AIRBAG PROTECTION CAR CURTAIN

Abstract

MOTOR VEHICLE AIRBAG CURTAIN PROTECTION The present invention relates to a motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a roof arch (4) comprising an outer sheet metal forming a hollow body with an inner lining (6); and - a mounting bracket (12) for an inner grab handle, fixed to the inner lining; and - an airbag device (10) disposed adjacent to said mounting bracket, notable in that said motor vehicle further comprises a flexible membrane (14) mounted on the mounting bracket and covering at least one edge of said mounting bracket, such that said flexible membrane ensures direct contact with the airbag in the deployed position, instead of contact with said at least one edge. (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 6)

Description

Title of the invention: PROTECTION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE AIRBAG CURTAIN technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of airbags in motor vehicles. Previous technique

[0002] In the event of a side impact, occupant protection is ensured by the robustness of the vehicle's structure, the proper functioning of the side and curtain airbags, and the proper functioning of the seat belts. The curtain airbag, attached to the roof arch, is deployed by means of a pyrotechnic system when an impact is detected. Its role is to interpose itself between the occupants and the side wall of the vehicle to prevent any contact with a rigid surface during the impact.

[0003] Conventionally, the curtain airbag is attached to the headliner lining and positioned below the grab handle supports. However, these supports are often unfinished pieces with sharp edges that can be dangerous. During a collision, when the curtain airbag deploys, it can come into contact with and rub against these edges, thus presenting a risk of tearing the airbag cushion.

[0004] The published patent document JP 2009-234360 A discloses an assembly comprising an airbag device located at the level of the roof of a motor vehicle, and more specifically at the level of an interior grab handle support fixed to the body of said vehicle. The assembly further comprises a deformable synthetic resin lining screwed to the support and forming a pocket in which the airbag cushion is disposed.

[0005] However, even if the lining is flexible to allow the airbag to deploy, the risk of tearing the airbag remains. The solution proposed in this document offers a significant margin for improvement to overcome this problem. Description of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More specifically, the invention aims to provide a simple, efficient, and economical solution for effectively preventing any risk of tearing during the deployment of an airbag.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising: - a roof arch comprising an outer sheet metal forming a hollow body with an inner lining; and - a mounting bracket for an interior grab handle, attached to the interior lining; and - an airbag device disposed adjacent to said mounting support, notable in that said motor vehicle further comprises a flexible membrane mounted on the mounting support and covering at least one edge of said mounting support, so that said flexible membrane ensures direct contact with the airbag in the deployed position, instead of contact with said at least one edge.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the flexible membrane includes at least one folded edge wrapping around at least one edge of the fixing support.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the mounting support includes at least one tab extending transversely and receiving the flexible membrane, the airbag being disposed under said at least one tab in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle.

[0010] According to one embodiment, at least one leg includes an opening through which a clipping pin extends from an inner face of the flexible membrane.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the clipping pin comprises a cross-section widening from the inner face, so as to present a distal portion wider than a proximal base of said clipping pin.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the flexible membrane comprises an outer face, opposite to the inner face, and connected to at least one edge by means of a fillet forming a smooth transition between said outer face and said at least one edge.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the mounting support comprises two legs extending transversely and each receiving a corresponding flexible membrane, each of said flexible membranes comprising an external face facing the inflatable cushion.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the flexible membrane comprises at least two folded edges wrapping at least two edges of the fixing support.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the flexible membrane comprises three folded edges, two of which are parallel edges covering respectively two lateral edges of the corresponding leg.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the flexible membrane is formed from rubber or deformable foam.

[0017] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that mounting the flexible membrane on the mounting bracket for the inner grab handle allows at least one edge of this bracket to be covered. Thus, when the airbag is deployed, it comes into contact with the flexible membrane rather than with the edge, which This avoids the risk of tearing. This further secures the deployment of the airbag and improves the protection of vehicle occupants.

[0018] In addition, the flexible membrane is easy to mount with the quick engagement of the clip pin with the corresponding opening on the fixing support. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] [Fig-1] represents a side view of a motor vehicle according to the invention including a pavilion arch provided with an inner lining on which are fixed an airbag device and two fixing brackets for an inner grab handle;

[0020] [Fig.2] illustrates a perspective view of a mounting bracket for an interior grab handle of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1];

[0021] [Fig.3] illustrates a perspective view of a flexible membrane comprising a clipping pin intended to engage with a corresponding opening in the fixing support of the [Fig.2];

[0022] [Fig.4] illustrates another perspective view of the flexible membrane of [Fig.3], showing an external face intended to be opposite the inflatable cushion;

[0023] [Fig.5] is a perspective representation of the motor vehicle of [Fig.1] with the airbag in a deployed state;

[0024] [Fig.6] represents an enlarged view of the inflatable cushion of [Fig.5] whose contact with the edges of the support for the grab handle is avoided by means of the flexible membrane. Detailed description

[0025] Figure 1 shows a side view of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention comprising a roof arch 4 provided with an inner lining 6 on which are fixed an airbag device 8 10 and two mounting brackets 12 for an interior grab handle (not shown). The motor vehicle 2 may include two to four mounting brackets 12.

[0026] The airbag device 8 10, commonly referred to as an airbag 8, and particularly as: “curtain airbag”, includes a housing 8.1 corresponding to a gas generator capable of inflating and deploying an airbag 10. This deployment makes it possible to protect the occupants 3 of the vehicle in the event of a side impact.

[0027] Preferably, the housing 8.1 is fixed to the lining 6 and extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 2. The airbag 10 is preferably arranged adjacent to each mounting bracket 12 and vertically below it.

[0028] The fixing supports 12 can be formed by a reinforcing sheet fixed to the inner lining 6, but which may have sharp edges for the cushion inflatable 10. In this regard, the present invention proposes covering said edges with a flexible membrane (visible in figures 3 to 6), which acts as an anti-tear device and secures the deployment of the airbag 8.

[0029] Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one of the two fixing supports 12 of Fig. 1.

[0030] Preferably, the mounting support 12 comprises at least one tab 12.1, and more preferably two tabs 12.1 extending transversely to the motor vehicle, and each receiving a corresponding flexible membrane.

[0031] For this purpose, each leg 12.1 preferably includes an opening 12.2 intended to be traversed by a clipping pin extending from the corresponding flexible membrane.

[0032] The flexible membrane is intended to be mounted on each leg 12.1 in order to cover its edges 12.3. In this regard, said flexible membrane includes folded edges (visible in figures 3 to 6) configured to wrap around the edges 12.3 of the fixing support 12 which correspond to lateral edges 12.3 presenting a risk of tearing of the airbag.

[0033] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the flexible membrane 14 comprising a clipping pin 15 intended to engage with the corresponding opening 12.2 of the fixing support 12 of Fig. 2.

[0034] The clipping pin 15 extends from an inner face 14.1 of the flexible membrane 14. Preferably, it has a cross-section widening from the inner face 14.1, so as to have a distal portion 15.1 wider than a proximal base 15.2 of said clipping pin 15. This ensures robust retention of the membrane 14 on the tab of the fixing support.

[0035] Advantageously, the flexible membrane 14 can be formed from rubber or deformable foam, or from any other flexible material suitable for covering the lateral edges of the fixing support.

[0036] Preferably, the flexible membrane 14 includes at least two folded edges 14.2, 14.3 intended to wrap around at least two edges of the fixing support.

[0037] More preferably, the flexible membrane 14 comprises three folded edges 14.2, 14.3, two of which are parallel edges 14.2 configured to cover the two lateral edges of the corresponding tab, respectively. The third edge 14.3 follows the shape of a fold in the mounting bracket at the transverse tab, in order to minimize contact between the airbag and said mounting bracket.

[0038] Fig. 4 illustrates another perspective view of the flexible membrane 14, showing an external face 14.4 intended to be opposite the inflatable cushion.

[0039] Advantageously, the outer face 14.4, opposite the inner face, and connected to the edges 14.2, 14.3 by means of a fillet forming a smooth and seamless transition between said outer face 14.4 and each of the edges 14.2, 14.3. Advantageously, this allows for softer contact with the airbag during its deployment, thus offering better protection against the risk of tearing.

[0040] It can be observed that the flexible membrane 14 has a general shape forming a parallelepiped box. In this configuration, the tabs of the mounting bracket can be completely enveloped by said membrane 14.

[0041] Preferably, the flexible membrane 14 comprises a longitudinal width w and a transverse width 1 which can respectively be between 10 and 80 mm. As well as a height h presented between an end of the edges 14.2 and the external face 14.4, which can be between 2 and 20 mm.

[0042] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the motor vehicle according to the invention with the airbag 10 in a deployed state. Figure 6 shows an enlarged view of the airbag 10, the contact of which with the edges of the grab handle mounting bracket 12 is prevented by the flexible membrane 14.

[0043] In the illustrated configuration, it can be seen that the flexible membrane 14 is mounted on the mounting support 12, and is particularly clipped to the transverse tab 12.1 by means of the clipping pin 15. Advantageously, the edges of the sheet metal forming the mounting support 12 are completely covered by the edges 14.2 and 14.3.

[0044] Thus, the flexible membrane 14 ensures direct contact with the airbag 10 in the deployed position (at the portion circled in [Fig. 6]), instead of contact with the edges which could tear it. The risk of tearing the airbag 10 is therefore avoided.

Claims

Demands

1. Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a roof arch (4) comprising an outer sheet forming a hollow body with an inner lining (6); and - a mounting bracket (12) for an inner grab handle, attached to the inner lining (6); and - an airbag device (8) (10) disposed adjacent to said mounting bracket (12), characterized in that said motor vehicle (2) further comprises a flexible membrane (14) mounted on the mounting bracket (12) and covering at least one edge (12.3) of said mounting bracket (12), such that said flexible membrane (14) ensures direct contact with the airbag (10) in the deployed position, instead of contact with said at least one edge (12.3).

2. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible membrane (14) comprises at least one folded edge (14.2, 14.3) wrapping at least one border (12.3) of the fixing support (12).

3. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the mounting support (12) comprises at least one tab (12.1) extending transversely and receiving the flexible membrane (14), the airbag (10) being disposed under said at least one tab (12.1) in a vertical direction of the motor vehicle (2).

4. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 3, wherein at least one tab (12.1) comprises an opening (12.2) through which a clipping pin (15) extends from an inner face (14.1) of the flexible membrane (14).

5. Motor vehicle (2) according to claim 4, wherein the clipping pin (15) comprises a cross-section widening from the inner face (14.1), so as to have a distal portion (15.1) wider than a proximal base (15.2) of said clipping pin (15).

6. A motor vehicle (2) according to claim 2 and according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the flexible membrane (14) comprises an outer face (14.4), opposite the inner face (14.1), and connected to at least one edge (14.2, 14.3) by means of a fillet forming a smooth transition between said outer face (14.4) and said at least one rim (14.2, 14.3).

7. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the mounting support (12) comprises two tabs (12.1) extending transversely and each receiving a corresponding flexible membrane (14), each of said flexible membranes (14) comprising an external face (14.4) opposite the airbag (10).

8. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the flexible membrane (14) comprises at least two folded edges (14.2, 14.2) enveloping at least two edges (12.3) of the fastening support (12).

9. Motor vehicle (2) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the flexible membrane (14) comprises three folded edges (14.2, 14.3), of which two parallel edges (14.2) respectively cover two lateral edges (12.3) of the corresponding tab (12.1).

10. Motor vehicle (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the flexible membrane (14) is formed of rubber or deformable foam.

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