The invention relates to an air-bag cover hinge having a textile hinge that can be connected both to the air-bag cover and to a support carrying the air-bag cover.
When the air-bag deploys the air-bag cover opens to enable the air-bag to open out and the air-bag cover hinge enables the air-bag cover to be guided on opening.
An air-bag hinge made of woven fabric or knitted fabric is known from WO 2003/033313 “Inner lining component for vehicles” [U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,781]. Depending on the size of the air-bag cover used, different forces act on the hinge of the air-bag cover when the air-bag deploys. The bigger the air-bag cover or the heavier an air-bag, the greater the forces acting on the hinge that must on the one hand ensure that the air-bag cover opens easily when the air-bag deploys and on the other hand however must ensure that separation of the air-bag cover from the support enclosing it is excluded in all cases so as not to endanger people in the vicinity of the air-bag.
In the case of the hinge of an air-bag cover known from the prior art the hinge configured as woven fabric or knitted fabric tears can tear under unfavorable conditions.
The object of the invention is to design a hinge for an air-bag cover such that it securely prevents tearing or loosening of the hinge for the air-bag cover with cost-effective reproducibility and also enables easy opening of the air-bag cover.
This object of the invention is attained by the concept in the characterizing part of the principal claim.
In other words, a hinge for an air-bag cover is proposed that has a multistage textile base structure in which stop threads are integrated as load-absorption threads that have higher resistance to tearing and a greater length than the textile base structure.
With this design, two systems are integrated, i.e. a system that tears whenever a predetermined tension is exceeded in order to take up most of the resulting tension, and a second system which allows a defined opening of the air-bag cover (opening angle) with a secure hold.
Advantageous embodiments are explained in the independent claims.
The base structure is advantageously configured as knitted fabric so as to be cost effective and provide optimal handling.
In an advantageous embodiment the “stop threads” (load threads) are aligned generally parallel to the tension of the hinge, with uniform distribution of the stop threads over the textile base structure being advantageous to constantly get an adequate quantity of stop threads in the textile base structure e.g. when the hinges are stamped out of a larger piece of goods.
One feasible design is the uniform sequence of two standing threads of the textile base structure and a stop thread (load absorption thread), this sequence however being adapted corresponding to conditions.
In an advantageous embodiment the textile base structure is configured relative to the stop threads (load absorption threads) such that there is initial tearing of the base structure.
Relative to the threads of the textile base structure the stop threads have a greater length and for example are configured meandering, zigzag, tubular, arched, corrugated and/or self-overlapping in their longitudinal direction such that the stop threads have a store that extends substantially transversely and/or longitudinally to the direction of pull.
The proposed multistage structure, comprising a textile base structure and stop threads (load absorption threads), can for its part be embedded in a textile surface pattern, such that when there is tension of the cover hinge, tearing or opening of the textile base structure along with stop threads (load absorption threads) occurs from this textile surface pattern to dismantle forces already occurring from this tearing or opening procedure at least to a certain degree and at the same time to define the travel for opening (opening angle) the air-bag flap.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the diagrams, in which:
a-
e-
With reference to
So-called stop threads 5, which are of high-strength (e.g. dtex 1100), are integrated into this textile base structure, whereas the textile base structure (also comprising polyester or other suitable materials) is not made to be of high strength.
The stop threads 5 are aligned generally parallel to tension acting on the hinge on opening of the air-bag cover, and have at least one store 6 where the stop threads extend substantially transversely to the tension.
Integrated thread laying (travel storage) stores (contiguously
Following actuation of the air bag, its cover holding the air bag opens and the textile base structure 4 incorporated in the vicinity of the air-bag cover hinge is expanded on opening of the hinge until it tears. The procedure of loading the hinge is shown schematically in
In the embodiment of
d shows for example extension of the stop threads released on opening of the air-bag cover with simultaneous load absorption by the stop threads.
The total strength of the air-bag cover hinge 1 is determined depending on the number of stop threads or on the resistance to tearing of these stop threads 5.
In a textile embodiment in each case there can be two (standing) threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and these can be attached to a stop thread 5 to produce a repeating array of two threads 3 of the textile base structure 4 and one stop thread 5 over the width of the air-bag cover hinge 1. However, it should be understood that according to the circumstances the actual embodiments can be adapted depending on the desired resistance to tearing.
With reference to
In the case of more tension, the situation according to
The maximal expansion range of the air-bag cover hinge 1, i.e. the spacing of the portions 4a and 4b of the base structure 4, is defined by the length of the transverse stop threads 5 in the store 6. The number and resistance to tearing of the stop threads 5 must be set such that the latter absorb residual forces after tearing of the expanded textile base structure 4 (multistage process).
f and g show that the stop threads can have different lengths and/or different resistances to tearing relative to one another so as to execute dual-stage or multistage load absorption on opening.
In a further embodiment according to
After tearing of the threads 3 of the textile base structure 4, holding together of the torn portions 4a and 4b of the textile base structure is ensured or the air-bag cover hinge 1 is prevented from fully tearing apart.
In the other embodiments according to
In
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
10 2007 009 058.9 | Feb 2007 | DE | national |
20 2007 016 718.0 | Nov 2007 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2008/001312 | 2/20/2008 | WO | 00 | 8/19/2009 |