US 5,180,187 A · Cover for an airbag unit and the process for producing it

Abstract

The application is concerned with a cover of an airbag unit in a motor vehicle which is equipped with a tear-open line and has a foam-backed foil and the process for making the cover. The process includes: a) heating a foil in the region of the intended tear-open line; b) forming a channel in the foil which is drawn-in in relation to the adjoining face of the foil in the region of the tear-open line; c) creating a reduction in wall thickness of the foil at the tear-open line, located at a channel bottom, by high-frequency embossing; d) introducing the foil into a mold and foam backing the foil; e) producing a smaller wall thickness in the foam backing in the region of the tear-open line.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A cover for an airbag unit having a tear line, comprising:

a foil layer, having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a foil wall thickness, including a substantially U-shaped channel formed in said foil layer by heating and deep drawing said foil layer in the region of the tear line, said U-shaped channel having an open end on said outer surface and a bottom channel surface, said foil wall thickness being reduced at said bottom channel surface by high frequency embossing to form an inconspicuous tear line;
and
a foam layer adhered to said inner surface of said foil layer by foam backing said foil layer in a mold.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

07/731,974Filed 18 Jul 1991 · continuation

Priority

26 Jan 1990

Granted

19 Jan 1993

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B29C 59/007
Surface shaping of articles, e.g. embossing; Apparatus therefor: forming single grooves or ribs, e.g. tear lines, weak spots
B29C 37/0057
Moulding articles characterised by the shape of the surface, e.g. ribs, high polish: moulding single grooves or ribs, e.g. tear lines
B29C 44/146
The preformed part being a lining: shaping the lining before foaming
B29C 53/06
Of plates or sheets: forming folding lines by pressing or scoring

Cover for an airbag unit and the process for producing it

Life of this patent

Cover for an airbag unit and the process for producing it

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9