Abstract:
A dashboard for motor vehicles comprising a base part and an airbag cover which is integrated into the base part and which can be loaded by the inflating airbag. The surface formed by the base part and the airbag cover pointing towards the passenger space in the installed state being covered over by a masking. A structural element connects the airbag cover and base part to each other.

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.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [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 which has as low a weight as possible.  
           [0004]    The solution of this problem takes place through the features of claim  1  and in particular in that a base part and an airbag cover which is integrated into the base part and which can be loaded by the inflating airbag are provided, with the surface which is formed by the base part and the airbag cover and which points towards the passenger space in the installed state being covered over by a masking.  
           [0005]    Through the integration of the airbag cover into the base part the material thickness and the weight of the dashboard can be kept low. The masking permits the respective desired surface properties to be imparted to the surface of the base part which points towards the passenger space. Furthermore, the masking ensures that the contours of the airbag cover are not visible from the passenger space.  
           [0006]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the base part and the airbag cover are connected to one another at their reverse side by at least one structure element, with the structure element preferably having at least one support section which extends approximately parallel to the masking and beyond the transition between the base part and the airbag cover and with the structure element preferably being formed at least region-wise as a shot channel for an inflating airbag. In this the structure element fulfils two functions at the same time, since it both provides for the connection between the base part and the airbag cover and provides the shot channel which is necessary anyway in vehicles with an airbag.  
           [0007]    In accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention the airbag cover is anchored, in particular is pivotally connected, to a structure element, preferably at a shot channel of the structure element. The airbag cover is preferably connected to a structure element via a hinge element which is preferably manufactured of nylon or metal. The airbag cover remains attached during airbag inflation through the structure element. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0009]    FIGURE  1  is a part of a dashboard in accordance with the invention in a sectioned side view. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]    The dashboard in accordance with the invention which is illustrated in the figure comprises a base part  10  which is manufactured of a fibre material or of a plastic material which can be used in particular in the injection moulding process.  
         [0011]    An airbag cover  12  is integrated into the base part  10  in such a manner that the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12  together form a continuous surface which points towards the passenger space—upwardly and to the right in the figure—in the installed state of the dashboard.  
         [0012]    The airbag cover  12  consists of a material of particularly high strength which is different from the material which is used for the base part  10 .  
         [0013]    The surface which points towards the passenger space in the installed state and is formed in common by the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12  is covered by a masking  14  which is applied in the form of a laminate or of a plating, but which can also be molded from behind or pressed on from behind.  
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment the dashboard in accordance with the invention is formed in a curved manner with a radius of curvature which increases in the direction towards the passenger space. The dashboard can have any shape desired, with the airbag cover being integrated into the base part  10  in the individual manner for the respective vehicle at the location required.  
         [0015]    The edges of the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12  which face one another are chamfered in such a manner that open channels  26  with side walls which diverge from the masking  14  in approximately a V-shape result in the assembled state at the reverse side of the dashboard. The channels  26  enable the masking  14  to be provided with incisions  28  from the reverse side which are not visible from the passenger space in the state which is applied to the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12 .  
         [0016]    At their reverse side the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12  are connected to one another by a support section  20  of a structure element  18  which extend approximately parallel to the masking  14  and beyond the transition between the base part  10  and the airbag cover  12 , i.e. beyond the channels  26 .  
         [0017]    Approximately perpendicular to the support section  20  of the structure element  18  there extends a frame-like shot channel section  22  which is formed in a single piece with the support section  20 , which preferably has a square or rectangular cross-section in a plane extending approximately parallel to the masking  14  and which forms a shot channel for an inflating airbag in this manner.  
         [0018]    The airbag cover  12  is anchored at the shot channel section  22  by means of a hinge element  24  which is preferably manufactured of nylon or metal and which is fastened at the shot channel section  22  and at the airbag cover  12 . Instead of a hinge element of this kind other anchoring means can also be provided. Alternatively, the airbag cover  12  can also be formed in a single piece with the shot channel section  22  and be connected to the latter e.g. via a hinge region of reduced material thickness (living hinge).  
         [0019]    When in the event of a collision the airbag is inflated, expands along the shot channel  22  which is formed by the shot channel section  22  of the structure element  18  and presses against the airbag cover  12 , the masking  14  is torn open at the incisions  28  in the manner of desired breakage locations. The airbag cover  12  can then open and is pivoted upwards in the direction of the windshield of the vehicle as a result of its anchoring at the structure element  18  by means of the hinge element  24 , with the end of the airbag cover  12  which is remote from the hinge element  24  moving along the path indicated by the arrows drawn in broken lines.  
         [0020]    The airbag cover  12  is preferably made of a high strength material for handling the forces associated with airbag inflation. In addition, the base part  10  can be manufactured of a material of lower strength and thus of a more economical material since it must take up comparatively low forces and in addition is reinforced by the structure element  18 .  
         [0021]    A preferred material combination of the individual components of the dashboard in accordance with the invention preferably comprises materials which belong to a poly-propylene (PP) material family.  
         [0022]    The following materials are preferably used:  
         [0023]    base part ( 10 ): PP with slight admixtures of talcum and EPDM,  
         [0024]    airbag cover ( 12 ): high strength injection moulding material of TPO  
         [0025]    masking ( 14 ): foam back film of TPO  
         [0026]    structure element ( 18 ): high strength injection moulding material of TPO.