Pedestrian protection device for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308885-B2
Application number	US-201314388668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2013
Priority date	Mar 29, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A pedestrian protection device for a motor vehicle, includes a front flap that is connected to a body of the motor vehicle by means of at least one coupling device and at least one adjusting device, by means of which adjusting device the front flap, by way of at least one actuator, can be moved into a protective position that is raised relative to the body of the motor vehicle and can be fixed in the protective position, wherein the at least one actuator is connected to the corresponding coupling device and to the front flap by means of a coupling joint, the coupling joint including a joint head and a joint socket unit that receives the joint head, the joint socket unit having a joint socket and a retaining element that at least partially surrounds the joint socket. The joint head has a joint head end region that visibly interacts with a recess in the joint socket unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pedestrian protection device for a motor vehicle, comprising:
a front flap;
at least one coupling device connecting the front flap with a body of the motor vehicle;
at least one actuating device comprising an actuator and constructed to move the front flap into a protective position via the actuator and to and fix the front flap in the protective position, said protective position being elevated relative to the motor vehicle,
a coupling joint, comprising a joint socket unit and a joint head and received in the joint socket unit, said joint socket unit comprising a joint socket and a securing element which is associated with the joint socket, wherein the at least one actuator is connected with the at least one coupling device and the front flap via the coupling joint, said joint head having a joint head end region which visibly interacts with a recess in the joint socket unit and connects said joint head with the joint socket unit, said coupling joint in a region opposite to said joint head has a radially circumferential groove via which the coupling joint is connected with the coupling device and/or with the front flap.

2. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint head end region has a projection, which projects outwardly relative to the securing element.

3. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint head end region of the joint head has a cone-shaped cross-section.

4. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint head with the joint head end region is configured as cold extruded part.

5. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint head and the joint socket unit, which receives the joint head are configured as plug-in connection.

6. The pedestrian protection device of claim 5 , wherein the plug-in connection is configured form fittingly and/or force fittingly.

7. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint head end region forms at least in regions a form fitting latching engagement with the recess of the joint socket and with the recess of the securing element.

8. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein an outer circumference of the joint socket is provided with two slots arranged in opposition to each other and extending in a direction of a center longitudinal axis, and wherein bent ends of the securing element latchingly engage in the two slots.

9. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein an outer circumference of the joint socket is provided with a radially circumferential fastening recess, wherein the securing element is form fittingly and/or force fittingly fastened in the fastening recess.

10. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the joint socket has an inner circumference provided with a radially circumferential fastening recess for receiving the securing element, wherein a radially circumferential bulge of the securing element is form fittingly and/or force fittingly axially fastened in the fastening recess.

11. The pedestrian protection device of claim 10 , wherein an outer circumference of the joint head end region of the joint head has at least one radially circumferential indentation, wherein a locking ring which radially extends on an inner circumference of the securing element latchingly engages in the at least one radially circumferential indentation.

12. The pedestrian protection device of claim 1 , wherein the coupling joint of the actuator together with the coupling device and with the front flap is configured as plug-in connection.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Schabenbergers Richard
• Mayrhofer Günther

Classifications

• B60R21/38 Primary

  using means for lifting bonnets · CPC title