Air Bag Cover Decorative Element Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle interiors, illuminated decorative elements often detach from the air bag cover during deployment, posing a safety concern as they are not securely fastened, compromising their visibility and protection against external influences.
Innovation Solution
A multi-part air bag cover design with a decorative element that includes sections and gaps, allowing for illumination and secure attachment via a closing member with a material connection, such as heated tool welding, ensuring the decorative element remains locked in position during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a decorative element is attached to the air bag cover, then the vehicle interior appearance is enhanced, but the decorative element detaches during air bag deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into a cover plate and a separate closing member that can be assembled together. The decorative element is integrated with the closing member, allowing the closing member to be inserted through the opening in the cover plate and secured from the rear side. This segmentation enables the decorative element to be firmly attached through the closing member while maintaining a simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative element is pre-integrated with the closing member before assembly. The closing member is designed with the decorative element already attached, so that when the closing member is inserted through the opening in the cover plate, the decorative element is automatically positioned and secured. This preliminary integration ensures firm attachment without requiring additional fastening steps.
2Reliability
If the cover is made as a single piece, then manufacturing is simpler, but the decorative element cannot be securely fastened
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is segmented into a cover plate with an opening and a separate closing member that is fastened from the rear side. This segmentation allows the decorative element to be integrated with the closing member, enabling secure fastening through the closing member's engagement with the cover plate. The multi-part structure is designed to be assembled through simple insertion and fastening operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing member is inserted through the opening in the cover plate from the front side and fastened to the rear side, utilizing the thickness dimension of the cover plate. This approach allows the decorative element to be secured in three-dimensional space without complicating the manufacturing of individual components, as each part can be manufactured separately and then assembled.
3Illumination intensity
If gaps are added to the decorative element for illumination, then the visual appearance is improved, but the protective function is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The closing member is inserted through the opening in the cover plate and fastened from the rear side, creating a nested structure where the closing member is contained within the cover plate's opening. This nested arrangement allows the decorative element with illumination gaps to be securely enclosed by the closing member, which seals the rear side and provides protection against dust and moisture while maintaining the illumination function.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative element is pre-integrated with the closing member before assembly, with the illumination gaps already positioned. When the closing member is inserted through the opening in the cover plate and fastened, the decorative element is automatically secured in its final position. This preliminary integration ensures that the illumination gaps remain open for lighting while the closing member provides the necessary sealing and protection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the decorative element remains firmly attached to the air bag cover, maintaining its visual appearance and protecting the illuminant and underlying components from dust and moisture while allowing for various design options and high luminance through LED or luminous film usage.
Implementation Method 1
one or both joining surfaces are heated by a heated tool until they melt
Implementation Method 2
heated by a heated tool until they melt
Implementation Method 3
the illuminant may, for instance, include at least one LED
Implementation Method 4
If a low installation height is desired, it is also conceivable that the illuminant comprises a luminous film
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle interior decor element, in particular an air bag cover, comprising a front side (36) facing the vehicle interior and an opposite rear side (34), a cover (18) and a decorative element (20) which is provided at the cover (18), is visible from the front and is at least partly translucent. The decorative element (20) includes sections (24) between which the decorative element (20) has a gap (26) through which the cover (18) is accessible from the front side (36). The decorative element (20) extends with at least one portion (44) thereof towards the rear side (34) towards or into a cavity (42) which is formed in the cover (18) and in which an illuminant (50) for illuminating the decorative element (20) is accommodated.