Cover Element For An Airbag Module, And Airbag Module Having Such A Cover Element

Abstract

A cover element (10) for an airbag unit having a stationary section, a first flap (14), and a second flap (20), wherein the first flap (14) is connected to the stationary section by at least one first hinge (31), and the second flap (20) by at least one second hinge (32). The two flaps (14, 20) are connected to each other by a tear connection (35). The first flap (14) has an outer area (16) and an emblem area (18), which protrude at least partially from the outer area (16) and extend into the second flap (20). In order that the emblem area (18) is not in the way of the expanding airbag even if the emblem area (18) is relatively large, the emblem area (18) is connected to the outer area (16) of the first flap (14) by a third hinge (33), so that the emblem area (18) can swing against the outer area (16) when the first flap (14) is open.

Claims

1. A cover element for an airbag unit comprising a stationary section, a first flap and a second flap, wherein the first flap is connected to the stationary section by at least one first hinge, and the second flap is connected to the stationary section by at least one second, wherein, in an initial state in which the airbag unit is undeployed, the first and the second flaps are connected to each other by a first tear-away connection, wherein the first flap has a first outer area and an emblem area, which protrudes at least partially from the outer area and extends into the second flap, the emblem area is connected to the outer area, of the first flap by a third hinge, so that the emblem area can swing against the outer area when the first flap is open upon a deployment of the airbag unit.

2. The cover element according to claim 1, further comprising in the initial state of the airbag unit the emblem area is still connected to the outer area of the first flap by a second tear-away connection.

3. The cover element according to claim 2, further comprising the first tear-away connection also connects the emblem area to the second flap.

4. The cover element according to claim 1 further comprising an emblem is disposed on the emblem area.

5. The cover element according to claim 1 further comprising the stationary section includes a lateral wall.

6. A cover element according to claim 1 further comprising only the first and the second flaps are provided.

7. A cover element according to claim 6, further comprising the first and second flaps form an entire top of the cover element.

8. A cover element according to claim 1 further comprising at least a third flap is provided in addition to of the first and the second flaps.

9. An airbag module having a housing with an outlet opening, a gas generator held on the housing, an airbag folded into the housing, and a cover element in accordance with claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The invention will be now described in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the Figures.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a first exemplary embodiment of a cover element,

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a section along the plane A-A in FIG. 1,

[0013] FIG. 2a shows the detail D from FIG. 2,

[0014] FIG. 3 shows a section along the plane B-B in FIG. 1,

[0015] FIG. 4 shows a schematized depiction of a complete airbag module with the cover element of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a depiction corresponding to FIG. 2,

[0016] FIG. 5 shows what is shown in FIG. 4 after the expansion of the airbag,

[0017] FIG. 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in a drawing corresponding to FIG. 1,

[0018] FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention in a drawing corresponding to FIG. 1, and

[0019] FIG. 8 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention in a drawing corresponding to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of a cover element, namely of a cover element 10 for a driver front airbag. It could, however, in principle be a cover element for a passenger front airbag module, in which case the cover element, like the airbag module as a whole, is usually in an elongated configuration. The same also applies to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0021] It should further be mentioned that in the top views of FIGS. 1 and 6, all hinges are shown as thick dashed-dotted lines, and that all tear-away connections are shown as dotted lines.

[0022] The cover element 10 has, as is apparent in particular from FIGS. 2 and 3, a lateral wall 12, which holds the cover element 10 on a housing 40 when the cover element 10 is mounted, as is sufficiently known from the prior art. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lateral wall 12 serves as a stationary section on which the two flaps 14 and 20 are each pivotally retained about hinges 31 and 32. In the first exemplary embodiment shown, the flaps 14 and 20 form the entire top of the cover element 10, which, however, is not absolutely necessary, as will be seen later with respect to the third exemplary embodiment. The lateral wall 12 and the flaps 14 and 20 can, in particular, be embodied as 1K or 2K injection molded parts. It is possible that the flaps 14 and 20 are connected to the lateral wall 12 via tear-away connections in addition to the hinges 31 and 32; this, however, is not shown in the Figures.

[0023] The first flap 14 has an outer area 16, which is connected to the lateral wall 12 via the first hinge 31 and an emblem area 18. This emblem area 18 bears an emblem 19, which can be made separately from the first flap, but is permanently connected to the emblem area 18. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the outer area 16 of the first flap 14 and the second flap 20 are essentially configured to be symmetrical, and the emblem area 18 is in turn essentially centrally disposed. This results in the emblem area 18 extending into the outer area 16 of the first flap 14, as well as into the second flap 20, as is apparent from FIG. 1.

[0024] The flaps 14 and 20 are connected to each another by a first tear-away connection 35, which also extends around an edge section of the emblem area 18.

[0025] According to the invention, the emblem area 18 is connected to the outer area 16 of the first flap 14 by a third hinge 33. Since in the first exemplary embodiment shown, the emblem area 18 also extends into the outer area 16 of the first flap 14, a second tear-away connection with two sections, 37a and 37b, is provided, which connects the emblem area 18 to the outer area 16 of the first flap. In the exemplary embodiment shown, all hinges (31, 32, and 33) are parallel to one another, which, however, is not necessary.

[0026] FIG. 4 shows the cover element 10, which is mounted on a housing 40, so that an airbag module 5 is formed. If the gas generator 42 of this airbag module 5 is ignited, the airbag 44 expands and opens the two flaps, 14 and 20, as is shown in FIG. 5. As a result, all tear-away connections, 35 and 37, are broken. Furthermore, the outer area 16 of the first flap 14 folds about the first hinge 31, and the second flap 20 folds about the second hinge 32. In addition, the expanding airbag 44 swings the emblem area 19 about the third hinge 33 against the outer area 16 of the first flap, so that the airbag 44 can escape unhindered without having to destroy the emblem area 18 and, consequently, the emblem 19, while restraining the emblem from free flight within the vehicle interior.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention in a drawing corresponding to FIG. 1. It can be seen here that the third hinge, which connects the emblem area 18 to the outer area 16 of the first flap 14, need not be parallel to the first hinge 31 (and, obviously, not parallel to the second hinge 32 either).

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention. The difference from the first two exemplary embodiments is that the two flaps, 14 and 20, do not form the entire top of the cover element 10, but rather that the cover element has a peripheral area 13a, which, for example, can be permanently and rigidly connected to the lateral wall 12 (as far as available). In this case, further tear-away connections 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d are provided, which connect the flaps 14 and 20 to this peripheral area 13a.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows an exemplary embodiment having more than two flaps, namely the four flaps 14, 20, 23, and 24. Here it is possible that the emblem area is exclusively connected to the outer area 16 of the first flap 14 via a hinge (third hinge 33) but not via a tear-away connection.

[0030] While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.