Igniter support and igniter assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is an igniter support, comprising a rigid supporting portion (22) and an elastic supporting portion (23) which are connected to a support body (21). Both the rigid supporting portion and the elastic supporting portion protrude out of the support body in the downstream direction; in a natural state, in the downstream direction, the elastic supporting portion extends beyond the rigid supporting portion; and in an assembled state, the elastic supporting portion is in contact with a vehicle body portion (60), and the rigid supporting portion is suspended in the air or is in contact with the vehicle body portion. The igniter support can be adapted to different vehicle models by means of the cooperation of the rigid supporting portion and the elastic supporting portion, achieving smooth and stable mounting of the igniter support to various vehicle models, solving the noise problem caused by instable cooperation. Further disclosed is an igniter assembly.

Description

Ignitor bracket and ignitor assembly Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of airbag igniters, and in particular to an igniter bracket and an igniter assembly. Background Art

[0002] The airbag's igniter is used to rapidly inflate the airbag in the event of a collision, protecting the occupants. The igniter is mounted on a bracket in a suitable location on the vehicle body. Traditional brackets are rigid components that are not adaptable to different vehicle models and can easily cause noise.

[0003] Specifically, FIG1 shows a structure in which a curtain airbag igniter is installed on the roof panels of different vehicle models using a conventional bracket. The roof panels used to install the curtain airbag igniter in different vehicle models include various types, such as NR (Normal Roof) and GR (Glass Roof). The NR roof panel 11 is slightly higher than the GR roof panel 12. A purely rigid bracket 10 cannot accommodate both the NR roof panel 11 and the GR roof panel 12. If the bracket 10 is designed to fit the NR roof panel 11, the gap between the bracket 10 and the GR roof panel 12 will cause an unstable fit and noise. If the bracket 10 is designed to fit the GR roof panel 12, the bracket 10 will be damaged and cannot be installed smoothly due to insufficient installation space when installed on the NR roof panel 11.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of the present disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to ordinary technicians in the field. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present disclosure provides an igniter bracket and an igniter assembly, which can adapt to different vehicle models through the cooperation of a rigid support part and an elastic support part, achieve smooth and stable installation with various vehicle models, solve the noise problem caused by unstable cooperation, and reduce costs by improving universality and versatility.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an igniter bracket, comprising a rigid support portion and an elastic support portion connected to a bracket body, wherein both the rigid support portion and the elastic support portion protrude in a downstream direction of the bracket body; in a natural state, the elastic support portion exceeds the rigid support portion along the downstream direction; in an assembled state, the elastic support portion contacts a vehicle body portion, and the rigid support portion is suspended in the air or contacts the vehicle body portion.

[0007] In some embodiments, the rigid support portion is protruded into a V-shape or a U-shape, and the bottom of the V-shape or the U-shape can form a surface contact with the vehicle body portion.

[0008] In some embodiments, the rigid support portion is provided with reinforcing ribs, and the reinforcing ribs extend along the contour of the rigid support portion.

[0009] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket further includes: a plush tape covering the bottom of the rigid support portion and located between the rigid support portion and the vehicle body portion.

[0010] In some embodiments, the elastic support portion includes an obliquely extending connecting arm and a horizontally extending free arm connected by an arc-shaped corner.

[0011] In some embodiments, the rigid support portion includes two rigid support portions arranged in parallel, and the elastic support portion is located between the two rigid support portions.

[0012] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket further includes: a supporting portion connected to the bracket body, having a supporting surface adapted to the igniter, and the supporting surface is located in an upstream direction of the bracket body.

[0013] In some embodiments, the supporting portion includes two portions, each used to support two ends of the igniter.

[0014] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket further includes: a fixing portion connected to the supporting portion and located in a downstream direction of the supporting portion.

[0015] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure provides an igniter assembly, comprising: an igniter bracket as described in any of the above embodiments; an igniter supported by the igniter bracket; and a clamp for tightly connecting the igniter to the igniter bracket.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present disclosure compared with the prior art include at least:

[0017] The igniter bracket disclosed herein can be adapted to different vehicle models through the cooperation of a rigid support portion and an elastic support portion. In its natural state, the elastic support portion extends beyond the rigid support portion to ensure that the elastic support portion contacts the vehicle body portion in the assembled state; in the assembled state, the elastic support portion contacts the vehicle body portion in a relaxed or compressed state, while the rigid support portion is suspended or contacts the vehicle body portion. The deformation of the elastic support portion can absorb the installation gap caused by the positional difference of vehicle body portions of different vehicle models; when there is sufficient installation space, the elastic support portion can be relaxed, and when the installation space is compact, the elastic support portion can be compressed. The design of the elastic support portion enables it to contact the vehicle body portion even in vehicles with sufficient installation space, and the design of the rigid support portion prevents it from being crushed in vehicles with compact installation space. This achieves smooth and stable installation with various vehicle models, solves the noise problem caused by unstable fit, and reduces costs by improving universality and versatility.

[0018] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure, and together with the specification, are used to explain the principles of the present disclosure. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art can derive other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort.

[0020] FIG1 is a schematic diagram showing a curtain airbag igniter mounted on a roof panel of a vehicle of different vehicle types through a conventional bracket;

[0021] FIG2 is a schematic side view of the igniter bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG3 is a schematic diagram showing the back structure of the igniter bracket in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG4 is a schematic structural diagram of an igniter assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG5 and FIG6 are schematic diagrams showing that the curtain airbag igniter is installed on the roof panels of different vehicle models through the igniter bracket of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concepts of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art. Identical reference numerals in the figures represent identical or similar structures, and thus a repeated description thereof will be omitted.

[0026] In the description of this disclosure, the terms "upstream," "downstream," "left," "right," and the like indicate positions or locations based on the positions or locations shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are intended solely for ease of description and are not intended to indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure. Furthermore, in the description of this disclosure, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined. When a device is said to be "connected" to another device, this includes not only direct connections but also indirect connections through other components.

[0027] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present disclosure and features in different embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0028] FIG2 shows a side view of the igniter bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG3 shows a back view of the igniter bracket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG4 shows the structure of the igniter assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In combination with FIG2 to FIG4 , the igniter bracket 20 provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure includes:

[0029] A rigid support portion 22 and an elastic support portion 23 connected to the bracket body 21 , wherein the rigid support portion 22 and the elastic support portion 23 both protrude from the bracket body 21 in the downstream direction Y1;

[0030] In the natural state, along the downstream direction Y1, the elastic support portion 23 exceeds the rigid support portion 22;

[0031] In the assembled state, the elastic support portion 23 contacts the vehicle body portion 60 , and the rigid support portion 22 is suspended in the air or contacts the vehicle body portion 60 .

[0032] The downstream direction Y1 refers to a direction close to the vehicle body portion 60 , and the upstream direction Y2 is the opposite.

[0033] The igniter bracket 20 disclosed herein can be adapted to different vehicle models through the cooperation of the rigid support portion 22 and the elastic support portion 23. In its natural state, the elastic support portion 23 extends beyond the rigid support portion 22, ensuring that it contacts the vehicle body portion 60 when assembled. In the assembled state, the elastic support portion 23 contacts the vehicle body portion 60 in a relaxed or compressed state, while the rigid support portion 22 is suspended or in contact with the vehicle body portion 60. The deformation of the elastic support portion 23 can accommodate installation gaps caused by positional differences in the vehicle body portion 60 between different vehicle models. When installation space is sufficient, the elastic support portion 23 can be relaxed, while when installation space is limited, the elastic support portion 23 can be compressed. The design of the elastic support portion 23 ensures that it contacts the vehicle body portion 60 even in vehicles with ample installation space, while the design of the rigid support portion 22 prevents it from being crushed in vehicles with limited installation space. This ensures smooth and stable installation on a variety of vehicle models, resolves noise issues caused by unstable fit, and reduces costs by improving universality and versatility.

[0034] It should be noted that the gap between the rigid support portion 22 and the elastic support portion 23 should not be too large; it should be sufficient to ensure that at least the elastic support portion 23 contacts the vehicle body portion 60 in vehicles with ample installation space, and to prevent the rigid support portion 22 from being crushed in vehicles with compact installation space. This allows the rigid support portion 22 to maintain the position of the entire igniter bracket 20 during airbag deployment if it contacts the vehicle body portion 60. If the rigid support portion 22 is suspended in the air, the igniter 30 can quickly contact the vehicle body portion 60 during airbag deployment, thus also maintaining the position of the entire igniter bracket 20.

[0035] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the structure of a curtain airbag igniter installed on the roof panels of different vehicle models using the igniter bracket disclosed herein. As shown in Figures 5 and 6 , in some specific application scenarios, the igniter bracket 20 is used to mount the curtain airbag igniter on the roof panel. The roof panel is located on the top side of the vehicle's B-pillar. In vehicles using an NR-type roof panel 11, the installation space for the igniter bracket 20 is compact. In this case, the rigid support portion 22 contacts the NR-type roof panel 11, and the elastic support portion 23 compresses and contacts the NR-type roof panel 11. In vehicles using a GR-type roof panel 12, the installation space for the igniter bracket 20 is ample. In this case, the rigid support portion 22 is suspended, and the elastic support portion 23 contacts or compresses and contacts the GR-type roof panel 12. This allows the igniter bracket 20 to be compatible with both NR-type and GR-type roof panels 11, enabling smooth and secure installation on a variety of vehicle models. This resolves noise issues caused by unstable fit and reduces costs through improved compatibility and versatility.

[0036] Continuing with Figures 2 to 4 , in some embodiments, the rigid support portion 22 protrudes into a V- or U-shape, with the bottom of the V- or U-shape forming surface contact with the vehicle body portion 60. The rigid support portion 22 protrudes into a V- or U-shape to achieve a secure connection with the bracket body 21. The bottom of the V- or U-shape can be formed as a flat surface or a nearly flat curved surface to form surface contact with the vehicle body portion 60 in the assembled state or during airbag deployment, ensuring the stable position of the igniter bracket 20 and the supported igniter 30.

[0037] In some embodiments, the rigid support portion 22 is provided with a reinforcing rib 220, which extends along the contour of the rigid support portion 22. The reinforcing rib 220 extending along the contour of the rigid support portion 22 effectively enhances the structural strength of the rigid support portion 22.

[0038] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket 20 further includes a plush tape (not specifically shown) covering the bottom of the rigid support portion 22 and located between the rigid support portion 22 and the vehicle body portion 60. By applying the plush tape, noise caused by manufacturing precision problems of the vehicle body can be eliminated.

[0039] In some embodiments, the elastic support portion 23 includes an obliquely extending connecting arm 23a and a horizontally extending free arm 23b, connected by an arcuate angle. The elastic support portion 23 may be formed as an L-shape. The free arm 23b extends horizontally, enabling stable contact with the vehicle body portion 60. The connecting arm 23a extends obliquely, enabling convenient and stable compression by varying the angle of the connecting arm 23a relative to the bracket body 21. The arcuate angle maintains contact between the free arm 23b and the vehicle body portion 60 during compression.

[0040] In some embodiments, the rigid support portion 22 includes two rigid support portions 22 arranged in parallel, and the elastic support portion 23 is located between the two rigid support portions 22 .

[0041] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket 20 further includes a supporting portion 25 connected to the bracket body 21 and having a supporting surface adapted to accommodate the igniter 30. The supporting surface is located in the upstream direction Y2 of the bracket body 21. The supporting surface of the supporting portion 25 adapted to accommodate the igniter 30 stably supports the igniter 30. The supporting surface is located in the upstream direction Y2 of the bracket body 21, maintaining a certain gap between the igniter 30 and the bracket body 21, thereby facilitating heat dissipation and preventing vibration transmission.

[0042] In some embodiments, the supporting portion 25 includes two portions, each for supporting the two ends of the igniter 30. In this way, the igniter 30 can be stably supported.

[0043] In some embodiments, the igniter bracket 20 further includes a fixing portion 26 connected to the supporting portion 25 and located in the downstream direction Y1 of the supporting portion. The fixing portion 26 enables the igniter bracket 20 to be fixedly assembled with the vehicle body.

[0044] The embodiment of the present disclosure further provides an igniter assembly, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, including: an igniter bracket 20; an igniter 30 supported by the igniter bracket 20; and a clamp 40 that tightly connects the igniter 30 to the igniter bracket 20.

[0045] The igniter 30 is supported by an igniter bracket 20 with a rigid support portion 22 and an elastic support portion 23, enabling smooth and secure installation in a variety of vehicle types, from those with ample mounting space to those with limited space. This resolves noise issues caused by unstable fit and reduces costs by improving compatibility and versatility. Specifically, the igniter assembly can be used for curtain airbags, enabling smooth and secure installation with roof panels of various vehicle types, including NR and GR models.

[0046] In summary, the igniter bracket 20 and igniter assembly disclosed herein can be adapted to different vehicle models through the coordination of the rigid support portion 22 and the elastic support portion 23. In its natural state, the elastic support portion 23 extends beyond the rigid support portion 22, ensuring contact between the elastic support portion 23 and the vehicle body portion 60 when assembled. In the assembled state, the elastic support portion 23 contacts the vehicle body portion 60 in either a relaxed or compressed state, while the rigid support portion 22 is suspended or in contact with the vehicle body portion 60. The deformation of the elastic support portion 23 can accommodate installation gaps caused by positional differences in the vehicle body portion 60 between different vehicle models. When installation space is sufficient, the elastic support portion 23 can be relaxed, while when installation space is limited, the elastic support portion 23 can be compressed. The design of the elastic support portion 23 ensures contact with the vehicle body portion 60 even in vehicles with ample installation space, while the design of the rigid support portion 22 prevents damage in vehicles with limited installation space. This ensures smooth and stable installation on a variety of vehicle models, resolves noise issues caused by unstable fit, and reduces costs by improving compatibility and versatility.

[0047] The above content is a further detailed description of the present disclosure in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, and the specific implementation of the present disclosure should not be considered to be limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art of the present disclosure, without departing from the concept of the present disclosure, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made, which should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An igniter bracket, characterized in that: It comprises a rigid support part and an elastic support part connected to the support body, wherein both the rigid support part and the elastic support part protrude in the downstream direction of the support body; In a natural state, along the downstream direction, the elastic support portion exceeds the rigid support portion; In the assembled state, the elastic support portion contacts the body part, and the rigid support portion is suspended in the air or contacts the body part.

2. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid support portion is protruded into a V-shape or a U-shape, and the bottom of the V-shape or the U-shape can form a surface contact with the vehicle body portion.

3. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid support portion is provided with reinforcing ribs, and the reinforcing ribs extend along the contour of the rigid support portion.

4. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The plush tape covers the bottom of the rigid support portion and is located between the rigid support portion and the vehicle body portion.

5. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic support portion includes an obliquely extending connecting arm and a horizontally extending free arm connected by an arc-shaped corner.

6. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rigid support parts include two parts which are arranged in parallel, and the elastic support part is located between the two rigid support parts.

7. The igniter bracket according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: The supporting portion is connected to the support body and has a supporting surface adapted to the igniter, wherein the supporting surface is located in the upstream direction of the support body.

8. The igniter bracket according to claim 7, characterized in that: The supporting parts include two parts, which are respectively used to support the two ends of the igniter.

9. The igniter bracket according to claim 7, characterized in that: Also includes: The fixing part is connected to the supporting part and is located in the downstream direction of the supporting part.

10. An igniter assembly, characterized in that: include: The igniter bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 9; an igniter, supported by the igniter bracket; as well as A clamp is used to tightly connect the igniter and the igniter bracket.

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