WO2003104043A1

WO2003104043A1 - Interior trim for a motor vehicle, in particular a fascia

Info

Publication number: WO2003104043A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/005522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernd Bechheim
Original assignee: Johnson Controls Interiors Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2002-06-11
Filing date: 2003-05-27
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Also published as: DE10225813A1; DE10225813B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an interior trim for a motor vehicle, in particular a fascia. Said fascia comprises a rigid support (1) that is provided with decorative layer (2) and an airbag module (14) situated in the vicinity of the passenger seat and located in a guide channel (15) of the interior trim. The guide channel is sealed off from the vehicle interior (6) by means of a cover, the latter being configured as a separately manufactured flush-fitting part (5) that can be fixed in a cavity (4) of the support. According to the invention, the flush-fitting part (5) is provided with a predetermined breaking point (17) for configuring at least one airbag exit flap (18). The flush-fitting part (5) preferably comprises a collar-type projection (7) facing away from the vehicle interior (6), said projection surrounding the airbag module (14) at least in the vicinity of the airbag exit. The airbag module (14) can be fixed to said projection by means of fixing elements (22).

Description

Interior part for a motor vehicle, in particular dashboard

description

The invention relates to an interior trim part for a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard, with a rigid support provided with a decorative layer on the interior side, which has an airbag module located in the area of the front passenger seat and arranged in a guide shaft of the interior trim part, which is closed to the vehicle interior by means of a cover , the cover being designed as a separately manufactured built-in part which can be fixed in a recess in the carrier, and a method for its production.

State of the art

A generic interior part in the form of a dashboard is known from published patent application DE 199 13 041 A1. The dashboard disclosed there consists of a carrier with a horizontal support tube running transversely to the direction of travel, which has in its area assigned to the front passenger seat a shaft-like hollow body which extends forward from the seat-side surface of the dashboard. In this shaft an airbag module is arranged, which with the Support tube is connected and from which an airbag is deployed through the shaft to the seat occupant in the event of a crash.

On the inside, the opening of the shaft is closed by a separately made decorative strip, which is released from the recess in the carrier when the airbag is deployed. Tether straps or an articulated connection of the decorative strip to the dashboard prevent injury to the vehicle occupants by flying components.

This known dashboard has the disadvantage that the shaft has to be manufactured and assembled separately. Furthermore, the freedom of design is limited by the trim strip arranged in the visible area.

In the published patent application DE 199 32327 A1, an interior trim part for a motor vehicle is also described which has a predetermined breaking point, which is invisible to the vehicle occupant, and which runs around on the inside for an airbag flap which is integrally formed on the carrier. Such deliberate weakenings of the carrier are generally known and can be brought about, for example, by a linear weakening of the carrier wall or by lining up blind holes produced on the inside of the carrier by means of a laser. However, safety devices are generally inevitable in these systems, and the creation of the predetermined breaking point may require an additional step. Ultimately, the firing channel and the holding frame for the airbag module must also be made as separate components that increase the weight of the interior trim part. task

The object of the invention is to reduce the costs for producing an interior fitting part provided with an airbag module, in particular an instrument panel, and to reduce the weight of such a component. In addition, parts of the dashboard should be avoided (particularly at low temperatures) when the airbag is deployed and the vehicle occupants are endangered.

solution

The object is achieved in that, in the case of a generic interior fitting part, the built-in part has a predetermined breaking point for forming at least one airbag outlet flap.

In a departure from the designs known from the prior art, the built-in part thus remains connected to the carrier when the airbag is deployed and forms the airbag outlet cover with part of its planar extent. To create the predetermined breaking point, it is therefore not necessary to process the entire dashboard, but only the considerably smaller installation part. Furthermore, the material for the built-in part can be selected so that it has optimal properties for the generation of the predetermined breaking point and with regard to the behavior when the airbag is triggered.

A substantially H-shaped or U-shaped course of the predetermined breaking point is particularly favorable, which is advantageously designed as a linear, in particular embossed, reduction in the wall thickness of the built-in part.

The built-in part preferably consists of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, in particular with a fiber reinforcement, which Long glass fibers included. The long fibers can act as a joint for the airbag outlet cover, so that additional safety measures can be dispensed with. Polypropylene or copolymers containing polypropylene are particularly suitable as the thermoplastic.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the built-in part is embedded on the edge directly in the material of the carrier and is held there in a form-fitting and / or integral manner.

In order to reduce the number of components required to manufacture the interior trim part, the built-in part can have a collar-like projection pointing away from the vehicle interior, which surrounds the airbag module at least in the area of the airbag outlet and forms at least part of the guide shaft for the airbag that is deployed. It is naturally advantageous if the collar-like projection essentially completely surrounds the airbag module in the area of the airbag outlet. The collar-like projection is preferably designed as a bulge of the essentially plate-like built-in part, the built-in part running outside the collar-like projection essentially equidistant from the surface of the decorative layer.

In order to prevent the bulge from emerging through the decorative layer, according to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be closed on the interior side equidistant from the surface of the decorative layer. The closure can be formed by a cover which can be placed on the bulge, but alternatively or additionally, it can also be produced by completely or partially filling the bulge, in particular with a polyurethane foam material. Furthermore, a two-layer design of the built-in part is also advantageous, the position facing away from the vehicle interior being the bulge and the interior facing side forms the closure. A gas and / or foam can preferably be injected between the first and the second layer in the region of the bulge, as a result of which the layer facing away from the vehicle interior is deformed to form the bulge.

A further reduction in the number of components can be brought about in that the collar-like projection has fastening means for fixing the airbag module. These are preferably arranged essentially in the area of the collar-shaped projection furthest from the interior.

In order to give the dashboard an overall pleasant feel and to hide a possible offset between the carrier and the built-in part, a foam layer, in particular made of a crosslinked polyurethane foam, is arranged between the decorative layer on the one hand and the carrier or the built-in part on the other.

A method according to the invention for producing an interior trim part of a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard, is characterized in that in a first work step an installation part provided with a predetermined breaking point is produced. The predetermined breaking point can, for example, be embossed into the built-in part, milled or created by lining up holes. The built-in part is then inserted into the carrier tool and embedded in the material of the carrier during its manufacture. Subsequently, the carrier and built-in part are covered with a decorative layer at least in some areas.

According to a preferred method, the built-in part can be produced by first cutting a plate-shaped semi-finished product and then reshaping it in particular by pressing or deep drawing. On the one hand, an adaptation to the shape of the carrier, but also the formation of the collar-like bulge is required. feasible. Finally, the formed semi-finished product is cut to its final dimensions, possibly in conjunction with punched-out areas in the edge area, which are used for positive embedding in the carrier material, and is now prepared for insertion into the carrier tool.

Bulges of the built-in part are preferably closed before it is inserted into the carrier tool so that the carrier forms a continuous surface from the vehicle interior view. For this purpose, a lid can be placed on the bulge, but alternatively or additionally, the bulge can be completely or partially filled with a foam, in particular a polyurethane foam.

According to another advantageous method, the built-in part can be produced by cutting two substantially congruent plate-shaped semi-finished products and then reshaping, in particular pressing, to form a two-layer component. After inserting this component into a mold, gas and / or foam is injected in some areas into the separating layer between the two layers, bulging outward into the layer remote from the interior. Finally, the formed component is cut to the final dimension of the installation part.

After the built-in part has been embedded in the carrier, a foam layer, in particular made of a polyurethane foam, is preferably introduced between the decorative layer on the one hand and the carrier or built-in part on the other hand. The airbag module can then be fastened, in particular screwed, to the built-in part. characters

The figures represent examples and schematically of various embodiments of the invention.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows an interior trim part in the form of a dashboard according to a first embodiment of the invention in section

Fig. 2 shows another dashboard designed according to the invention

The dashboard shown in Fig. 1 consists of a carrier 1, which can be produced, for example, by injection molding, a vehicle interior-side decorative layer 2 and a foam layer 3 introduced between the carrier 1 and decorative layer 2. The carrier 1 is on its side facing the passenger with a Provide recess 4, which is closed by means of an installation part 5. The built-in part 5 has a collar-like, circumferential projection 7, which points away from the vehicle interior 6 and is produced by a bulge in the built-in part 5. Decorative layer 2 and foam layer 3 completely hide the built-in part 5, an annular cover 9 inserted in the area of the bulge 8 covering the bulge 8 to form a cavity 10 and preventing the foam layer 3 from penetrating into the cavity 10. Furthermore, carrier 1, cover 9 and built-in part 5 form a continuous surface again from the vehicle interior 6.

The built-in part 5, which consists of a long glass fiber reinforced polypropylene, is embedded all around in the region of its edge 12 in the material of the carrier 1 and is held there in a material and form-fitting manner. The Form-locking can be brought about through holes 13 made in the mounting part, which are penetrated by the material of the carrier 1.

The collar-shaped projection 7 partially surrounds an airbag module 14 arranged below the installation part 5 in the dashboard, forming a guide shaft 15 for the unfolding, invisible airbag. An H-shaped notch 16, which is stamped or milled inward in the built-in part 5 with respect to the projection 7, forms a predetermined breaking point 17, along which the airbag tears open the built-in part 5 to form two airbag outlet flaps 18 ', 18 ". The horizontally transverse to the direction of travel (Y-axis of the vehicle) hinge regions 19 ', 19 "between the leg ends of the H-shaped predetermined breaking point 17 serve as joints around which the airbag outlet flaps 18', 18" pivot towards the windshield or downwards. The reinforcement by long fibers prevents the airbag outlet flaps 18 ′, 18 ″ from being completely detached from the built-in part 5, so that further securing measures such as tether straps or hinge plates are unnecessary. The hinge regions 19 ′, 19 ″ can likewise have a slight weakening, preferably produced by embossing without destroying the long fibers, in order to clearly determine the course of the joint.

In the case of a (not shown) U-shaped contour of the notch, a single airbag flap would be formed when triggered, which preferably folds away from the vehicle occupant to the windshield around a hinge region that runs horizontally in the upper region of the built-in part.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the built-in part 5 is made in two layers, both the layer 20 on the interior side and the layer 21 facing away from the interior 6 being made of long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. To form the projection 7, the installation part 5 is inserted into a molding tool, the cavity of which the contour of the bulge 8 having. By injecting gas into the separating layer between the layers 20 and 21, the layer 21 facing away from the interior 6 bulges away from the layer 20 on the interior side, forming the cavity 10. The cavity 10 is additionally filled with a filling foam 11 to increase the component strength. The local loosening of the layers 20 and 21 can be facilitated in that a release agent is applied in the relevant annular area during the previous pressing of the two layers 20, 21.

In this exemplary embodiment, the predetermined breaking point 17 is also formed by an H-shaped notch 16, of which only the middle, horizontally running line is visible in the section according to FIG. 2. When the airbag emerges, two airbag outlet flaps 18 ′, 18 ″ again arise, of which the lower airbag outlet flap 18 ′ around the hinge region 19 ′ toward the vehicle occupant, and the upper airbag outlet flap 18 ″ around the hinge region 19 ″ from the vehicle occupant swings away towards the windshield.

In both versions, the projection 8 is provided with fastening means 22 in the form of screws 24 embedded in the material of the built-in part 5 (only shown in detail on the right in FIG. 1), to which the airbag module 14 is releasably anchored by means of nuts 23. For this purpose, the airbag module 14 is provided with angled fastening tabs 25 which are penetrated by the screws 24. The attachment takes place approximately in the area of the bulge 8, which is furthest from the interior surface of the dashboard and is approximately parallel to it, but at right angles to the side walls of the guide shaft. The airbag module 14 can therefore be inserted from below into the guide shaft 15 and screwed to the mounting part 5 in the same direction without any problems. reference numeral

1 carrier

2 decorative layer

3 foam layer

4 recess (of the carrier)

5 built-in part

6 vehicle interior

7 head start

8 bulge

9 lids

10 cavity

11 filling foam

12 edge (of the installation part)

13 hole

14 airbag module

15 guide shaft

16 notch

17 predetermined breaking point

18 Airbag outlet flap

19 hinge area

20 layer (interior side)

21 position (facing away from the interior)

22 fasteners

23 mother

24 screw

25 fastening tab

Claims

claims

1. Interior part for a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard, with a rigid carrier (1) provided on the interior side with a decorative layer (2), which has an airbag module (14) located in the area of the passenger seat in a guide shaft (15) of the interior part. which is closed to the vehicle interior (6) by means of a cover, the cover being designed as a separately manufactured built-in part (5) which can be fixed in a recess (4) in the carrier, characterized in that the built-in part (5) is a predetermined breaking point ( 17) for forming at least one airbag outlet flap (18).

2. Interior trim part according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (17) is substantially H-shaped.

3. Interior part according to claim 1, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (17) is substantially U-shaped.

4. Interior part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the predetermined breaking point (17) is designed as a linear, in particular embossed or milled notch (16) of the built-in part (5).

5. Interior trim part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the built-in part (5) consists of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic.

6. Interior trim part according to claim 5, characterized in that the fiber reinforcement comprises long glass fibers.

7. Interior part according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the thermoplastic comprises polypropylene or copolymers containing polypropylene.

8. Interior part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the built-in part (5) is embedded on the edge directly in the material of the carrier (1).

9. Interior fitting part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the built-in part (5) has a collar-like projection (7) which points away from the vehicle interior (6) and which surrounds the airbag module (14) at least in the region of the airbag outlet.

10. Interior trim part according to claim 9, characterized in that the collar-like projection (7) surrounds the airbag module (14) in the area of the airbag outlet substantially completely.

11. Interior fitting part according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the collar-like projection (7) is designed as a bulge (8) of the substantially plate-like built-in part (5).

12. Interior part according to claim 11, characterized in that the built-in part (5) outside the collar-like projection (7) is substantially equidistant from the surface of the decorative layer (2).

13. Interior part according to claim 12, characterized in that the bulge (8) is closed equidistant to the surface of the decorative layer (2) on the interior side.

14. Interior part according to claim 13, characterized in that the closure comprises a lid (9) which can be placed on the bulge (8).

15. Interior part according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the closure can be produced by completely or partially filling out the bulge (8), in particular with a polyurethane foam material.

16. Interior trim part according to claim 13, characterized in that the built-in part (5) is formed in two layers, the layer (21) facing away from the vehicle interior forming the bulge (8) and the interior-side layer (20) forming the closure.

17. Interior part according to claim 13, characterized in that a gas and / or foam can be injected between the layers (20), (21) in the region of the bulge (8).

18. Interior part according to one of claims 9 to 17, characterized in that the collar-like projection (7) has fastening means (22) for fixing the airbag module (14).

19. Interior fitting part according to claim 18, characterized in that the fastening means (22) are arranged essentially in the interior-distant region of the collar-shaped projection (7).

20. Interior part according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the decorative layer (2) on the one hand and the carrier (1) or the built-in part (5) on the other hand, a foam layer (3), in particular made of a crosslinked polyurethane foam, is arranged.

21. A method for producing an interior trim part of a motor vehicle, in particular an instrument panel, according to claim 1, characterized by the following steps:

Production of a built-in part (5) provided with a predetermined breaking point (17)

Inserting the built-in part (5) into the carrier tool Manufacture the carrier (1) by embedding the built-in part (5) in the material of the carrier (1) at least in regions covering the carrier (1) and the built-in part (5) with a decorative layer (2 )

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the built-in part (5) is produced by the following steps: cutting a plate-shaped semi-finished product, forming the semi-finished product, in particular by pressing or deep drawing

Cutting the formed semi-finished product to the final dimension of the built-in part (5)

23. The method according to claim 22, characterized in that bulges (8) of the built-in part (5) are closed before it is inserted into the carrier tool.

24. The method according to claim 23, characterized in that a lid (9) is placed on at least one bulge (8).

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the bulge (8) with a filling foam (11), in particular a polyurethane foam, is completely or partially filled.

26. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the

Installation part (5) is produced by the following steps:

Cutting two substantially congruent plate-shaped semi-finished products - reshaping the superimposed semi-finished products, in particular by

Pressing, with the formation of a two-layer component, regionally injecting gas and / or foam into the separating layer between the two layers (20), (21) with the formation of a bulge (8) in at least one of these layers - cutting the formed component to the final dimension of the built-in part (5)

27. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 26, characterized in that between the decorative layer (2) on the one hand and the carrier (1) or built-in part (5) on the other hand, a foam layer (3), in particular made of a polyurethane foam, is introduced.

28. The method according to any one of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that the airbag module (14) is subsequently attached to the mounting part (5), in particular screwed.