Patent Abstract:
The invention relates to a dashboard for motor vehicles comprising a base part having a region which can be removed by an inflating airbag and which forms a part of the surface of the base part which points to the passenger space in the installed state, with the base part being manufactured of a plastic of low density, preferably of a foamed plastic, in particular of expanded polypropylene (EPP).

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to a dashboard for motor vehicles.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In the manufacture of dashboards of this kind, points of view of both design and function are to be taken into account; and safety regulations which are in effect are to be observed as well.  
           [0003]    The problem (object) lying at the basis of the invention is to provide a dashboard which can be used in vehicles which are equipped with airbags and can be manufactured simply and with any desired shaping, which has as low a weight as possible, which satisfies all safety regulations and which is capable of being recycled to the greatest possible extent.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The solution of this problem takes place through the features of claim 1 and in particular in that a base part is provided which has a region which is removable by an inflating airbag and which forms a part of the surface of the base part which points to the passenger space in the installed state, with the base part being manufactured of a plastic of low density, preferably of a foamed plastic, in particular of expanded polypropylene (EPP).  
           [0005]    Through the use of a plastic of low density for the base part the total weight of the dashboard can be kept low.  
           [0006]    Moreover, the provision of the removable region at the base part enables the dashboard in accordance with the invention to be used in motor vehicles which are equipped with airbags. Through the integration of the outlet for the inflating airbag into the base part in the form of a removable region the entire dashboard can be manufactured economically in only one work step. Furthermore, through the use of only a single material for the dashboard its recycling capability is improved.  
           [0007]    In accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention expanded polypropylene (EPP) is used as the material for the base part.  
           [0008]    Through the use of this material the manufacturing costs for the dashboard can be kept low and the stability criteria required in respect to the safety regulations in effect can nevertheless be observed. Moreover, with EPP as a material for the dashboard, the latter can be manufactured in any form desired so that all present and future design requirements can be fulfilled with the invention.  
           [0009]    In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention the surface of the base part which points to the passenger space in the installed state is provided with a cover in the form of a plastic foil manufactured of a thermoplastic polyolefine (TPO), or made of a modified multiple component material.  
           [0010]    The use of a foil of this kind enables the surface of the base part which points to the passenger space to be provided with the respective desired surface properties. Since in accordance with this embodiment a combination of materials from one material family takes place, the advantageous properties of the EPP which is used for the base part and in particular the recycling capability of the entire dashboard are not impaired.  
           [0011]    In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention weakenings of the base part in the form of incisions and/or depressions are provided at the rear side of the base part, which are invisible from the passenger space in the installed state. Through this the dashboard in accordance with the invention can also be used in vehicles without an airbag without giving the false impression by airbag cover contours which are visible from the passenger space that the respective vehicle is equipped with an airbag.  
           [0012]    Through the provision of a structure element which is designed as a reinforcement and/or a carrier structure for the base part in accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the base part and the structure element preferably being firmly connected to one another, in particular being welded, the stability of the dashboard in accordance with the invention is increased and a simple installation of the dashboard in the vehicle is enabled. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a part of a dashboard designed in accordance with the invention in a sectioned side view. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    In the embodiment in accordance with the figure the dashboard in accordance with the invention comprises a base part  10  which is manufactured of expanded polypropylene (EPP), with it being possible in principle for another plastic of low density, e.g. a foamed plastic, to be used.  
         [0016]    The surface of the base part  10  which points to the passenger space—in the figure upwardly and to the right—in the installed state is covered with a plastic foil  11  which is manufactured of a thermoplastic polyolefine (TPO), but can in principle consist of another material, e.g. of a modified multiple component material.  
         [0017]    The base part  10  has a removable region  12 , the outline of which is determined by material weakenings which are provided in the form of V-shaped depressions  16  on the rear side of the base part  10  and which are not visible from the passenger space in the installed state. These depressions  16  can for example be produced through the pressing in of a corresponding tool into the not yet completely hardened plastic material of the base part  10 , through which the base part  10  has a higher density in the region of the side walls which extend at an inclination and bound the depressions  16  than does the bordering material.  
         [0018]    Furthermore, the base part  10  has skin coverings  17  at side walls which extend at an inclination and bound the depressions  16  and at regions of its rear side which border on the depressions  16 .  
         [0019]    The depression  16  which in the installed state is nearer to the windshield of the motor vehicle and is on the left in the figure is of lesser depth than the other depressions  16 , which extend up to the TPO foil  11 . The distance between the lowest position of the left depression  16  and the TPO foil  11  amounts to for example 1.5 mm.  
         [0020]    The base part  10  is supported by a box-shaped structure element  18  which serves as a carrier structure and of which the side wall sections  23 ,  24  and support sections  25 ,  26  can be recognised in the figure.  
         [0021]    The base part  10  is firmly connected to the structure element  18  at the sections  25 ,  26  which extend parallel to the base part  10  by vibration welding, with it being possible in principle for the connection to take place in a different way. The structure element  18  is manufactured of a material which is different from that of the base part  10 .  
         [0022]    In its region which faces the windshield of the motor vehicle in the installed state the base part  10  can be supported by a further, non-illustrated structure element.  
         [0023]    The removable region  12  of the base part  10  is designed as an airbag cover which contacts the structure element  18  only in the region of the skin coverings  17  and is spaced from a receding region  26   a  of the section  26  of the structure element  18 .  
         [0024]    The sections  23 ,  24  of the structure element  18  which point away from the base part  10  form a shot channel  22  for an inflating airbag which in the installed state is arranged in a non-illustrated airbag module beneath the removable region  12  of the base part  10 , which serves as an airbag cover.  
         [0025]    When in the event of a collision the airbag is inflated, spreads out through the shot channel  22  and presses against the removable region  12 , the base part  10  is broken open at those weakenings which are designed as depressions  16  which extend up to the TPO foil  11  and thus as desired breaking locations. The removable region  12  can then open and is pivoted around in the direction of the windshield of the vehicle as a result of its connection to the base part  10  in the region of the left depression  16  in the figure.  
         [0026]    The weakening  16  of the base part  10  facing the windshield of the vehicle, i.e. the material of the base part  10  and the TPO foil  11  in the region of the left depression  16  in the figure, thus act as a hinge region at which the removable region  12  is anchored so that the removable region  12  can not be flung through the interior of the vehicle.  
         [0027]    Alternatively, a separate airbag cover can also be provided which is firmly connected at the rear side of the base part  10  to the removable region  12  and is formed in a single piece with the structure element  18 . For example an airbag cover of this kind can be connected to the section  23  of the structure element  18  which faces away from the base part  10  via a hinge region of reduced material strength.  
         [0028]    It is also possible to provide an airbag cover as a separate component and to anchor it at the structure element  18  by means for example of a retention band which is manufactured of nylon.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1