Abstract:
A motor vehicle column, in particular an A-, B-, C- or D-column, in which at least one airbag strap is provided, with an inner lining facing the vehicle interior. Several ribs are positioned next to each other on the inner lining.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102008026817.8, filed Jun. 5, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a motor vehicle column, in particular an A-, B-, C- or D-column, in which at least one airbag strap is provided to position an airbag after its deployment, with an inner lining facing the vehicle interior. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Generally known from prior art are so-called head airbags, which deploy on vehicle impact to protect the heads of the vehicle passengers. During deployment of the head airbag, airbag straps, such as retaining and rebound straps, bring the head airbag into a specific position, so that it can optimally serve its purpose. For this reason, it is absolutely essential that the airbag straps, which are often accommodated in the A-, B-, C- or D-pillar, be able to assume their designated position quickly and unimpeded in the event of a collision. 
         [0004]    EP 1 419 940 A1 describes a head airbag that is kept in a rail of the vehicle roof for emergency cases. When the head airbag is deployed, an upper area of the inner lining in the roof area of the vehicle is moved so far into the interior as to allow the head airbag to deploy. EP 1 419 940 A1 offers no suggestions with respect to the positioning process of the straps connected with the head airbag. 
         [0005]    DE 100 04 483 C2 also discloses no positioning process for the straps connected with the head airbag. DE 100 04 483 C2 describes an airbag arrangement situated in the roof frame area of the motor vehicle so as to absorb energy upon impact of the head of a vehicle passenger against the roof or side lining. 
         [0006]    At least one object of the invention is to further develop the generic pillar in such a way that the at least one airbag strap can assume its designated position quickly and unimpeded as the airbag deploys. In addition, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The at least one object, other objects, desirable features, and characteristics, are achieved by the invention with a pillar of the kind mentioned at the outset, in which several ribs are positioned next to each other on the inner lining. As the airbag deploys, the airbag strap is moved along, and hence past, the ribs, during which the inner lining is pressed into the vehicle interior, so that the airbag strap moves by the inner lining and can exit the pillar quickly and unimpeded. The airbag strap thereby enables the airbag to deploy as fast as possible over the greatest possible area between the vehicle passengers and the lateral wall of the vehicle interior. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment of the invention, a strip can be arranged on the ribs so as to pivot or at least bend away partially. As a result, the airbag strap, which can preferably be a retaining or rebound strap, can impact the strip after having passed the ribs. When the airbag strap impacts the strip, the latter is pivoted or at least bent away partially, so that the airbag strap can exit the pillar. 
         [0009]    The strip can be secured to the ribs by a thin attachment web. Since the attachment web is thin, it can exhibit enough flexibility to allow the strip secured thereto to pivot or bend partially away as soon as the airbag strap impacts the strip. The attachment web can best be made of plastic, and sprayed onto the strip and ribs. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment, the attachment web can exhibit a concave bend on its surface facing the pillar interior. As a result, the cross section of the attachment web exhibits an area of minimal thickness, which consequently can be easily deformed to pivot or partially bend away the strip, or also serve as a predetermined breaking point. 
         [0011]    It is aesthetically pleasing that the strip to exhibit a convex bend on its surface facing the vehicle interior in the area secured to the attachment web. In addition, the convex bend avoids sharp edges, which are undesirable particularly in the vehicle interior. 
         [0012]    In order to be able to pivot the strip especially fast upon impact of the airbag strap, the strip can be connected with the ribs by means of a hinge. 
         [0013]    The hinge can be a film hinge that can be manufactured especially well out of plastic, and can be sprayed onto the strip and ribs. 
         [0014]    To ensure that the airbag strap can reliably impact the strip, it makes sense for the strip to exhibit a certain overhang relative to the ribs. Practice has shown that the overhang should measure at least about six millimeters. 
         [0015]    If the side of the ribs facing the at least one airbag strap are inclined, the airbag strap can pass by the ribs along the incline especially well as the airbag deploys, without the chance of it getting snagged by the ribs. This ensures a reliable positioning of the airbag strap. 
         [0016]    The ribs can be molded onto the lining as a single piece. Since both the ribs and lining can best be made out of plastic, the ribs can be sprayed onto the lining. 
         [0017]    A seal can be applied to the ribs and at least partially cover the strip so as to seal off the interior of the pillar. When the strip is partially covered, the seal can barely be perceived from the vehicle interior, if at all. 
         [0018]    The airbag strap can advantageously be secured to a reinforcing plate. This provides the airbag strap with a reliable attachment, which it needs in light of the very high forces that act on the airbag strap during airbag deployment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an A- and A 2 -pillar; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view through the A 2 -pillar from  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  presents an A-pillar  10  and an A 2 -pillar  11  of a motor vehicle (not shown in any greater detail here). The A 2 -pillar  11  incorporates an airbag strap  20  (see  FIG. 2 ), which is secured to an airbag that is not shown in any greater detail here and accommodated in a partially depicted vehicle roof  12 . 
         [0024]    The airbag strap  20  is secured to a reinforcing plate  21  inside the A 2 -pillar  11 . The A 2 -pillar is covered by an inner lining  22  relative to a vehicle interior (not shown in any greater detail here). 
         [0025]    Ribs  23  are arranged next to each other on the inner lining  22  along the A 2 -pillar  11 , wherein only one rib  23  is visible in the selected representation, covering the ribs adjacent to it. The ribs  23  exhibit an inclination  24 . 
         [0026]    Provided underneath the ribs  23  is a strip  25  secured to the ribs  23  by an attachment web  26 . A seal is applied to the ribs  23  and strip  25 , wherein the seal  27  at least partially covers the strip  25 . 
         [0027]    When the airbag not visible here is deployed during an accident, the airbag strap  20  must be able to exit the A 2 -pillar. The airbag strap  20  is then guided over the inclination  24 , and subsequently pulled between the ribs  23  and seal  27 . The airbag strap  20  here presses the inner lining  22  in the area of the ribs  23  to the right and into the vehicle interior. After the airbag strap  20  has passed by the ribs  23 , it impacts the strip  25 , so that the latter is pivoted or at least bent partially away in the area of the airbag strap  20 . In this way, the airbag strap  20  can rapidly exit the A 2 -pillar to bring the airbag into its position. 
         [0028]    The cross section of the attachment web  26  exhibits less of a thickness than the inner lining  22 , so that the strip  25  can be easily pivoted or at least partially bent away to the right. 
         [0029]    The attachment web  26  has a concave bend  28 , so that its cross section in the middle between the ribs  23  and strip  25  exhibits an area of minimal thickness, which can be easily deformed for pivoting or at least partially bending away the strip  25 . 
         [0030]    The area of the strip  25  secured to the attachment web  26  is provided with a convex bend  29 , thereby avoiding sharp edges and creating an aesthetically pleasing design. 
         [0031]    The strip  25  exhibits an overhang  200  relative to the ribs  23 , which ensures that the airbag strap  20  reliably impacts the strip  25  or overhang  200  after passing by the ribs  23 . 
         [0032]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.