Dynamic/controlled tether arrangement for an airbag door
AssigneeCollins & Aikman Corporation
InventorsUlrich Weissert, Keith A. Riha
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising an instrument panel having an area outlining at least a portion of an airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. The reaction plate contains first and second molded features, each such feature having a flexural strength (Fs), wherein the first molded feature's Fs is lower than the second molded feature's Fs. A tether is included that engages with the molded features in the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether is not retained by the first molded feature but is retained by the second molded feature
Claims14
An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising:
- an instrument panel having an area defined at least partially by a tear seam that outlines at least a portion of an airbag door;
- a reaction plate and deployment chute, wherein the reaction plate is attached to the underside of said airbag door and said deployment chute is attached to said instrument panel, wherein at least one of said airbag door underside and said reaction plate contain first and second molded features, each such feature having a flexural strength Fs, wherein said first molded feature's Fs, is lower than said second molded feature's Fs;
- a tether that engages with said molded features in said reaction plate and with said deployment chute, whereupon airbag deployment said tether is not retained by said first molded feature but is retained by said second molded feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.