Safety device for a motor vehicle

• US 8,172,257 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: Lindemann, Sabine, Wandtke, Sebastian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Karen A
• Application Number:
  US12/529,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20100072734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/728.3, 280/743.1, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting for an airbag module for a vehicle door, with said mounting developed by at least two components arranged at a distance relative to each other, with said components provided to accommodate an airbag module, with at least one of said components designed to develop a locking connection with said airbag module.

Claims

1. A door trim panel with a mounting for an airbag module for a vehicle door, wherein the mounting comprises at least two components configured to extend from the door trim panel and arranged at a distance relative to each other, with said components provided to accommodate an airbag module, the airbag module comprising a gas sack, with at least one of said components designed to develop a locking connection with a portion of said airbag module external the gas sack, with said door trim panel further comprising an abutment, with said abutment arranged beneath said airbag module, with said abutment extending vertically from the door trim panel, a door trim panel support or an inside door panel to support the airbag module.

2. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, with the components to accommodate an airbag lance essentially provided at opposite ends of the gas sack of the airbag module.

3. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the locking connection comprises a snap joint.

4. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting is fixable to said door trim panel by means of fasteners.

5. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mounting is integrally developed with said door trim panel.

6. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein said door trim panel comprises at least one pre-weakened section, with said pre-weakened section provided for the escape of the gas sack of the airbag module, wherein a portion of said pre-weakened section of said door trim panel is foldable in the form of a flap upon escape of the gas sack, with the mounting for reinforcing the area essentially developed around said pre-weakened section.

7. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 6, wherein said flap is connected to said door trim panel through at least one hinge-like tear-resistant material.

8. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, wherein an inside door panel and said door trim panel provide a deployment channel for the gas sack of the airbag module.

9. A door trim panel in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a rear panel, with said rear panel arranged at an inside door panel, wherein said rear panel and said door trim panel provide a deployment channel for the gas sack of the airbag module.

10. A method for installing an airbag module at a vehicle door, with said vehicle door comprising a mounting for said airbag module, with said mounting developed by at least two components arranged at a distance relative to each other, with said components provided to accommodate an airbag module comprising a gas sack, with at least one of said components designed to develop a locking connection with said airbag module, comprising the steps of:

Inserting a portion of said airbag module external the gas sack into the mounting,

Locking said airbag module with at least one of said components through said locking connection,

jointly fixing a door trim panel of the vehicle door with said airbag module and an inside door panel of the vehicle door,

wherein the vehicle door comprises an abutment developed at said door trim panel or at the inside door panel, with said abutment arranged beneath said airbag module, with said abutment extending vertically from the door trim panel, the door trim panel support or the inside door panel to support said airbag module.

11. An installation method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of fixing the mounting at the inside door panel or at the door trim panel.

12. An installation method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of fixing a rear panel at the inside door panel.

13. An installation method in accordance with claim 12, further comprising the step of joint fixation of the rear panel with the door trim panel of the vehicle door and the airbag module and the inside door panel of the vehicle door.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein locking the airbag module is accomplished by means of a snap joint.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step of jointly fixing is accomplished through joint fasteners.

16. An inside door panel with a mounting for an airbag module for a vehicle door, with said mounting developed by at least two components arranged at a distance relative to each other, with said components provided to accommodate an airbag module comprising a gas sack, with at least one of said components designed to develop a locking connection with a portion of said airbag module external the gas sack, the vehicle door comprising a door trim panel further comprising an abutment, with said abutment arranged beneath said accommodating airbag module, with said abutment extending vertically from the door trim panel or a door trim panel support to support the airbag module.

17. An inside door panel in accordance with claim 16, further comprising a rear panel, with said rear panel along with the door trim panel developed as a deployment channel.