011] According to the invention, the knee airbag-side attachment point is arranged on a flange that transitions into a bridge-like support, which in turn has a mass connection that forms an integral part of the support.

[0012] In an advantageous further development of the solution according to the invention, the structural crossbeam is designed as a cast component, in particular as a light metal casting component. In such an embodiment, the hook element arranged thereon can also be provided in the casting mold, so that the hook element together with the structural crossbeam can be manufactured in a single operation and thus with virtually no additional costs.

[0013] Advantageously, the knee airbag mounting point is arranged on a flange that simultaneously forms a bridge-like support. This support has a contact surface that, when the knee airbag is mounted on the structural crossbeam, rests against a corresponding contact surface of the crossbeam, thereby creating an anti-rotation device. The two contact surfaces on both the bridge-like support and the structural crossbeam thus provide an effective and reliable anti-rotation device without the need for additional fasteners, reliably preventing the knee airbag from twisting in conjunction with the hook elements and the screws.

[0014] Further important features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0015] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without leaving the scope of the present invention.

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar or functionally identical components.

[0017] Each of these shows, schematically, Fig. 1 a section of a motor vehicle with a structural cross member and knee airbags arranged on it, Fig. 2. A mounting point for the knee airbag on the structural crossmember, Fig. 3 a representation as in Fig. 2, but from a different perspective, Fig. 4 A top view of a possible embodiment of a knee airbag, Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view through the knee airbag.

[0018] According to the Fig. Figure 1 shows a structural crossmember 1 of a motor vehicle (not shown) with two knee airbags 2, each attached to the structural crossmember 1 via two mounting points 3. The structural crossmember 1 extends transversely in the vehicle direction between two A-pillars of a motor vehicle body. To reduce the installation effort of the knee airbag 2 on the structural crossmember 1 and to reduce the number of individual mounting points of the knee airbag on the structural crossmember 1, the latter has a screw-in opening 4 at each mounting point 3 (see also Figure 1). Fig. 2) and a hook element 5, whereas the knee airbag 2 has at each attachment point 3 a first opening 6 aligned with the screw-in opening 4 on the structural cross member 1 and a second opening 7 in which the hook element 5 on the structural cross member can engage or lock into place. Attaching the knee airbag 2 to the structural cross member 1 is achieved first by hooking the knee airbag 2 onto the hook elements 5 via the second opening 7 and then by tightening a screw 8 through the first opening 6 and into the screw-in opening 4 on the structural cross member 1. Compared to, for example, two screw connections per attachment point 3 previously, the hook element 5 according to the invention allows for pre-assembly or pre-fixing of the knee airbag 2 to the structural cross member 1, after which the screw 8 can be easily and conveniently screwed in, thus fixing the knee airbag 2 to the structural cross member 1.

[0019] The structural crossbeam 1 can, for example, be designed as a cast component, in particular as a light metal cast component, whereby the hook element 5 can be manufactured together with the structural crossbeam 1 in a single joint operation, i.e. in this case cast.

[0020] The knee airbag-side mounting point 3 is arranged on a flange 10, which is part of a bridge-like support 9. Stiffening ribs 14 can also be provided on this flange 10 (see figure). Fig. 2 and Fig. 4), which on the one hand ensure a rigid connection of the flange 10 to the support 9, but on the other hand enable a weight-optimized design of both the support 9 and the flange 10. A housing 11 can also be connected to this support 9, in particular by means of a clip connection. The support 9 itself is made of an electrically conductive, in particular a metallic, material and therefore has a ground connection 12 (see the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) An electrical contact with the body can be established via the ground connection 12. Additionally, the carrier 9 has a contact surface 13 which, when the knee airbag 2 is mounted on the structural crossmember 1, rests against a corresponding contact surface 13' of the structural crossmember 1, thereby forming an anti-rotation device. Together with the screw 8, the hook element 5 engaging in the second opening 7, and the adjacent contact surfaces 13, 13', a reliable and anti-rotation fixation of the knee airbag 2 to the structural crossmember 1 can be achieved.

[0021] If one considers the Fig.5, it can be seen that an airbag 15, in particular in a folded manner, is arranged in the housing 11 of the knee airbag 2, wherein a protective film 16, in particular an HDPE film, is provided between the airbag 15 and the ground connection 12 and protects the airbag 15 from unwanted damage. The ground connection 12 generally forms an integral part of the carrier 9.

[0022] The inventive connection of the knee airbag 2 to the structural cross member 1 enables comparatively simple assembly of the knee airbag 2 to the structural cross member 1, since the knee airbag 2 is first pre-fixed to the structural cross member 1 via the hook elements 5 and then firmly attached via the screws 8. The inventive hook elements 5 also eliminate the need for a second screw connection, which previously was required, thus simplifying assembly and reducing the number of parts.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle with a structural crossmember (1) of a body extending in the transverse direction in the area of ​​an A-pillar, to which a knee airbag (2) is attached in a bridge-like manner via two attachment points (3), wherein the structural crossmember (1) has a screw-in opening (4) and a hook element (5) at each attachment point (3), whereas the knee airbag (2) has at each attachment point (3) a first opening (6) aligned with the screw-in opening (4) on the structural crossmember (1) and a second opening (7) in which the hook element (5) on the structural crossmember side can engage, or vice versa, characterized by , that the knee airbag-side mounting point (3) is arranged on a flange (10) which transitions into a bridge-like support (9) and that the support (9) has a mass connection (12) which forms an integral part of the support (9). [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by, that the structural crossbeam (1) is designed as a cast component or as a light metal cast component. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the knee airbag (2) has a housing (11) which is connected to the carrier (9). [4] Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the support (9) is made of an electrically conductive material. [5] Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the carrier (9) has a mass connection (12). [6] Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the support (9) has a contact surface (13) which, when the knee airbag (2) is mounted on the structural cross member (1), rests against an associated contact surface (13') of the structural cross member (1) and thereby forms a rotation protection. [7] Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by, that stiffening beads (14) are provided on the flanges (10). [8] Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that an airbag (15) is arranged in the housing (11) of the knee airbag (2), wherein a protective film (16) is provided between the airbag (15) and the ground connection (12).

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