Patents Assigned to Textron Automative Company, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5816609
    Abstract: An interior trim panel for a motor vehicle has an opening for deployment of an air bag and a discrete air bag door that is attached to the interior trim panel for closing the opening and for being opened by an air bag when it is deployed. The door includes a retainer that hinges the door to the trim panel and a covering that includes a frangible flap at an end of the retainer that holds down an end of the door and breaks away when the air bag is deployed. An alternate interior trim panel has another discrete air bag door that includes a bracket attached to the retainer for establishing the location of the hinge line. Another alternate interior trim panel arrangement has an integrated or invisible air bag door that includes a bracket attached to the retainer for establishing the location of the hinge line in an invisible door arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Textron Automative Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Gray, Kevin Logeman, Fred Rheinlander, Jim Rogers, Michael Gorman