Air bag cover assembly
AssigneeTextron Automotive Company Inc.
InventorsCraig B. Labrie, John D. Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air bag cover assembly is provided comprising a retainer panel having an aperture during the deployment of an inflatable air bag for the airbag to pass through. The aperture has a cross-sectional area during air bag inflation greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture when the air bag is deflated after being inflated. A method of providing an air bag deployment aperture for an air bag cover assembly is also provided. The method comprises providing a retainer panel, forming an aperture in the retainer panel for the deployment of an inflating air bag from an air bag module, increasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture during inflation of the air bag, and decreasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture after the air bag has at least partially passed through the aperture.
Claims37
An air bag cover assembly, the cover assembly comprising:
- a self-supporting retainer panel having an aperture formed by separation along an air bag escape seam of said retainer panel during the deployment of an inflatable air bag for the air bag to pass through;
- the aperture having a cross-sectional area during air bag inflation greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture when the air bag is deflated after being inflated, wherein the retainer panel comprises a polymer material having a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 150,000 psi and a heat distortion temperature of at least 180 degrees F. at 264 psi.
An air bag cover assembly, the cover assembly comprising:
- a self-supporting retainer panel for an instrument panel cover assembly, the retainer panel having an air bag escape seam formed therein, the air bag escape seam forming an aperture by separation of the retainer panel during deployment of an inflatable air bag, the aperture having a cross-sectional area during air bag inflation greater than the cross-sectional area of the aperture when the air bag is deflated, wherein the retainer panel comprises a polymer material having a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 150,000 psi and a heat distortion temperature of at least 180 degrees F. at 264 psi.
A method of providing an air bag deployment aperture for an air bag cover assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a self-supporting retainer panel;
- forming an aperture in the retainer panel by separation of the retainer panel along an air bag escape seam for the deployment of an inflating air bag,
- increasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture during inflation of the air bag, and
- decreasing the cross-sectional area of the aperture after the air bag partially passes through the aperture, wherein the retainer panel comprises a polymer material having a flexural modulus at 73 degrees F. of at least 150,000 psi and a heat distortion temperature of at least 180 degrees F. at 264 psi.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.