Airbag Cover of a Vehicle

Abstract

An airbag cover of a vehicle includes a support having at least one predeterminable breaking line that is breakable by an airbag, a transparent upper layer on the support, and at least one film positioned between the support and the transparent upper layer.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. An airbag cover of a vehicle, comprising a carrier with at least one predetermined breaking line configured to be broken open by the airbag; a transparent top layer on the carrier; and at least one film between the carrier and the top layer.

12. The airbag cover according to claim 11, wherein the film is back-molded with a plastic of the carrier.

13. The airbag cover according to claim 12, wherein the top layer is formed from polyurethane.

14. The airbag cover according to claim 13, wherein the top layer has a first layer thickness at the predetermined breaking line which is a reduced thickness relative to a second top layer thickness in a region adjacent to the predetermined breaking line.

15. The airbag cover according to claim 14, wherein at the predetermined breaking line at least a portion of the at least one film is present, no portion of the at least one film is present, the at least one film is perforated, or the at least one film includes two films abutting or overlapping one another.

16. The airbag cover according to claim 14, wherein away from the predetermined breaking point, the top layer has a first region with a third layer thickness and a second region with a fourth layer thickness, and the third layer thickness is greater than the fourth layer thickness.

17. The airbag cover according to claim 16, wherein the third layer thickness is at least 1.3 times the fourth layer thickness.

18. The airbag cover according to claim 17, wherein the third layer thickness is at least twice the fourth layer thickness.

19. The airbag cover according to claim 16, wherein an object is positioned between the top layer and the carrier under the first region.

20. An airbag module for a vehicle, comprising: a base; an airbag cover arranged on the base; and an airbag arranged on the base between the base and the airbag cover, wherein the airbag cover includes a carrier with at least one predetermined breaking line configured to be broken open by the airbag, a transparent top layer on the carrier, and at least one film between the carrier and the top layer.

21. A steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising an airbag module having a base, an airbag cover arranged on the base, and an airbag arranged on the base between the base and the airbag cover, wherein the airbag cover includes a carrier with at least one predetermined breaking line configured to be broken open by the airbag, a transparent top layer on the carrier, and at least one film between the carrier and the top layer.

22. A method for producing an airbag cover having a carrier with at least one predetermined breaking line configured to be broken open by the airbag, a transparent top layer on the carrier, and at least one film between the carrier and the top layer, comprising the acts of: inserting the at least one film into an injection molding tool; back-molding the at least one film to form the carrier; and forming the top layer by flooding a top side of the carrier with polyurethane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a steering wheel with an airbag module and an airbag cover according to an embodiment of the invention, and

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a purely schematic sectional view of the airbag module from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] An airbag cover 1 as per one example embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In this respect, the airbag cover 1 is a constituent part of an airbag module 50. The airbag module 50 in turn is a constituent part of a steering wheel 100. The airbag cover 1 is produced by the method set out in the general part of the description.

[0028] FIG. 1 shows the steering wheel 100 with the airbag module 50 in the hub region of the steering wheel 100. FIG. 2 shows a purely schematically illustrated section through the airbag module 50. Relative sizes, in particular the thicknesses of individual layers, are not illustrated true to scale here.

[0029] The airbag module 50 comprises a base 51. This base 51 is closed by the airbag cover 1. The airbag 52 is located in the cavity between the airbag cover 1 and the base 51.

[0030] The airbag cover 1 comprises an injection-molded carrier 2 of plastic. The carrier 2 is covered with a top layer 3 of flooded polyurethane. An inserted film 4 is located in certain regions between the carrier 2 and the top layer 3. Since the top layer 3 is transparent, the colored film 4 is also visible.

[0031] An object 5, here positioned centrally in the steering wheel 100 and constituting a badge, is furthermore located between the carrier 2 and the top layer 3.

[0032] In the example shown, the airbag cover 1 has a predetermined breaking line 6, which is positioned purely schematically and by way of example here. The predetermined breaking line 6 is formed by a taper (reduced layer thickness) in the carrier 2 and the top layer 3.

[0033] FIG. 2 purely schematically shows that the top layer 3 has a first region 7 with a first layer thickness 8 and a second region 9 with a second layer thickness 10. The object 5 is inserted at the first region 7. Here, the greater layer thickness 8 is also selected in order to use the transparent top layer 3 to achieve a depth effect in the region of the inserted object 5.

[0034] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 1 Airbag cover [0036] 2 Carrier [0037] 3 Top layer [0038] 4 Film [0039] 5 Object [0040] 6 Predetermined breaking line [0041] 7 First region [0042] 8 First layer thickness [0043] 9 Second region [0044] 10 Second layer thickness [0045] 50 Airbag module [0046] 51 Base [0047] 52 Airbag [0048] 100 Steering wheel