Airbag cover

Abstract

Airbag cover, comprising: a main cover mounted on an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed in the airbag housing, the main cover having 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 upon deployment of the airbag cushion; and an inner cover mounted on the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion and configured to open together with the main cover, wherein the inner cover has an extension portion disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, the extension portion being configured to expand upon opening of the main cover, and wherein a stiffness of the hinge portion is lower than a stiffness of the main cover.

Description

Reference to related application(s)

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 USC § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0099601, filed on July 26, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Background1. Field of invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an airbag cover capable of preventing damage to an interior cover upon deployment of a driver airbag. 2. Description of the state of the art

[0003] A driver airbag is mounted on a steering wheel.

[0004] The driver airbag module is designed so that an airbag cushion and a gas generator are housed in an airbag housing, and the airbag housing is covered by an airbag cover.

[0005] When a sensor in the gas generator detects a signal in the event of a vehicle accident, a gas-generating agent is immediately released and ignited by an ignition device, producing gas.

[0006] The generated gas is supplied to the airbag cushion, and the airbag cushion is deployed accordingly, absorbing the impact exerted on the driver and thus ensuring the driver's safety.

[0007] The driver airbag cover may be provided with an emblem for the vehicle, and the emblem may include an illumination structure.

[0008] If the emblem has an illuminated structure, the weight of the emblem increases due to the illumination structure. Therefore, to ensure stable installation of the illuminated emblem, the structure of the airbag cover must be reinforced.

[0009] Therefore, an inner cover is bonded to the inner surface of a main cover defining the outer surface of the airbag cover, and the illuminated emblem is mounted on the inner cover, thereby improving the reliability of the mounting structure of the illuminated emblem.

[0010] However, since the main cover and the inner cover are rotated together at the same time when the airbag is activated, a problem may occur that excessive tensile force is applied to a part of the inner cover and thus the inner cover is damaged due to the difference in curvature radius between the main cover and the inner cover.

[0011] The details described as prior art serve only to better understand the background of the present invention and are not to be understood as confirmation of the prior art already known to the person skilled in the art. Brief description of the invention

[0012] The present invention has therefore been developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an airbag cover capable of preventing damage to an inner cover upon deployment of a driver's airbag.

[0013] The objects to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned object, but other objects of the present invention not mentioned above will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptions.

[0014] According to a general aspect, an airbag cover comprises: a main cover mounted to an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed in the airbag housing, wherein the main cover has a hinge portion formed on an inner surface of the main cover, and the main cover is configured to rotate about the hinge portion and open upon deployment of the airbag cushion; and an inner cover mounted to the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion and configured to open together with the main cover, wherein the inner cover has an extension portion disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, and the extension portion is configured to expand upon opening of the main cover, and wherein a rigidity of the hinge portion is lower than a rigidity of the main cover.

[0015] The hinge portion may be formed to have an S-shaped concave groove, and the extension portion may have a corrugated shape.

[0016] The extension portion may have two ends bent to protrude toward the main cover.

[0017] The extension section may be spaced from the main cover.

[0018] The extension portion may include: a plurality of convex portions protruding toward the main cover; at least one concave portion protruding toward the airbag cushion; and an uppermost convex portion of the extension portion disposed to face the hinge portion, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion may be alternately connected to each other.

[0019] A direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion and a direction in which the convex portion is bent may coincide with each other.

[0020] The uppermost convex portion may be spaced outwardly from the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion may be spaced from the inner surface of the main cover.

[0021] The uppermost convex portion may be received in the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion may be spaced from the inner surface of the main cover.

[0022] The uppermost convex portion may be received in the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion may be in contact with the inner surface of the main cover.

[0023] The inner surface of the main cover has a mounting portion, wherein a lowermost convex portion of the extension portion is in surface contact with and supported by the mounting portion.

[0024] According to another general aspect, an airbag cover for a vehicle comprises: a main cover for mounting on an airbag housing for covering an airbag cushion housed in the airbag housing, the main cover having a hinge portion formed on its inner surface, the hinge portion having reduced rigidity so that the main cover is rotatable and openable about the hinge portion upon deployment of the airbag cushion; and an inner cover mounted on the inner surface of the main cover for covering the hinge portion, the inner cover having an extension portion adjacent to the hinge portion, the inner cover being configured to open together with the main cover upon opening of the main cover, and the extension portion being configured to be expandable.

[0025] The hinge portion may be formed to have an S-shaped concave groove, and the extension portion may have a corrugated shape.

[0026] The extension portion may have two ends bent to protrude toward the main cover.

[0027] The extension section may be spaced from the main cover.

[0028] The extension portion may include: a plurality of convex portions protruding toward the main cover; at least one concave portion protruding toward the airbag cushion; and an uppermost convex portion facing the hinge portion, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion may be alternately connected to each other. Short description of the drawings

[0029] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a driver airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. Fig. 2 is a view showing the shape of a hinge portion according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a view showing the shape of an extension portion according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a view showing the structure of a first embodiment of the extension portion according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a view showing the structure of a second embodiment of the extension portion according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a view showing the structure of a third embodiment of the extension portion according to the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0030] In the following description of embodiments disclosed herein, a detailed description of known functions or configurations related to the invention is omitted when such a detailed description would tend to obscure the subject matter of the invention. The accompanying drawings are provided to facilitate an understanding of various technical features, and it should be understood that the embodiments illustrated herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the present invention should be construed to extend to all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions in addition to the embodiments specifically illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0031] It is understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used herein to describe various elements, are not intended to limit those elements. These terms are used merely to distinguish the elements from one another.

[0032] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the”, “the” are intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0033] It is further understood that the terms "comprise", "include", "have", etc., used in this specification indicate the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0034] In general, suffixes such as "module" and "unit" used in the following description may refer to elements or components for the purpose of simplifying the description of the patent specification. The use of such suffixes herein is solely for the purpose of simplifying the description of the patent specification, and the suffixes have no special meaning or function.

[0035] It is understood that when an element is described as "connected to" another element, there may be intervening elements, or the element may be directly connected to the other element. Conversely, when an element is described as "directly connected to" another element, there are no intervening elements.

[0036] A detailed description will now be given of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brevity of the description with reference to the drawings, identical or equivalent components may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and these will not be described repeatedly.

[0037] An airbag cover according to the present invention may include a main cover 100 constructed to have a shape that covers an airbag cushion 400 housed in an airbag case 300, and having a hinge portion 110 formed in its inner surface that has low rigidity to allow the main cover 100 to be rotated about the hinge portion 110 and opened when the airbag cushion 400 is deployed, and an inner cover 200 mounted on the inner surface of the main cover 100 to cover the hinge portion 110 and to be opened together with the main cover 100, and having an extension portion 210 adjacent to the hinge portion 110 and expanding when the main cover 100 is opened.

[0038] According to the Fig. 1 to 3, an airbag module of a driver airbag device may include, in particular, the airbag housing 300, the airbag cover, a gas generator 500, and the airbag cushion 400.

[0039] The airbag housing 300 may be constructed to have the shape of a cylinder with an open top end and vertically perforated to accommodate the inflator 500.

[0040] The airbag cushion 400 may be connected to the gas generator 500, and gas may be supplied to the airbag cushion 400. The airbag cushion 400 may be accommodated in a folded state in the airbag housing 300.

[0041] The airbag cover may have a shape that covers the folded airbag cushion 400 and may be mounted to the airbag housing 300.

[0042] The airbag cover may include the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200.

[0043] The main cover 100 may be formed to have a dome shape. 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 rigidity than the remaining portion of the main cover 100.

[0044] This allows the main cover 100 to be rotated and opened around the hinge portion 110 when the airbag cushion 400 is deployed.

[0045] The inner cover 200 may be mounted to the main cover 100 such that it covers a portion of the inner surface of the main cover 100, and an illuminated emblem 600 may be mounted on the portion of the inner cover 200 that overlaps the ceiling surface of the main cover 100. Therefore, the illuminated emblem 600 may be rotated along with the inner cover 200 upon rotation of the main cover 100.

[0046] In particular, the inner cover 200 may include the extension portion 210 formed at a position adjacent to the hinge portion 110, between the hinge portion 110 and the airbag housing 300. The extension portion 210 may be expanded upon a rotational movement of the inner cover 200.

[0047] In other words, when the airbag deploys, the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 can be rotated and opened around the hinge portion 110 due to the expansion force of the airbag cushion 400.

[0048] Here, since the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 are rotated about 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.

[0049] Therefore, when the inner cover 200 is rotated, the extension portion 210 can be extended by the length difference in the radius of curvature between the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200. Consequently, excessive tensile force can be prevented from being exerted on the portion of the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110, thus preventing damage to the inner cover 200.

[0050] According to Fig. 1, according to the present invention, the hinge portion 110 may be formed in the shape of a concave groove (e.g., an S-shaped concave groove), and the extension portion 210 may be formed in a corrugated shape.

[0051] In particular, since the hinge portion 110 having an arcuate concave groove is formed in the inner surface of the main cover 100, the portion of the main cover 100 where the hinge portion 110 is formed can have reduced rigidity, thereby allowing the main cover 100 to be rotated about the hinge portion 110.

[0052] Since the extension portion 210 on the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110 is formed in a zigzag shape, the corrugated portion can be stretched, thereby increasing the length of the extension portion 210.

[0053] According to Fig. 4, according to the present invention, the two ends of the extension portion 210 may be bent to protrude toward the main cover 100.

[0054] For example, the extension portion 210 may be bent multiple times in a zigzag shape.

[0055] In particular, the upper end and the lower end of the extension portion 210, which correspond to the beginning and the end of the extension portion, respectively, may be formed to protrude toward the main cover 100.

[0056] The extension portion 210 may be spaced from the main cover 100.

[0057] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, generally, the width (L1) of the hinge portion 110 formed on the main cover 100 and the dimension (L2) in the width direction of the wave-shaped extension portion 210 may be different from each other, and it is difficult to make the dimensions in the width direction identical.

[0058] Therefore, it is preferred if the extension portion 210 is geometrically spaced from the portion of the main cover 100.

[0059] For example, the extension portion 210 may be completely spaced from the main cover 100, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0060] Alternatively, the extension portion 210 may be partially spaced from the main cover 100, as shown in the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 is shown.

[0061] The shape of the extension portion 210 and the relationship between the extension portion 210 and the hinge portion 110 according to the present invention will be described in detail below. The extension portion 210 may consist of a convex portion protruding toward the main cover 100 and a concave portion 212 protruding toward the airbag cushion 400, with the convex portion and the concave portion being repeated alternately. The uppermost convex portion 211 of the extension portion 210 may be arranged to face the hinge portion 110.

[0062] For example, the uppermost convex portion 211 may be formed to protrude toward the main cover 100, the concave portion 212 protruding toward the airbag case 300 may be connected to the lower end of the uppermost convex portion 211, and the lowermost convex portion 213 protruding toward the main cover 100 may be connected to the lower end of the concave portion 212, as shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0063] The hinge portion 110 may be formed on the portion of the main cover 100 facing the uppermost convex portion 211.

[0064] In particular, the direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion 110 and the direction in which the convex portion facing the groove is formed may coincide with each other.

[0065] Since the direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion 110 and the direction in which the uppermost convex portion 211 is formed can coincide with each other, the uppermost convex portion 211 and the hinge portion 110 can be bent in the same direction when the airbag is deployed, thereby enabling the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 to be rotated and opened more easily.

[0066] According to the present invention, the uppermost convex portion 211 may be spaced outwardly from the hinge portion 110, and the remaining convex portion may be spaced from the inner surface of the main cover 100.

[0067] In other words, since the uppermost convex portion 211 is arranged at a position avoiding the hinge portion 110, the uppermost convex portion 211 can be basically prevented from interfering with the hinge portion 110, and thus it is possible for the main cover to be stably rotated during the deployment of the airbag.

[0068] Also, since the lowermost convex portion 213 is arranged at a position spaced apart from the main cover 100, the lowermost convex portion 213 cannot interfere with the main cover during deployment of the airbag, thereby allowing the main cover to be rotated more stably.

[0069] Alternatively, the present invention may be constructed such that the uppermost convex portion 211 is received in the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the remaining convex portion is spaced from the inner surface of the main cover 100, as shown in Fig. 5 is shown.

[0070] In other words, the uppermost convex portion 211 may be received in the groove in the hinge portion 110 so as to fit into the groove.

[0071] In this embodiment, because the direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion 110 and the direction in which the uppermost convex portion 211 is bent are identical, although the uppermost convex portion 211 partially interacts with the inner surface of the hinge portion 110, unlike in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the uppermost convex portion 211 and the hinge portion 110 are bent in the same direction during deployment of the airbag, whereby the main cover can be easily rotated.

[0072] Since the lowest convex section 213 is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 is arranged at a position spaced from the main cover 100, the lowermost convex portion 213 cannot interact with the main cover 100 during deployment of the airbag, whereby the main cover can be rotated more stably.

[0073] Alternatively, the present invention may be constructed such that the uppermost convex portion 211 is received in the groove in the hinge portion 110 and the remaining convex portion can come into contact with the inner surface of the main cover 100, as shown in Fig. 6 is shown.

[0074] In other words, since the direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion 110 and the direction in which the uppermost convex portion 211 is bent are identical, although the uppermost convex portion 211 is received in the groove in the hinge part 110 and thus the uppermost convex portion 211 partially interacts with the inner surface of the hinge portion 110, similar to the embodiment in Fig. 5, the uppermost convex portion 211 and the hinge portion 110 are bent in the same direction during deployment of the airbag, whereby the main cover can be easily rotated.

[0075] As in Fig.4, according to the present invention, a mounting portion 120 may be formed on the inner surface of the main cover 100 so as to protrude therefrom, and the lowermost convex portion 213 of the extension portion 210 may be in surface contact with the mounting portion 120 and supported thereby.

[0076] For example, the upper end of the inner cover 200 may be used to mount the illuminated emblem 600 to the ceiling surface of the main cover 100.

[0077] 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 protrude toward the main cover 100, and the mounting portion 120 having a hook shape may be provided on the inner side of the main cover so as to protrude toward the inner cover and may rest on and be supported by the lower end of the inner cover 200.

[0078] In particular, since the underside of the lowermost convex portion 213 can rest on the upper side of the mounting portion 120 and be supported thereby, the illuminated emblem 600 can be stably mounted on the airbag module.

[0079] As described above, according to the present invention, since the extension portion 210 is extended by the length difference in the radius of curvature between the main cover 100 and the inner cover 200 when the inner cover 200 is rotated, an excessive tensile force can be prevented from being applied to the portion of the inner cover 200 adjacent to the hinge portion 110, whereby damage to the inner cover 200 can be prevented.

[0080] As is apparent from the above description, the present invention offers the advantage of preventing excessive tensile force from being applied to the portion of the inner cover adjacent to the hinge portion and thus preventing damage to the inner cover because the extension portion is extended by the length difference in the radius of curvature between the main cover and the inner cover when the inner cover is rotated.

[0081] The effects achievable by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, but other effects of the present invention not mentioned above will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art from the descriptions.

[0082] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be implemented in various other embodiments without changing the technical ideas or features thereof. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10-2024-0099601

[0001]

Claims

[1] Airbag cover, comprising: a main cover mounted on an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed in the airbag housing, the main cover having 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 upon deployment of the airbag cushion; and an inner cover mounted on the inner surface of the main cover to cover the hinge portion and configured to open together with the main cover, wherein the inner cover has an extension portion disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, the extension portion being configured to expand upon opening of the main cover, and wherein a stiffness of the hinge portion is lower than a stiffness of the main cover. [2] The airbag cover according to claim 1, wherein the hinge portion is formed to have an S-shaped concave groove, and the extension portion has a corrugated shape. [3] The airbag cover according to claim 2, wherein the extension portion has two ends bent to protrude toward the main cover. [4] An airbag cover according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the extension portion is spaced from the main cover. [5] The airbag cover according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the extension portion comprises: several convex sections protruding towards the main cover; at least one concave portion protruding toward the airbag cushion, and wherein an uppermost convex portion of the extension portion is arranged to face the hinge portion, and wherein the uppermost convex section and the concave section are alternately connected. [6] The airbag cover according to claim 5, wherein a direction in which the groove is formed in the hinge portion and a direction in which the uppermost convex portion of the extension portion is bent coincide with each other. [7] The airbag cover according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the uppermost convex portion of the extension portion is spaced outwardly from the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion of the extension portion is spaced from the inner surface of the main cover. [8] The airbag cover according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the uppermost convex portion of the extension portion is received in the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion of the extension portion is spaced from the inner surface of the main cover. [9] The airbag cover according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the uppermost convex portion of the extension portion is received in the groove in the hinge portion, and a remaining convex portion of the extension portion is in contact with the inner surface of the main cover. [10] The airbag cover according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the inner surface of the main cover has a mounting portion, and wherein a lowermost convex portion of the extension portion is in surface contact with and supported by the mounting portion. [11] Airbag cover for a vehicle, the airbag cover comprising: a main cover mounted on an airbag housing and configured to cover an airbag cushion disposed in the airbag housing, the main cover having 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 upon deployment of the airbag cushion; and an inner cover mounted on the inner surface of the main cover for covering the hinge portion, the inner cover having an extension portion disposed adjacent to the hinge portion, wherein, upon opening of the main cover, the inner cover is configured to open together with the main cover, and wherein the extension portion is configured to expand. [12] The airbag cover according to claim 11, wherein the hinge portion is formed to have an S-shaped concave groove, and the extension portion has a corrugated shape. [13] The airbag cover according to claim 12, wherein the extension portion has two ends bent to protrude toward the main cover. [14] An airbag cover according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the extension portion is spaced from the main cover. [15] An airbag cover according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the extension portion comprises: several convex sections protruding towards the main cover; at least one concave portion protruding toward the airbag cushion; and an uppermost convex portion facing the hinge portion, wherein the uppermost convex portion and the concave portion are alternately connected to each other.

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