VEHICLE WITH A BODY-MOUNTED HEAD AIRBAG

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle with a body-fixed head airbag according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] In common practice, the body or shell structure of a two-track motor vehicle features a roof frame, which is constructed from longitudinal roof frame members (i.e., roof frame side members) and transverse roof frame members. Various attachments are permanently connected to the roof frame side members, such as brackets for the head airbag or mounting components for attaching a cargo net partition bar.

[0003] In a vehicle, a permanently installed head airbag is concealed by a headliner. This headliner has an opening for a functional component, in particular a reading light. A mounting bracket is provided on the rear side of the headliner, facing away from the vehicle interior, to hold the functional component in place.

[0004] When a head airbag is activated, the deploying airbag presses against the headliner in such a way that it swings open into the vehicle interior, deforming laterally. This allows the head airbag to deploy downwards into the vehicle interior.

[0005] To ensure sufficient crash safety for the vehicle occupant, it is necessary that, when the head airbag is activated, the deployment path of the unfolding head airbag is directed downwards towards the vehicle interior.

[0006] A vehicle roof structure of this type is known from DE 10 2015 215 215 A1. US 9 278 656 B2 discloses a vehicle with a body-integrated head airbag that is concealed by a headliner. The headliner has a ventilation opening that is shielded from the head airbag by a protective shield. Another vehicle with a body-integrated head airbag is known from DE 20 2006 020 661 U1.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle in which, in the event of a crash, a flawless and crash-safe deployment of the head airbag is ensured in a structurally simple manner.

[0008] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0009] The invention relates to a vehicle with a body-integrated head airbag, which is concealed by a headliner. The headliner has an opening for a functional component, in particular a reading light. A mounting arrangement is provided on the rear side of the headliner, facing away from the vehicle interior, by means of which the functional component is held. The mounting arrangement projects from the rear side of the headliner with a profile height. According to the invention, at least one shielding element is associated with the mounting arrangement. The shielding element is positioned between the head airbag and the mounting arrangement in the direction of head airbag deployment. In this way, during airbag deployment, a sharp-edged area of ​​the mounting arrangement is shielded from the deploying head airbag, thereby ensuring proper and crash-safe head airbag deployment.

[0010] According to the invention, the fastening arrangement comprises a mounting frame that is attached to the back of the headliner. The mounting frame surrounds the headliner opening and the functional part in a frame-like manner. The functional part is held on the mounting frame by means of a spring element. By way of example, the spring element can comprise a sheet metal part with sharp-edged trim edges, which is produced by sheet metal forming. In this case, the shielding element can specifically shield the sharp-edged areas on the spring element.

[0011] The mounting frame can, for example, be bonded to the back of the headliner. For stable mounting of the functional component, the mounting frame can have an outer connecting flange in cross-section that is connected to the back of the headliner. This flange transitions at an inner edge into a mounting leg projecting from it. The mounting leg of the mounting frame defines a mounting shaft into which the functional component can be inserted in a single step towards the vehicle interior. After insertion, the functional component is in contact with an end-position stop. The spring element secures the functional component in this position. To achieve this, the spring element pre-tensions the functional component towards the end-position stop with a spring force.

[0012] As mentioned above, the spring element can be made from a sheet metal part. Alternatively, it can also be made of plastic. The spring element can have a base body that at least partially covers the mounting shaft of the mounting frame. In the assembled state, the spring element base body presses the functional part against the end-position stop with spring force. The spring element base body extends laterally outwards with at least one spring arm. This arm transitions into an angled locking tab. The locking tab of the spring arm engages the mounting leg on the outside and engages with a locking contour formed on the outside of the mounting leg. It has been shown that the spring arm of the spring element, in particular, can potentially create an obstruction for the deploying head airbag.Against this background, the shielding element can in particular shield the spring arm of the spring element from the deploying head airbag.

[0013] In one technical implementation, the shielding element can be integrally molded onto the mounting frame as a protective rib, using a single piece of material. The protective rib is preferably formed on the connecting flange of the mounting frame. Furthermore, the shielding element can be spaced, particularly in alignment, from the detent contour formed on the outer side of the mounting leg via a detent clearance. This allows for a detent action of the spring element without interference. In the detent state, the detent lug of the spring element is also located within the detent clearance between the shielding element and the mounting leg of the mounting frame.

[0014] For easy spring element assembly, the mounting leg's detent contour can be an outwardly projecting detent projection that engages with a detent recess formed on the detent bridge of the spring arm. For smooth spring element assembly, the detent projection can have a guide chamfer that interacts with an outwardly angled leading edge of the detent bridge during assembly.

[0015] During spring element assembly, the spring element body is first brought into contact with the functional part inserted into the mounting frame. The spring arm of the spring element, with its detent lug, is then pressed into the detent gap between the shielding element and the mounting leg of the mounting frame. This occurs while the spring force acting on the functional part is being generated. During spring element assembly, the leading edge of the detent lug guides along the ramp of the detent projection, causing elastic deformation of the detent lug. After passing over the detent projection, the detent lug springs back to its undeformed state, and the detent recess in the detent lug engages with the mounting leg's detent projection.

[0016] The mounting arrangement of the functional component is preferably spaced at a free distance from the vehicle's body structure, meaning it is not connected to the body structure. The end-position stop can be implemented by means of a frame-like functional component cover. In cross-section, this cover can have a support leg which, in the assembled position, rests on the opening edge of the headliner opening on the headliner-facing side. The support leg of the functional component cover can transition at an inner edge into a locking leg angled from it. In the assembled state, this locking leg engages with a locking contour formed on the inside of the mounting leg. The support leg of the functional component cover can extend inwards beyond the locking leg with a projection. In this way, the projection forms the end-position stop for the functional component.

[0017] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0018] They show: Figure 1 shows a side view of a two-track vehicle with a partial elevation showing a reading light in its installed position; Figure 2 shows an enlarged sectional view along a section plane AA from the Figure 1 Figures 3 and 4 are sectional views of the mounting arrangement of the reading lamp in an intermediate mounting position ( Figure 3 ) and in a final assembly position ( Figure 4 ); and Figure 5 shows the fastening arrangement in a top view. In the Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a two-track vehicle in side view, the interior of which is bounded at the top by a headliner 3. A side reading light 5 is installed in the headliner 3 in the front seating area, approximately above the door opening on the body side. This reading light 5 is held in place on the headliner 3 by means of a mounting device 7, which is described below. Figures 3 to 5 as described. Accordingly, the fastening arrangement 7 has a mounting frame 9 which is attached to the rear of the headliner 11 (for example, by gluing). In cross-section, the mounting frame 9 has an outer connecting flange 13 glued to the rear of the headliner 11, which transitions at an inner transition edge 15 into a mounting leg 17 projecting from it. The mounting leg 17 of the mounting frame 9 defines a mounting shaft into which the functional part 5 is inserted in a setting operation S ( Figure 3 ) is inserted towards the vehicle interior 1, specifically up to a position stop 21 which is integrally formed on a reading light cover 23. The reading light cover 23 is frame-shaped and, in cross-section, has a support leg 25 which is supported on the headliner-facing side 27 on the opening edge of a headliner opening 29. The support leg 25 transitions at an inner transition edge into a locking leg 33 angled from it, which is inserted into the Figures 3 and 4 in a locking engagement with a locking contour 35 formed on the inside of the mounting leg 17 of the mounting frame 9.

[0019] The support leg 25 of the reading light cover 23 is according to the Figure 3 extended over the ratchet leg 33 with an inward projection that forms the end position stop 21.

[0020] For secure positioning of the reading light 5 at the end-position stop 21, the mounting arrangement 7 has a spring element 37 which biases the reading light 5 towards the end-position stop 21 with a spring force F. The spring element 37 can be a sheet metal part produced by sheet metal forming. Figures 2 to 5 The spring element 37 has a base body 39 that partially covers the mounting shaft of the mounting frame 9 and presses the reading light 5 against the end-position stop 21 with the spring force F. The spring element base body 39 is in the Figure 5 with a total of four spaced-apart spring arms 41 extending laterally outwards. Each spring arm 41 transitions into an angled locking lug 43, which engages the mounting leg 17 of the mounting frame 9 on the outside. The locking lug 43 is in the final assembly position ( Figure 4 ) in a locking engagement with a locking projection 45 formed on the outside of the mounting leg 17. In contrast, in the Figure 3 and in the Figure 4 An intermediate assembly position is shown in which the spring element 37 with its leading edges 55 is in contact with guide edges 57 of the detent projections 45 formed on the assembly leg 17.

[0021] According to the Figure 2 The mounting arrangement 7 is spaced a free distance a from a body-side roof frame side panel 47, i.e., it is unconnected to the roof frame side panel 47. A head airbag 49 is attached to the roof frame side panel 47. Upon activation of the head airbag, the deploying head airbag 49 presses (in the Figure 2 (indicated by a dashed line) in a deployment direction E such that the headliner 3 pivots into the vehicle interior 1 under lateral deformation. This allows the head airbag 49 to deploy downwards into the vehicle interior 1 in the vertical direction z.

[0022] To ensure a disruption-free deployment process, shielding elements 51 are assigned to the mounting arrangement 7, which support a reliable deployment of the head airbag 49. Each of the shielding elements 51 is spaced from the mounting leg 17 of the mounting frame 9 by a detent 53. The detent 53 is dimensioned such that disruption-free mounting of the spring element is possible. In the Figures 2 to 4 The shielding elements 51 are positioned only on the side facing the head airbag 49. In contrast, in the Figure 5 Shielding elements 51 are positioned, for example, both on the side facing the head airbag 49 and on the side facing away from the head airbag 49.

[0023] For the spring element assembly, the spring element base body 39 is first brought into contact with the reading lamp 5 inserted into the mounting shaft of the mounting frame 9. Subsequently, the spring arms 41 of the spring element 37 with their respective detent lugs 43 are pressed into the detent clearance 53 between the shielding element 51 and the mounting leg 17 of the mounting frame 9, thereby building up the spring force F acting on the reading lamp 5.

[0024] During spring element assembly, the leading edge 55 of the respective detent lug 43 slides along the guide ramp 57 of the detent projection 45, elastically deforming the detent lug 43 outwards. After overcoming the detent projection 45, the detent lug 43 springs back towards its undeformed state, and a detent recess 59 of the detent lug 43 engages with the detent projection 45 of the mounting leg 17. Reference symbol list

[0025] 1 Vehicle interior 3 Headliner 5 Functional part 7 Mounting arrangement 9 Mounting frame 11 Headliner rear 13 Connecting flange 15 Transition edge 17 Mounting leg 21 End position stop 23 Reading light cover 25 Support leg 27 Headliner visible side 29 Headliner opening 33 Locking leg 35 Locking contour 37 Spring element 39 Spring element base body 41 Spring arm 43 Locking web 45 Locking projection 47 Roof frame side panel 49 Head airbag 51 Shielding element 53 Locking clearance 55 Lead-in edge 57 Guide bevel 59 Locking recess E Deployment direction F Spring force A Clear distance S Setting process

Claims

1. Vehicle having a head airbag (49) which is integrated in the vehicle body and is covered so as to be screened from view by a roof liner (3) which has a roof liner opening (29) for a functional part (5), in particular a reading light, a fastening arrangement (7) being provided on the rear side (11) of the roof liner facing away from a vehicle interior (1), the functional part (5) being held by means of the fastening arrangement, the fastening arrangement (7) being associated with at least one shielding element (51) which is arranged in a head airbag deployment direction (E) between the head airbag (49) and the fastening arrangement (7) so that, when the airbag is deployed, a region of the fastening arrangement (7) that is affected by an interfering contour is shielded from the deploying head airbag (49), characterized in that the fastening arrangement (7) has a mounting frame (9) which is connected to the rear side (11) of the roof liner and surrounds the roof liner opening (29) and the functional part (5) in a frame-like manner, and in that the functional part (5) is held on the mounting frame (9) by means of a spring element (37), and in that the region which is affected by interfering contours and is shielded by the shielding element (51) is formed on the spring element (37).

2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting frame (9) has, in cross-section, an outer connecting flange (13) which is connected to the rear side (11) of the roof liner and transitions at an inner transition edge into a mounting leg (17) projecting therefrom, and in that the mounting leg (17) of the mounting frame (9) delimits a mounting shaft into which the functional part (5) can be inserted in the direction of the vehicle interior (1) during a placement process (S) until it is contact with an end position stop (21), and in that the spring element (37) preloads the functional part (5) with a spring force (F) in the direction of the end position stop (21) to secure the part in place.

3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring element (37) has a main body (39) which at least partially covers the mounting shaft of the mounting frame (9) and / or presses the functional part (5) against the end position stop (21) with the spring force (F), and in that in particular the spring element main body (39) is extended laterally outward by at least one spring arm (41) which transitions into a latching piece (43) which is angled therefrom, and in that the latching piece (43) of the spring arm (41) overlaps the mounting leg (17) on the outside and / or is in latching engagement with a latching contour (45) formed on the outside of the mounting leg (17), and / or in that in particular the spring arm (41) of the spring element (37) forms the region which is affected by interfering contours and is shielded by the shielding element (51).

4. Vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the shielding element (51) is molded on the mounting frame (9) as a protective rib from the same material and in one piece, in particular on the connecting flange (13) of the mounting frame (9), and / or in that in particular the shielding element (51) is spaced apart from, in particular so as to be in alignment with, the latching contour (45) formed on the outside of the mounting leg (17) by a latching clearance (53) so that in particular a latching process of the spring element (37) can be carried out without any interfering contours, and / or in that the latching piece (43) of the spring element (37) is arranged in the latching clearance (53) between the shielding element (51) and the mounting leg (17) of the mounting frame (9) in the latched state.

5. Vehicle according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the mounting leg latching contour (45) is an outwardly projecting latching projection which can be brought into latching engagement with a latching recess (59) formed on the latching piece (43) of the spring arm (41), and in that in particular the latching projection (45) has an inclined guide surface (57) which interacts with an outwardly positioned starting edge (55) of the latching piece (43) when the spring element is mounted.

6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that, for mounting the spring element, the spring element main body (39) is brought into contact with the functional part (5) inserted into the mounting frame (9), and then the spring arm (41) of the spring element (37) is pressed by its latching piece (43) into the latching clearance (53) between the shielding element (51) and the mounting leg (17) of the mounting frame (9) while the spring force (F) acting on the functional part (5) is built up.

7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the starting edge (55) of the latching piece (43) slides along the inclined guide surface (57) of the latching projection (45) with the latching piece (43) being elastically deformed while the spring element is mounted, and in that, after the latching projection (45) passed over, the latching piece (43) springs back toward the undeformed state and the latching recess (59) of the latching piece (43) comes into latching engagement with the latching projection (45) of the mounting leg (9).

8. Vehicle according to any of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the end position stop (21) is formed in a frame-like functional part plate (23), and in that the functional part plate (23) has, in cross-section, a support leg (25) which is supported on the visible side (27) of the roof liner on the opening edge region of the roof liner opening (29), and in that in particular the support leg (25) transitions at an inner transition edge into a latching leg (33) which is angled therefrom and is in latching engagement with a latching contour (35) formed on the inside of the mounting leg (17), and in that in particular the support leg (25) of the functional part plate (23) is extended inward beyond the latching leg (33) by a projecting end, and in that the projecting end forms the end position stop (21).

9. Vehicle according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (37) is a sheet metal part which has sharp cut edges and is produced by sheet metal forming.