Motor vehicle lining element comprising a frame for the deployment of an airbag

The lining element (10) for a motor vehicle comprises a rigid support element (12) and a covering element (14) covering the support element (12), the covering element (14) comprising a skin (26) intended to be visible to an occupant of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the support element (12) defining at least one opening (22) for the deployment of an airbag toward the outside of the lining element (10), a frame (16) being connected to the support element (12) and extending around the periphery of said opening (22), the frame (16) carrying a continuous rib (34) extending from the frame (16) into the covering element (14), along at least a part of the periphery of the opening (22). The rib (34) is connected to the frame (16) by a weakening line (50) enabling the deformation of the rib (34) with respect to the frame (16) in the event of an impact against the lining element (10).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle lining element for a vehicle dashboard.

BACKGROUND

It is currently common to equip motor vehicles with airbag devices. Such devices are generally housed in vehicle dashboards, while being hidden under a lining element covering the dashboard. Such a lining element may be of the type comprising a rigid support element and a covering element covering the support element, the covering element comprising a skin intended to be visible to an occupant of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the support element defining at least one opening for the deployment of an airbag toward the outside of the lining element, a frame being connected to the support element and extending around the periphery of the opening, the frame carrying a continuous rib extending from the frame into the covering element, along at least a part of the periphery of the opening.

When it is deployed, the airbag must therefore pass through the lining element covering it, which is generally done by tearing of part of the covering element, thereby freeing a passage for the airbag toward the passenger compartment. The lining element must therefore be designed to tear cleanly so as to allow an optimal deployment of the airbag and prevent material from being projected from the covering element into the passenger compartment, those projections potentially hurting the occupants of the vehicle.

To that end, it is known to create a weakening area in the covering element so as to limit tearing. When the airbag is deployed, it acts on a flap which in turn acts on the weakening area, which makes it possible to control the tearing.

However, the tearing is not always optimally controlled and risks often remain of projections entering the passenger compartment.

It is known from US-2009/0309338 to provide a rigid rib extending over at least part of the periphery of the deployment opening of the airbag, to improve the tearing of the covering element during deployment of the airbag.

However, there is a risk that, in case of impact against the surface of the lining element, for example if the head of an occupant of the vehicle collides with the lining element, the rib sections the covering element and emerges in said outer surface, which would risk causing injuries to that occupant.

SUMMARY

One aim of the invention is to offset these drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a motor vehicle lining element in which the tearing of the covering element during deployment of the airbag is done in a controlled manner, so as to avoid projections of material from the lining element into the passenger compartment, the lining element being adapted not to injure the occupants of the vehicle in case of impact against its outer surface.

To that end, the invention relates to a lining element of the aforementioned type, wherein the rib is connected to the frame by a weakening line enabling the deformation of the rib with respect to the frame in the event of an impact against the lining element.

The lining element according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, considered alone or according to any technically possible combination(s):

the weakening line comprises alternating material bridges, connecting the rib to the frame, and windows, each window being defined by the rib, the frame, and at least one material bridge;

each material bridge comprises a first portion, extending substantially in the extension of the frame, and a second portion, extending substantially in the extension of the rib, the two portions being directly in contact with each other and forming a non-zero angle between them;

the rib comprises a folded end portion;

the angle formed between the folded end portion and a base of the rib, connected to the frame, is comprised between 0° and 80°;

the angle formed between the folded end portion and a base of the rib, connected to the frame, is comprised between 100° and 175°;

the end portion is folded toward the opening;

the end portion is folded toward the frame;

the rib comprises a base connected to the frame, and the angle formed between the frame and the base of the rib is comprised between 5° and 80°, or between 100° and 175°;

the rib is connected to the frame along a peripheral edge of the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the description, the lining element10will be described as a dashboard lining element. It is understood that such an element can line another element of the vehicle, such as a door interior, a seat, a steering wheel, or another part.

As shown inFIG. 1, the lining element10comprises a rigid support element12, a flexible covering element14, a rigid frame16connected to the support element12, and a flap18.

The support element12is for example a plastic-based rigid insert forming the body of a dashboard. It delimits a through opening22for the deployment of an airbag device (not shown). The opening22for example has a substantially rectangular shape.

The covering element14is intended to impart a pleasant feel and visual appearance to the dashboard. It covers the support element12, the frame16and the flap18. In the illustrated example, it is made up of a layer of foam24covered with a skin26.

The foam making up the layer of foam24is for example polyurethane. The skin26has an outer surface28intended to be visible by occupants of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Alternatively, the covering element14is made up of the skin26alone.

The flap18covers the opening22and makes it possible to tear the covering element14when the airbag is deployed. Preferably, the flap18is articulated to the frame16by one of its edges so as to lift upon deployment of the airbag device. The flap18has a sufficient rigidity to transmit the deployment energy from the airbag to its free end, so as to tear the covering element14. To that end, the flap18is for example made from metal.

The frame16is connected to the support element12and extends over the periphery of the opening22. Preferably, the frame16surrounds the opening22. It is inserted between the support element12and the covering element14.

In the illustrated example, the frame16is fixed to the support element12using fastening means30, such as bolts, rivets or clips, and is typically made from metal. Alternatively, the frame16is integral with the support element12.

The frame16comprises a ribbed part32and a portion (not shown) for articulating with the flap18. Preferably, the ribbed part32and the articulation portion are integral. Alternatively, the ribbed part32and the articulation portion are formed by two distinct parts.

The ribbed part32extends between two end portions32a,32b. Preferably, each end portion32a,32bis in contact with the articulation part.

The ribbed part32bears a continuous rib34that extends from the frame16, substantially perpendicular thereto, in the covering element14, without emerging in the outer surface28. The rib34is integral with the frame16.

Preferably, the rib34extends from one end portion32ato the other end portion32b.

The rib34comprises a base34aconnected to the frame16, and an end portion34b, extending from the base34ainto the covering element14. The end portion34bforms an angle β with the base34a. In the example illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the angle β is substantially equal to 180° and the end portion34bdelimits an upper end35of the rib34.

It will be noted that the term “upper” used here should be understood in an orientation going from the support element12toward the outer surface28.

In the illustrated example, the rib34extends substantially along half of the periphery of the opening22. Alternatively, the rib34extends over three of the four sides of the opening22.

A weakening area36is thus defined in the covering element14, above the ribbed part32. The weakening area36can also be formed by a precut in the foam layer24or in the skin26, said precut defining the weakening area36of the covering element14.

Preferably, the rib34extends along an inner40or outer42peripheral edge of the frame16, for example, as shown, along an inner peripheral edge40. In the illustrated example, the inner peripheral edge40borders the edge of the opening22, the outer peripheral edge42extending on the support element12, opposite the inner peripheral edge40.

Alternatively, the rib34extends between the inner40and outer42peripheral edges of the frame16.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the rib34is connected to the frame16by a weakening line50. This weakening line makes it possible to deform the rib34relative to the frame16, in the event of an impact against the lining element10.

To that end, the weakening line50comprises alternating material bridges52and windows54.

Each material bridge52connects the rib34to the frame16and is in particular integral with the rib34and frame16. In particular, each material bridge52comprises a first portion56extending substantially in the extension of the frame16, and a second portion58extending substantially in the extension of the base34aof the rib34. The two portions56,58are integral and are in direct contact with each other. They form a non-zero angle α between them. The angle α is equal to the angle γ formed between the base34aof the rib34and frame16. Preferably, the angle α is comprised between 5° and 175°. In the illustrated example, the angle α is substantially equal to 90°.

Preferably, each material bridge52has a minimal length, between two consecutive windows54, larger than twice the thickness of the rib34. Furthermore, in one preferred alternative of the invention, the first portion56has a minimal width, between the frame16and the second portion58, larger than twice the thickness of the rib34, and the second portion58has a minimal width, between the rib34and the first portion56, larger than twice the thickness of the rib34. It will be noted that “thickness of the rib34” refers to the thickness of the material of the rib34, considered between the face of the rib34oriented toward the frame16and the face of the rib34oriented toward the opening22.

In the illustrated example, each end portion32a,32bof the ribbed part32is connected by a material bridge52to the rib34. Thus, the rib34is more rigid at those end parts32a,32b.

Each window54is delimited by the rib34, the frame16, and at least one material bridge52. In the illustrated example, each window54is delimited by two material bridges52, such that each window54has a closed contour. Alternatively, at least one window54is delimited by a single material bridge52and emerges at an end portion32a,32b, between the frame16and the rib34.

Preferably, each window54has a length, considered between the two consecutive material bridges52, comprised between 5 and 300 mm.

Owing to the invention, the rib can deform relative to the frame. In particular, in the event of an impact on the outer surface of the lining element, the pressure exerted by the covering element on the rib causes the retraction thereof toward the opening, which prevents the rib from sectioning the skin and forming a bridge protruding outward from the lining element. Thus, the rib remains covered by the skin and cannot injure the occupants of the vehicle.

Furthermore, using alternating material bridges and windows makes it possible to have an assembly made up of the frame and the ribs that is particularly inexpensive to manufacture, the weakening line being formed by a simple removal of material to form the windows.

Alternatives of the rib34are presented inFIGS. 4 to 9.

In a first alternative, shown inFIG. 4, the end portion34bis folded toward the opening22relative to the base34a, and the angle β is comprised between 0° and 80°.

In a second alternative, shown inFIG. 5, the end portion34bis folded toward the frame16, opposite the opening22, and the angle β is comprised between 0° and 80°.

It will be noted that, in the first and second alternatives, the contact area between the base34aand the end portion34bdefines the upper end35of the rib34. However, this contact area being rounded due to the folding of the end portion34b, the upper end35is not very sharp, and the risks of the rib34cutting the skin26are reduced.

In a third alternative, shown inFIG. 6, the end portion34bis folded toward the opening22, and the angle β is comprised between 100° and 175°.

In a fourth alternative, shown inFIG. 7, the end portion34bis folded toward the frame16, opposite the opening22, and the angle β is comprised between 100° and 175°.

In a fifth alternative, illustrated inFIG. 8, the angle γ between the base34aand the frame16is comprised between 100° and 175°, preferably between 100° and 160°. The rib34is thus oriented toward the opening22. Preferably, the end portion34bextends in the extension of the base34a, i.e., the angle β is equal to 180°.

In a sixth alternative, shown inFIG. 9, the angle γ is comprised between 5° and 80°, preferably between 20° and 80°. The rib34is thus oriented toward the frame16, opposite the opening22. Preferably, the end portion34bextends in the extension of the base34a.

In alternatives three to six, the end portion34bforms an angle with the outer surface28of the lining element10. Thus, it can easily deform in the event of an impact against the outer surface28.

Owing to these different alternatives, the rib can more easily deform in the event of an impact against the upper surface of the lining element, and the upper end of the rib is less sharp. The risks of injuries are therefore still further reduced.