Patent Application
20120056054
The invention relates to a fastening element for fastening an airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system to a vehicle structure as well as a method for fastening an airbag to a vehicle structure.
Airbags (in particular curtain airbags) of a vehicle occupant restraint system are connected for instance via connecting elements in form of fixing tapes to a vehicle structure. For this a fastening element is for instance used being definable on the vehicle structure (such as a part of the vehicle body), wherein a sewed loop of the connecting tape is defined on the fastening element.
The object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fastening element, at which a connecting element can be fixed in the simplest manner.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention a fastening element for fastening an airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system to a vehicle structure is provided with
As previously mentioned, the connecting element is in particular a connecting tape (in particular in form of a tension tape), the one end thereof is connected to the airbag (for instance in one piece) and its other free end is to be fixed via the fastening element to a vehicle structure (in particular in form of a part of the vehicle body). However, the fastening element according to the invention can also in principle be used with non-tape like connecting elements.
The fastening element according to the invention is in particular used for fixing curtain airbags to a vehicle side structure such as for instance A-column, C-column and/or a roof frame of the vehicle, also if the connecting element is of cause not restricted to this application.
The connecting element, which is used together with the fastening element, is made for instance out of a textile fabric (for instance one or more layers of an airbag material) or another, in particular elastic material, for instance of a non-textile material such as rubber or a plastic.
The fixing means of the fastening element allows in particular a detachable connection of the fastening element to the vehicle structure. However, the fixing means of the fastening elements are designed in particular such that they counteract a removal of the fastening element out of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure, that means a certain force and/or actuation of the fixing means has to occur for removing the fastening element, which does not occur during normal operation of a vehicle, in which the fastening element according to the invention is arranged, and also not during an activation of the vehicle occupant restraint system, of which the fastening element is a part of. That the fastening element can be fixed via the fixing means “in” a fastening opening of the vehicle structure comprises for instance the possibility that the fastening element can be fixed via the fixing means at an edge of the fastening opening.
The projection of the fastening element is in particular made such that it counteracts an unintended pulling of the connecting element out of the feed-through opening. It blocks for instance a movement against the insertion direction of the connecting element being fed through the feed-through opening. In particular a form-fitted or force-fitted, in particular friction-fitted, connection between the fastening element and the connecting element is obtained via the projection.
According to an exemplary variant of the invention the projection (in particular formed spike like) projects from an edge of the feed-through opening. The connecting element fed through the feed-through opening presses in the assembled status of the fastening element against the projection, whereby the connecting element is being retained. The projection engages for instance in case of a textile connecting element with the fabric of the connecting element and blocks thus the connecting element being pulled out of the feed-through opening. The feed-through opening can of cause be made such that the connecting element can be removed from the projection in order to feed the tape further through the feed-through opening or to pull it out again of the feed-through opening.
The projection extends for instance towards the feed-through opening, wherein it extends in particular in a plane with the edge of a feed-through opening. It is however also conceivable that the projection points indeed (with a directional component) to the feed-through opening, is however being bent off the plane of the edge of the feed-through opening; for instance in a direction, which points in the assembled status of the fastening element to the vehicle structure or in a direction, which points in the assembled status of the fastening element away from the vehicle structure.
It is however also conceivable that the projection of the fastening element according to the invention is not formed at the edge of the feed-through opening, but is arranged for instance with a distance to the feed-through opening. The projection projects for instance from a continuous section of the fastening element via which the connecting element can be guided such that it rests against the projection.
It is of cause also possible that the fastening element comprises multiple projections for instance in form of multiple projections projecting from an edge of the feed-through opening.
The projection comprises for instance a spike, which rests in the assembled status of the fastening element against the connecting element or even engages with the material of the connecting element such that in particular when using a textile connecting element a particular efficient retaining of the connecting element in the feed-through opening is effected. In a variant the projection is designed essentially triangular in a top view that means it comprises two sides continuing acute towards each other from a basic side (for instance the edge of a feed-through opening). It is also possible that the spike of the projection is formed curved in particular in order to prevent in particular a destruction of the connecting element of the airbag inserted into the feed-through opening.
The feed-through opening of the fastening element comprises for instance a continuous edge that means there exists no recess from an edge of the fastening element to the feed-through opening, via which the connecting element can be inserted into the opening such that the connecting element has to be threaded through the feed-through opening.
The feed-through opening of the fastening element being made in particular out of a metal or a plastic is formed for instance by stamping out a contour having the projection such that the projection is integrally formed with the remaining fastening element and forms a section of the edge of the feed-through opening. Furthermore, it is possible that the stamping out of the feed-through opening does not occur along a closed line, but that the stamped out portion of the fastening element comprises a section, which remains connected to the remaining fastening element. The stamped out portion is thus not removed from the fastening element, but solely flap like bent off as far that a feeding through of the connecting element through the feed-through opening is possible without problems.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention the fixing means comprise a section, which reaches in the assembled status of the fastening element through the fastening opening of the vehicle structure and rests against a backside of the vehicle structure, which faces away from the airbag to be fixed. The section of the fastening element resting against the back side is for instance obtained, because an area (for instance an end in case of a longitudinal design of the fastening element) of the fastening element is being bent off from the remaining fastening element. The section to be brought into contact with the back side of the vehicle structure is in particular bent off from the remaining fastening element such that an area of the fastening element is obtained, which can be displaced via an edge of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure and is thereby preloaded against the edge or another section of the vehicle structure.
Due to the preloading the section of the fastening element presses against the backside and therewith in particular a friction-fitted connection of the fastening element with the vehicle structure is obtained. It is also possible that the edge of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure (or another area) has structures (in particular recesses) with which the section of the fixing means arranged at the back side of the vehicle structure engages and thus realizes besides a friction-fitted connection also a form-fitted connection of the fastening element to the vehicle structure.
The fixing means have beside the section, which rests in the assembled status of the fastening element against a back side of the vehicle structure, in particular also a section, which rests in the assembled fastening element against a front side of the vehicle structure, which faces away from the backside of the vehicle structure.
This section of the fixing means resting against the front side realizes in particular a form-fitted and/or force-fitted connection of the fastening element to the front side of the vehicle structure. The edge of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure or another section of the vehicle structure comprises therefore for instance a recess, with which a structure of the section of the fixing means resting against the front side of the vehicle structure engages.
Furthermore, the section of the fastening element, which is to be rested against the front side of the vehicle structure, can be designed such that for instance being bent off from the remaining fastening element such that it is preloaded against the front side of the vehicle structure when the fastening element is assembled in the fastening opening of the vehicle structure and therefore presses against it such that due to the friction between the section resting against the front side and the front side a removal of the fastening element out of the fastening opening is counteracted.
The section of the fastening element to be brought in contact with the front side of the vehicle structure is in particular designed in form of a flap being bent off from the remaining fastening element. This flap like section of the fixing means extends for instance from an edge of the fastening element (from the opening being different from the feed-through opening) and is obtained in particular by stamping out a portion of the fastening element.
Furthermore, the section of the fixing means resting against the front side of the vehicle structure in the assembled status of the fastening element can comprise at least one projection, which is designed for instance in form of a spike or comprises a spike, which presses against the front side of the vehicle structure and realizes in particular an additional form fit between the fastening element and the vehicle structure front side.
The section of the fixing means, which is to be rested against the front side of the vehicle structure, is in particular connected via a curve of the fastening element to the section of the fixing means, which is to be rested against a backside of the vehicle structure, that means the fixing means are designed according to the type of a clamp, which can be clamped on an edge of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure. For instance the two sections oppose each other approximately and extend essentially parallel to the vehicle structure.
In another exemplary embodiment of the invention the fastening element comprises at least one further feed-through opening for feeding through the connecting element. The further feed-through opening can in particular serve a feeding of the connecting element through to the (actual) feed-through opening such that it rests tightly against the projection of the fastening element. The fastening element comprises for instance two of such further feed-through openings.
Furthermore, the fastening element can comprise at least one recess, which continuous from the (actual) feed-through opening and/or a further feed-through opening of the fastening element to an edge of the fastening element such that a connecting element can be inserted over the edge and through the recess into the feed-through opening or the further feed-through opening, that means the connecting element does not have to be threaded through the feed-through opening or the further feed-through opening. The “edge” of the fastening element relates in particular to a side of the fastening element, which continues vertical to a plane, along which the feed-through opening or the further feed-through opening extend.
In an exemplary variant the fastening element is designed longitudinally and the recess continuous from a front face of an end of the fastening element to a further feed-through opening being different from the (actual) feed-through opening such that the connecting element can be inserted via the front face of the fastening element into the further feed-through opening. The recess extends for instance over almost the complete width (looked at crosswise to the main extension direction of the fastening element) such that a connecting tape with the wide side facing the fastening element can be pressed into the further feed-through opening. The width of the further feed-through opening corresponds for instance essentially to the width of the connecting tape.
The recess is in particular limited laterally by nose-like projections, which prevent a sliding out of the connecting tape inserted into the further feed-through opening. Furthermore, the front face of the fastening element, which comprises the further feed-through opening, can continue bended relative to the remaining fastening element; in particular such that it extends in the assembled status of the fastening element away from the vehicle structure.
According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention the fastening element comprises a recess, which continuous from a lateral edge of the fastening element to a further feed-through opening such that the connecting tape can be inserted via the lateral edge of the fastening element into the further feed-through opening. In this variant the connecting tape is thus aligned with its lateral edge towards the fastening element and is inserted via the recess into the further feed-through opening.
Furthermore, the further feed-through opening can have a height (that means an extension crosswise to the width of the opening), which corresponds approximately to the double or three times thickness of the connecting tape being used with the fastening element such that a connecting tape being fed through twice or three times through the further feed-through opening is clamped in a certain degree between edges of the further feed-through opening facing each other.
In a further exemplary embodiment of the invention the fastening element comprises a first and a second further feed-through opening as well as a first and a second recess, wherein the first recess continuous from a lateral edge of the fastening element to a first further feed-through opening and the second recess continues from a front face of an end of the fastening element to the second further feed-through opening. The fastening element is hereby in particular designed longitudinally, that means it has at least sectionally (in particular in the area of the feed-through opening) a larger extension in one direction (longitudinal direction) than in a direction (width) crosswise thereto. The here mentioned “lateral edge” of the fastening element extends thus vertical to a plane being spent by the longitudinal and width direction of the fastening element. The “front face” of the fastening element is in particular on an end of the fastening element while the fixing means are designed on its other end.
The invention relates also to an arrangement with an airbag, a fastening element as described above and a connecting element being fed through the said feed-through opening of the fastening element.
The invention relates furthermore to a method for fastening an airbag to a vehicle structure, which comprises the steps of:
The invention is being explained in more detail in the following by the means of examples with reference to the figures.
The fastening element 1 according to the invention illustrated in the
The fastening element 1 comprises furthermore a feed-through opening 3 through which a connecting element in form of a connecting tape 8 (compare
The acute projection 31 can be in particular made by stamping out a material portion 33 of the fastening element, wherein the stamped out area 33 remains connected on a side of the opening 3 being opposite to the projection 31 to the remaining fastening element and the feed-through opening 3 is being obtained by bending off the area 33. The material area 33 is bent off from the edge of the feed-through opening 3 as so much that the guiding of the connecting tape through the feed-through opening 3 is not hindered. The area 33 is in particular bent off to a side of the fastening element 1, wherein said side faces away from the vehicle structure in the assembled fastening element.
The fastening element 1 according to the invention comprises beside the feed-through opening 3 a first further feed-through opening 4 as well as a second feed-through opening 5. A recess 41 continues from a lateral edge 11 of the fastening element to the first further feed-through opening 4 through which the connecting tape can be inserted into the further feed-through opening 4. Furthermore, a recess 51 extends from a front face 12 of the fastening element 1 formed at one end of the fastening element to the second further feed-through opening 5 via which the connecting tape can be inserted into the second further feed-through opening 5.
The recess 51 has a width (crosswise to the longitudinal extension of the fastening element), which corresponds almost to the width of the second further feed-through opening 5 so that the connecting tape being aligned parallel to the fastening element can be pressed into the opening 5. The recess 51 is limited laterally by noses 52, which form simultaneously a section of the edge of the second further feed-through opening 5, and which prevent a sliding of the section of the connecting tape being inserted into the feed-through opening 5 through the recess 51.
The fixing means 2 are designed according to the type of a clamp and comprise a section 21, which is bent off from the remaining fastening element 1 by about 180°, that means the section is connected via a corresponding curve 211 to the remaining fastening element 1. As illustrated in particular in
The section 21 is bent off relative to the remaining fastening element such that it has to be again somewhat bent away relative to an opposing section of the fastening element for pushing over the edge of the fastening opening 6, whereby said section presses in the assembled status of the fastening element preloaded against the back side of the vehicle structure 7 and thus a form-fitted and/or force-fitted, in particular friction-fitted, connection of the section 21 to the back side of the vehicle structure 7 and thus the complete fastening element is obtained.
In order to obtain in particular an additional form-fitted connection to the vehicle structure the section 21 comprises at its free end an anchor like portion from which two acute tapering projections 212 extend such that they rest against the back side of the vehicle structure 7 in the assembled status of the fastening element. A section 213 of the fastening element opposing the projections 212 rests simultaneously against the front side of the vehicle structure such that the fastening element is clamped in particular via the projections 212 and the section 213 to the edge area of the fastening opening 6.
The
The tape 8 being guided through the feed-through opening 3 continuous then on a back side of the fastening element 1 to the first further feed-through opening 4, is being guided through said opening and emerges from the fastening element through the second further feed-through opening 5, wherein the emerging end 81 of the connecting tape 8 continuous through the second further feed-through opening 5 such that it continuous between a section of the tape 8 entering the fastening element 1 and the fastening element 1. Tape 8 is thus somewhat tightly clamped between the noses 55 and the edge of the second further feed-through opening 5 being opposite to the noses 52. Tape 8 is in particular lashed in the fastening element 1 such that the projection 31 engages with the material of the tape (for instance a textile fabric) or presses at least into the material such that a pulling (by exerting a force against the insertion direction of the tape that means in direction of the airbag to be fixed) is in particular hindered during the unfolding of the airbag or is almost avoided.
It is pointed out that the possibility illustrated in
In contrast to the
The flap like projection 9 has on its free end acute tapering teeth 951 via which said projection rests against the front side of the vehicle structure in the assembled fastening element. The teeth 951 serve in particular to obtain a certain anchoring of the projection 9 at the front side of the vehicle structure such that it a removal of the fastening element out of the fastening opening of the vehicle structure is as much as possible counteracted. It is pointed out that the teeth do not have to be necessarily designed in an acute manner. It is also conceivable that said teeth rest against the front side of the vehicle structure within essentially even side or that the projection does not have any teeth.
The fastening element 1 comprises furthermore similar to the fastening element according to the first embodiment a section 21 being bent off from the remaining fastening element, which rests at least partially against a back side of the vehicle structure (not shown) in the assembled fastening element and which is bent relative to the remaining fastening element in particular such that it presses in an assembled status preloaded against the back side of the vehicle structure. However, the section 21 of
A modification of the course of the connecting tape 8 trough the opening 3, 4 and 5 of the fastening element 1 is shown in
The variant according to
According to
A variant being similar to the one in
The application of the fastening element according to the invention is of cause not limited to the specific variant of threading the connecting tape 8 through the feed-through openings of the fastening element, but rather also other variants than the ones illustrated in the
The priority application, German Patent Application Number 10 2009 022 044.5, filed on May 18, 2009 is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2009 022 044.5 | May 2009 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation of International Patent Application Number PCT/EP2010/056523, filed on May 12, 2010, which was published in German WO 2010/133490. The foregoing international application is incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2010/056523 | May 2010 | US |
| Child | 13298754 | US |
