Cockpit Component

Abstract

A cockpit component for a motor vehicle includes a basic body and an inflatable airbag cushion, and has an airbag cover for protecting vehicle occupants against injuries during traffic accidents. On an end side of an interior structure, facing the vehicle occupant, the airbag cover bears directly against the basic body and engages around at least one edge of that end side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The single FIGURE schematically shows a section through a cockpit component according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the FIGURE, the cockpit component for a motor vehicle comprises a basic body 10, an inflatable airbag cushion 11 and an airbag cover 12 for protecting vehicle occupants against injuries during traffic accidents. In the inactive starting state, on an end side 13 facing the vehicle occupant, the airbag cover 12 bears directly against the basic body 10. In the inflated state, the airbag cushion 11 assumes the form shown by broken lines in the FIGURE.

In the inactive state, the airbag cover 12 engages around an edge 18 of the end side 13, which faces the vehicle occupant, of an interior structure 15 of the motor vehicle, leads at this edge 18 into the interior of the interior structure 15 and opens into an inflation reservoir 24.

At a second edge 19, the airbag cover 12 is connected fixedly to the basic body 10 by means of a fastening element 23, for example by adhesive bonding, clamping or welding. For protection or for visual covering, the fastening element 23 is fitted behind a covering 26.

If the need arises, the airbag cushion 11 is activated by a gas generator 25, which is situated behind the end side 13 of the basic body 10, charging the space between airbag cover 12 and interior structure 15 with air pressure via a channel 14, as a result of which the expandable fabric 21 expands and assumes the predetermined form of the airbag cushion 11. Folds 17, 17′, which are intended to permit optimum expansion of the airbag cushion 11, with regard to the protective function, and are intended to prevent an overexpansion are provided in the inflation reservoir 24.

The basic body 10 together with the inflatable airbag cushion 11 forms a separate module 20 which, in the FIGURE, is fitted in one piece into the interior structure 15 on the passenger's side, with the edge 18 of the basic body 10, as cockpit component, adjoining the interior structure 15 in a precisely fitting manner.

The airbag cover 12 is at least partially composed of a fabric 21 which is matched to the surface structure of the interior structure 15.

The fabric 21 of the airbag cover 12 is provided with a coating 22, for example with a foamed plastic. This serves to protect the vehicle occupants against injuries which may occur due to the momentum of the deployment of the airbag cushion 11.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A cockpit component for a motor vehicle, including a basic body and an inflatable airbag cushion, comprising: an airbag cover for protecting vehicle occupants against injuries during traffic accidents, the airbag cover, on an end side of the basic body facing the vehicle occupant, bearing directly against the basic body and engaging around at least one edge of the end side, andan inflation reservoir provided for the airbag cover,wherein the inflation reservoir is arranged behind the end side of the basic body.

11. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the basic body, together with the inflatable airbag cushion, forms a separate module.

12. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 11, wherein the module is fitted into interior structure on a passenger's side.

13. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 11, wherein the module is fitted into a steering wheel on a driver's side.

14. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 10, wherein a gas generator is arranged behind the end side of the basic body.

15. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the inflation reservoir has folds to permit the airbag cushion to expand into an inflated state.

16. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 10, wherein the airbag cover is at least partially composed of a fabric which is matched to surface structure of an interior structure.

17. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is expandable.

18. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is provided with a coating.

19. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 11, wherein the airbag cover is at least partially composed of a fabric which is matched to surface structure of an interior structure.

20. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is expandable.

21. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 19, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is provided with a coating.

22. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 12, wherein the airbag cover is at least partially composed of a fabric which is matched to surface structure of an interior structure.

23. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is expandable.

24. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 22, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is provided with a coating.

25. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 13, wherein the airbag cover is at least partially composed of a fabric which is matched to surface structure of an interior structure.

26. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 25, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is expandable.

27. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 25, wherein the fabric of the airbag cover is provided with a coating.

28. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 11, wherein a gas generator is arranged behind the end side of the basic body.

29. The cockpit component as claimed in claim 12, wherein a gas generator is arranged behind the end side of the basic body.