GB2281259A

GB2281259A - Vehicle air bag cover construction.

Info

Publication number: GB2281259A
Application number: GB9317852A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Matti Niemi; Joakim Landen
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 1993-08-27
Filing date: 1993-08-27
Publication date: 1995-03-01
Also published as: GB9317852D0

Abstract

A transport cover 12 for an air-bag comprises two components 13, 14 hinged together about a hinge line 15 and movable into a closed position with a "clam-action". An aperture (19, fig. 3) is defined by the two components 13, 14 in the region of the hinge line 15 to receive projecting parts 6 to 11 of a gas generator arrangement associated with the air-bag. The components 13, 14 are provided with projecting lips 7, 18 at a position remote from the hinge line, the lips abutting when the components are in the closed condition, the lips being provided to enable the components to be secured in the closed condition. The cover provides protection for the air-bag prior to its installation in the vehicle. It may also be installed with the air-bag in a vehicle, to retain the air-bag in a folded condition. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AN AIR-BAG ARRANGENENT" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an air-bag arrangement.

It has been proposed to provide an air-bag in a motor vehicle to provide protection for the driver of the vehicle or a passenger in the vehicle in the event that an accident should arise.

Such an air-bag is manufactured and assembled prior to being installed in the vehicle. The air-bag must be provided with a cover which protects the air-bag, at least during transportation from its point of manufacture to the point at which it is installed in the vehicle, since otherwise the air-bag can become damaged.

It is, of course, very important that the air-bag is not damaged in any way prior to installation in the motor vehicle.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved form of transport cover for an air-bag. It is to be clearly understood that whilst a cover may be provided which is a "transport cover" in that the cover provides protection for the air-bag during transport from the point of manufacture to the point of installation, that cover may actually be installed, with the air-bag, in a motor vehicle, thus also serving to retain the airbag in a folded condition within the vehicle.

According to this invention there is provided a transport cover for a folded air-bag, the transport cover comprising two components, the two components being hinged together along one lateral side and being movable to a closed position in which there is a line of contact between the two components also the sides opposite the hinge line, the components then defining a closed cavity for receiving an air-bag, the two components defining an aperture in alignment with or adjacent the hinge line adapted to receive a projecting part of a gas generator assembly and being provided with means to secure the components in a closed position.

Preferably each component is recessed so that each component, when the components are in the closed condition, contributes to the formation of the space adapted to receive the air-bag.

Conveniently the said aperture is co-incident with the hinge line.

Advantageously each component of the cover is provided with a protruding lip at a position remote from the hinge line, the lips being adapted to abut when the two components are in the closed condition, the lips comprising the means to secure the components in a closed condition.

Clip means may be provided to co-operate with the lips to retain the lips together, but alternatively the lines may be provided with a snap locking mechanism or the lips may be adhered or welded together. The said two components may be integrally moulded of a plastics material.

The cover may be provided in combination with a gas generator and an air-bag, part of the gas generator arrangement extending through the aperture provided in the transport cover, the air-bag being retained in the cavity defined by the two components.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a side view of an air-bag cover in accordance with the invention mounted on a gas generator assembly, with part of the gas-generator assembly being shown in phantom, FIGURE 2 is an end view of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view, from beneath of the cover of Figures 1 and 2, shown in an open condition, but without the air-bag arrangement.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, an airbag arrangement 1 comprises an elongate diffuser tube 2 provided with perforations 3 in the side wall thereof.

Two gas generator housings 4,5 are mounted on the peripheral wall of the tube 2 by means of fastening bolts 6 which pass diametrically across the tube 2, and pass on either side of and between the gas generator housings 4,5, the bolts carrying nuts 6 which engage against a clamping plate 8, urging the clamping plate into contact with the gas generator housings 4,5 thus forcing those housings into firm contact with the tube 2. The gas generator housings are provided with outlet openings which are directed into the tube 2.

The gas generators within the gas generator housings are triggered by means of shock waves directed to the gas generators through respective shock tubes 9,10, the shock waves passing through apertures provided for that purpose in the clamping plate 8 to establish communication with the gas generator housings 4,5.

A mounting bracket 11 is provided which surrounds the gas generator housings and can be used to mount the air-bag assembly in position.

A transport cover 12 which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 mounted in position on the components described above, comprises an integral assembly having two cover elements 13,14, which are hingedly connected, at their lower-most edges by a hinge line 15. The elements 13,14 are each partially recessed, and are adapted to have a closed position, as illustrated in Figure 2, in which the two parts 13,14 substantially abut each other along a linear contact line 16. The line 10 extends along the sides of the two cover elements opposed to the hinge line 15, and also, as shown, the other two remaining sides of the cover elements. The two parts 13,14 then define between them a closed cavity which can contain a folded air-bag. The transport cover thus protects the folded air-bag. Each of the two portions 13,14 defines a projecting lip 16,17 at a position remote from the hinge line 15, the lips abutting each other and being connectable together either by clips which engage the adjacent lips 17,18 or by fastening means which extend through apertures provided in the lip 17,18 for that purpose. Alternatively, the lips 17,18 may be secured together by an integrally formed snap locking mechanism or by adhesive or even by a light welding if the components 13 and 14 are, as is presently envisaged, manufactured from a plastics material.

As can be seen most clearly in Figure 3, parts of the components 13,14 defining the hinge line are cut away to form a relatively large aperture 19. This aperture is dimensioned to receive part of the gas generator assembly 1, namely the gas generator housings 4,5, and the associated clamping plate 8 and nuts and bolts 6,7.

It is to be appreciated that the transport cover 12 as described above may be mounted on the gas generator assembly simply by passing the protruding part of the gas generator assembly, namely the gas generator housings 4,5 and the associated components through the aperture 18 and the transport cover. The air-bag, which surrounds the perforated diffuser tube 2 may then be packed within one or both of the recessed cover parts 13,14 and the cover parts may be closed and secured together appropriately, thus retaining the air-bag in a safe environment for transportation and storage. The transport cover may be removed from the assembly when it is to be installed in a motor vehicle and may then be disposed of or re-used, or the transport cover may remain in position when the air-bag has been mounted in a motor vehicle.

It is envisaged that the air-bag cover as described may be moulded from any suitable plastic material. The nature of the plastic material selected for the moulding will depend upon the desired properties of the air-bag cover. If the air-bag cover is simply to be used as a transport cover and is then to be thrown away or recycled, when the air-bag has been mounted in the motor vehicle, then a very cheap plastic material may be utilised. If the transport cover is to be re-used, then a more sturdy cover may be desirable, using a stronger and more expensive plastic material. If the transport cover is to remain in position when the bag is mounted in position in a motor vehicle, it may then be necessary to use a relatively expensive material having desirable properties when the air-bag is activated.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A transport cover for a folded air-bag, the transport cover comprising two components, the two components being hinged together along one lateral side and being movable to a closed position in which there is a line of contact between the two components along the sides opposite the hinge line, the components then defining a closed cavity for receiving an air-bag, the two components defining an aperture in alignment with or adjacent the hinge line adapted to receive a projecting part of a gas generator assembly and being provided with means to secure the components in a closed position.

2. A cover according to Claim 1 wherein each component is recessed so that each component, when the components are in the closed condition, contributes to the formation of the space adapted to receive the airbag.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the said aperture is co-incident with the hinge line.

4. A cover according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each component of the cover is provided with a protruding lip at a position remote from the hinge line, the lips being adapted to abut when the two components are in the closed condition, the lips comprising the means to secure the components in a closed condition.

5. A cover according to Claim 4 wherein clip means are provided to co-operate with the said lips to retain the lips together.

6. A cover according to Claim 4 wherein the lips are provided with a snap locking mechanism.

7. A cover according to Claim 4 wherein the said lips are adhered or welded together.

8. A cover according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the said two components are integrally moulded of a plastics material.

9. A cover according to any one of the preceding Claims in combination with a gas generator arrangement and an air-bag, part of the gas generator arrangement extending through the aperture provided in the transport cover, the air-bag being retained in the cavity defined by the two components.

10. A transport cover substantially as herein described with reference to and as show in the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.