Abstract: A syringe pump includes a lead screw, a cam, and a grasper. The grasper assembly has first and second graspers arms each having a first end and a second end. The second ends of the first and second grasper arms are configured to engage with the lead screw. The first ends of the first and second grasper arms are configured to engage with the cam such that actuation of the cam toward the grasper assembly causes the second ends of the first and second grasper arms to pivotally approach each other. The second ends of the first and second grasper arms each includes threads to engage the lead screw when the second ends of the first and second grasper arms approach each other. The plunger head coupled to said grasper assembly and operative to drive a plunger of a syringe into a barrel of said syringe.

Abstract: A variety of embodiments are disclosed, in both apparatus and method form, that relate to the use of fabric material in the manufacture of an air bag deployment system. In addition, fabric weakening is disclosed according to a technique that does not result in physical alteration of the fabric. This invention therefore includes an air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising a fabric outer layer having a frontside and a backside and a substrate containing an opening wherein the opening has a periphery. The substrate is preferably formed by low pressure molding, wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened at a location that is adjacent or overlies the substrate opening periphery.

Abstract: An air bag door construction for air bag deployment comprises a trim panel and air bag door of unitary construction, at least a portion of the door defined by an area of reduced cross-section outlining at least a portion of the periphery thereof. One or more tethers are formed in the panel, outlined by an area of reduced cross-section, preferably in a dovetail shape which does not direct the propagation of tearing into the tether. A tear stop may be formed at the ends of the tether. The improvement comprises a stiffening frame that is attached to the backside and/or the topside of the panel just outboard of the air bag door periphery but not located across the tethers to improve deployment performance.

Abstract: A variety of embodiments are disclosed, in both apparatus and method form, that relate to the use of fabric material in the manufacture of an air bag deployment system. In addition, fabric weakening is disclosed according to a technique that does not result in physical alteration of the fabric. This invention therefore includes an air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising a fabric outer layer having a frontside and a backside and a substrate containing an opening wherein the opening has a periphery. The substrate is preferably formed by low pressure molding, wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened at a location that is adjacent or overlies the substrate opening periphery.

Abstract: An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising a hard instrument panel having a weakened area outlining at least a portion of an integrally molded airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. A deployment chute is molded with the reaction plate and attached to the hard instrument panel just outboard of the outline of the airbag door. A tether is included that engages with the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether allows the airbag door/reaction plate welded combination to break loose from the hard instrument panel in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An airbag door system is provided comprising a substrate, an outer shell and a foam where all three layers possess a line of mechanical weakness with each line of mechanical weakness at least partially separating each layer into an airbag door portion and a trim member portion. The substrate line of mechanical weakness comprises at least one substrate aperture. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness comprises an outer shell reduced thickness portion defined by an outer shell sever extending partially through an outer shell thickness from an outer shell lower surface towards an outer shell upper surface. The foam line of mechanical weakness comprises a foam reduced thickness portion defined by a foam sever extending partially through a foam thickness from a foam lower surface towards a foam upper surface. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness is displaced relative to a foam line of mechanical weakness.

Abstract: An apparatus for deploying an air bag through an automotive dash panel (12) includes an air bag door (16) integrally formed in the panel and defined by a door perimeter including a frangible edge (18) of reduced cross section. A dispenser (20) supports the air bag (24) behind the door. A metal reaction plate (28) is positioned between the air bag (24) and the door (16). When the air bag inflates, it forces the reaction plate (28) to bend around a horizontal hinge line (36). As the reaction, plate pivots it concentrates inflation force along a lower portion of the frangible door edge. This helps to predictably separate the door from the dash panel by tearing along the lower door edge and allowing the tear to propagate up two side edges. In one embodiment, the tear also propagates across an upper edge to completely separate the door from the panel. At least one, and preferably two or three tethers (50) limit how far the door can travel during air bag inflation.

Abstract: An airbag door system is provided comprising a substrate, an outer shell and a foam where all three layers possess a line of mechanical weakness with each line of mechanical weakness at least partially separating each layer into an airbag door portion and a trim member portion. The substrate line of mechanical weakness comprises at least one substrate aperture. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness comprises an outer shell reduced thickness portion defined by an outer shell sever extending partially through an outer shell thickness from an outer shell lower surface towards an outer shell upper surface. The foam line of mechanical weakness comprises a foam reduced thickness portion defined by a foam sever extending partially through a foam thickness from a foam lower surface towards a foam upper surface. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness is displaced relative to a foam line of mechanical weakness.

Abstract: A variety of embodiments are disclosed, in both apparatus and method form, that relate to the use of fabric material in the manufacture of an air bag deployment system. In addition, fabric weakening is disclosed according to a technique that does not result in physical alteration of the fabric. This invention therefore includes an air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising a fabric outer layer having a frontside and a backside and a substrate containing an opening wherein the opening has a periphery. The substrate is preferably formed by low pressure molding, wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened at a location that is adjacent or overlies the substrate opening periphery.

Abstract: An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising a hard instrument panel having a weakened area outlining at least a portion of an integrally molded airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. A deployment chute is molded with the reaction plate and attached to the hard instrument panel just outboard of the outline of the airbag door. A tether is included that engages with the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether allows the airbag door/reaction plate welded combination to break loose from the hard instrument panel in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising a hard instrument panel having a weakened area outlining at least a portion of an integrally molded airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. A deployment chute is molded with the reaction plate and attached to the hard instrument panel just outboard of the outline of the airbag door. A tether is included that engages with the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether allows the airbag door/reaction plate welded combination to break loose from the hard instrument panel in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An airbag door system is provided comprising a substrate, an outer shell and a foam where all three layers possess a line of mechanical weakness with each line of mechanical weakness at least partially separating each layer into an airbag door portion and a trim member portion. The substrate line of mechanical weakness comprises at least one substrate aperture. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness comprises an outer shell reduced thickness portion defined by an outer shell sever extending partially through an outer shell thickness from an outer shell lower surface towards an outer shell upper surface. The foam line of mechanical weakness comprises a foam reduced thickness portion defined by a foam sever extending partially through a foam thickness from a foam lower surface towards a foam upper surface. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness is displaced relative to a foam line of mechanical weakness.

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.

Abstract: A method for forming a design in a panel includes providing an outer panel layer on an inner panel layer to form a single composite panel including two layers. The design is then formed into the panel by forming voids in the outer layer. The voids are formed by exposing predetermined regions of the outer layer to a laser beam that burns, vaporizes or otherwise removes portions of the outer layer in each exposed region. The voids create the design by exposing the inner panel layer.

Abstract: An airbag door construction for airbag deployment comprising a hard instrument panel having a weakened area outlining at least a portion of an integrally molded airbag door. A reaction plate is attached to the underside of the panel at the airbag door location. A deployment chute is molded with the reaction plate and attached to the hard instrument panel just outboard of the outline of the airbag door. A tether is included that engages with the reaction plate whereupon airbag deployment the tether allows the airbag door/reaction plate welded combination to break loose from the hard instrument panel in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes an air bag deployment door formed in a trim panel. The air bag deployment door outer surface has an area of 5 in2 to 35 in2, and at least a portion of the perimeter comprises a frangible marginal edge. The frangible marginal edge includes a frangible length, and at least 20% of the frangible length is non-linear. The apparatus also includes an air bag dispenser containing an air bag a volume of at least 90 liters. The air bag dispenser includes an elongated container having an air bag receptacle containing an air bag and an inflator receptacle containing an inflator.

Abstract: An airbag door system is provided comprising a substrate, an outer shell and a foam where all three layers possess a line of mechanical weakness with each line of mechanical weakness at least partially separating each layer into an airbag door portion and a trim member portion. The substrate line of mechanical weakness comprises at least one substrate aperture. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness comprises an outer shell reduced thickness portion defined by an outer shell sever extending partially through an outer shell thickness from an outer shell lower surface towards an outer shell upper surface. The foam line of mechanical weakness comprises a foam reduced thickness portion defined by a foam sever extending partially through a foam thickness from a foam lower surface towards a foam upper surface. The outer shell line of mechanical weakness is displaced relative to a foam line of mechanical weakness.

Abstract: A method of forming a motor vehicle instrument panel with a flexibly tethered air bag deployment door includes the steps of molding an instrument panel with a first plastics material to a desired shape and with an integral air bag deployment door whose opening is defined by a tear seam formed by a groove molded in one side of the panel and with an integral mounting/hinge flange that extends from an inside surface of the door, and forming a bonded layer of second plastics material on one side of the flange and the inside surface of a potentially frangible portion of the door.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes an air bag deployment door formed in a trim panel. The air bag deployment door outer surface has an area of 5 in2 to 35 in2, and at least a portion of the perimeter comprises a frangible marginal edge. The frangible marginal edge includes a frangible length, and at least 20% of the frangible length is non-linear. The apparatus also includes an air bag dispenser containing an air bag having a volume of at least 90 liters. The air bag dispenser includes an elongated container having an air bag receptacle containing an air bag and an inflator receptacle containing an inflator.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint apparatus for an automotive vehicle includes an air bag deployment door formed in a trim panel. The air bag deployment door outer surface has an area of 5 in2 to 35 in2, and at least a portion of the perimeter comprises a frangible marginal edge. The frangible marginal edge includes a frangible length, and at least 20% of the frangible length is non-linear. The apparatus also includes an air bag dispenser containing an air bag having a volume of at least 90 liters. The air bag dispenser includes an elongated container having an air bag receptacle containing an air bag and an inflator receptacle containing an inflator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for holding a generally cylindrical workpiece for honing or otherwise machining an internal bore. The workpiece is held by a gripping surface over most of the innermost turn of a spirally wound spring and coil. The workpiece is grasped circumferentially over its outer surface without excess contact pressure at any particular point. A tendency of the machining operation to rotate the workpiece serves to secure the workpiece more tightly in position by tightening the outer turns of the spring band coil. A rotatable tensioning member acts under the influence of a biasing spring to decrease the diameter of the innermost turn of the spring band coil to bring the gripping surface into contact with the workpiece. A method for adapting the work-holding apparatus to smaller or irregularly shaped workpieces consists of molding an annular piece around the workpiece.