Deployment Door Patents (Class 280/728.3)
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Publication number: 20100308566Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag cover hinge having a textile hinge that can be connected both to the airbag cover and to a carrier part surrounding the airbag cover, wherein the hinge comprises two different systems absorbing forces, which is to say one textile surface structure as a system that is combined to a second system with further warp threads, wherein the warp threads tear under a tensile load on the airbag cover hinge as a first force absorbing system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2008Publication date: December 9, 2010Inventors: Albert Roring, Michael Grimmelt
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Patent number: 7845672Abstract: An airbag cover for maintaining a folded shape of an airbag when the airbag is folded and accommodated within a casing, is designed to bulge from an opening formed on a panel constituting a vehicle inner wall for deploying between the panel and an occupant. The airbag cover includes a flat structure for covering at least a side of the airbag facing the opening before a deployment, and a tear line located on the flat structure and facing the opening so as to allow the airbag to bulge from the opening when deployed by cleaving the flat structure. The tear line is located on a side closer to the occupant relative to a center of the airbag cover in a direction of a vehicle length.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Keisuke Onohara
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Publication number: 20100301590Abstract: The covering element has a visible face and an invisible face opposite the visible face. It includes a weakening line which is formed on the invisible face and defines a gate zone which is to open under the pressure of the deployment of the airbag when the motor vehicle is subjected to an impact. The weakening line includes a groove which has a given total length and is delimited by a bottom and at least one transverse rib which projects relative to the bottom and closes the groove at least partially. The covering element has a thickness of material between the visible face and the bottom which is between predetermined minimum and maximum limits over most of the total length of the groove. The groove includes at least one zone of lesser strength in which the thickness of material between the visible face and the bottom is less than the minimum limit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2008Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIEInventors: Stephane Beaupere, Claudiu Vasilescu
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Publication number: 20100301589Abstract: An instrument panel assembly for a passenger vehicle is provided with a protective film. The protective film has only one unfolded layer. The film layer is sized to cover an opening in an instrument panel. The opening is sized for an airbag to deploy through. The film layer is provided with a slit for separating into portions. The portions extend through the instrument panel as the airbag deploys. The protective film prevents the airbag from being damaged. The film layer also prevents the airbag from damaging the instrument panel. The instrument panel may be provided with a door for selectively covering the opening. The instrument panel assembly may include a hinge for pivotally connecting the door to the instrument panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2009Publication date: December 2, 2010Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Vishwanath Daita, Junko Pauken, Sean B. West, Haoliang Michael Sun
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Patent number: 7841620Abstract: An airbag device provided in a side of a vehicle seat, which device comprises a case for accommodating a folded airbag. The case has a lid and a wall. The lid has tear lines formed so as to rupture when the airbag deploys and separate the lid into a plurality of parts. A hinge is formed on a boundary between the lid and the wall.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Kai, Takeru Fukuda, Takeshi Fujimaki
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Patent number: 7841618Abstract: To provide an airbag device for a front passenger seat which has a simple construction and can sufficiently absorb an external force applied to an instrument panel. The airbag device for a front passenger seat according to the invention includes: an airbag kept in an inflatable and expandable state; an airbag container which is fixed to a vehicle and accommodates the airbag; and an airbag cover which covers the airbag container. The airbag cover has a cover surface portion on the instrument panel side and a cover extending portion which extends from the cover surface portion in a first direction toward the airbag container. The cover extending portion is characterized by having a deformable region which deforms more easily than the other parts to absorb impact force by deformation. When a pressure (impact force) is applied to the instrument panel from the outside, the deformable region can be deformed elastically or plastically to absorb the impact force.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Takeshi Idomoto, Masaru Narita, Yasutaka Hiraoka
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Patent number: 7841619Abstract: An interior component for a vehicle formed by superimposing a bottom edge portion of a second interior component on a top edge portion of a first interior component or by placing these portions so as to face against each other, and by joining these interior components together by a joining component, wherein the joining component includes: a top supporting portion joined to a back surface of the second interior component, which supports a top edge side of the second interior component; and a bottom engaging portion provided underneath of and separated from the top supporting portion, which engages the bottom edge of the second interior component with the first interior component.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuaki Miyamoto, Takashi Aoki, Shizuo Hosoya, Takashi Nakamura, Hiroyuki Isayama, Koji Ikeda, Masayuki Kaneko, Nobumoto Sekiguchi
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Patent number: 7841617Abstract: Described is an interior trimming piece (e.g., for a motor vehicle) which includes (a) a plastic substrate; (b) a metal reinforcing piece connected to the substrate and (c) at least one bridge. The metal reinforcing piece includes (i) a hinge sheet for bridging a channel for passage of an airbag in at least one region and (ii) a fastening frame for an airbag module which is connected in one piece with the hinge sheet via a hinge web. The at least one bridge engages behind the substrate in the at least one region. The bridge fixes the fastening frame to the substrate. The hinge sheet is mounted on a side of the substrate which faces away from an interior.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2004Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbHInventor: Albert Brandstatter
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Publication number: 20100295276Abstract: An airbag cover for receiving an airbag compressed into an airbag package for an airbag module of a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag cover comprising one or more precut sections of a flexible material connecting sites, by way of which regions of the at least one precut material section are connected to each other such that the at least one precut section forms a flexible cover that at least partially receives the airbag package. The airbag cover forms an outer cover of the airbag module which is at least in sections visible for a vehicle occupant when installed into a vehicle as intended, wherein the flexible airbag cover forms a most outer casing of the airbag package. At least some of the connecting sites are configured in a disconnectable such that the corresponding connecting sites are disconnected upon the inflation and deployment of the airbag as intended in the event of a crash.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Inventors: Andreas Pradel, Dirk Schoröder
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Publication number: 20100295275Abstract: An airbag door connecting structure of a passenger seat of a vehicle may include a crash pad formed with interior finishing material of a dash board extending over a front surface of a passenger seat; a housing disposed to a lower portion of the crash pad, wherein a space is defined between the housing and the crash pad in which a passenger airbag (PAB) is installed; a chute coupled to the crash pad by vibration welding outside the housing and couples the housing to the crash pad; and an airbag door disposed in the chute and covering the space of the housing, the airbag door having a hinge portion which is bent inwards so as to elastically rotate about a coupling portion of the hinge portion outwards by the passenger airbag in a crash accident of the vehicle, wherein the coupling portion is coupled to the housing and to the chute.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2009Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Dong Won Yeon, Sug Dae Chang
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Publication number: 20100289253Abstract: A vehicle airbag device has: a pad cover provided at the center of a steering wheel constituted of a spoke, a rim, and a hub and secured to the hub or to the spoke; an airbag that is provided, in a folded state, at the pad cover and deploys upon collision of the vehicle by tearing the pad cover to restrain a vehicle occupant; and an inflator secured to the hub or to the spoke to supply inflation gas into the airbag upon collision of the vehicle. The pad cover has an extension portion extending from the center of the steering wheel to the rim such that the extension portion overlaps the spoke. The extension portion has a tear portion that tears upon collision of the vehicle. A portion of the airbag is disposed, in a folded state, at the extension portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2009Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shigeru Washino, Kenji Imamura
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Publication number: 20100289252Abstract: Provided are an airbag and an airbag device whose size of a package when the airbag is folded can be reduced while demonstrating effects of an inner chamber. An airbag device in the present invention includes a gas generator configured to generate gas under predetermined conditions, an airbag connected to the gas generator to be inflated and deployed, and a retainer configured to accommodate the airbag. The airbag includes an inner panel arranged in the interior thereof and a connection panel having a surface area smaller than the inner panel, and the inner panel includes a center seamed portion connected to an inner surface of the airbag with respect to the direction of thickness and a plurality of outer peripheral seamed portions connected to the connection panel which is arranged on the inner surface of the airbag apart from the portion where the center seamed portion is connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2008Publication date: November 18, 2010Applicant: TAKATA CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Masayoshi Kumagai, Akira Nakajima
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Patent number: 7832761Abstract: The invention improves efficiency in a work for assembling an airbag device (10) with an airbag cover (16). A peripheral edge of the inflator attachment opening of the airbag (10) is secured to a cushion ring (22), the airbag (10) integrally connected to the tip and a rear end of the tubular tether belt (11a) is extended to its full and then pulled back thereby folding back the airbag (10) around the tubular tether belt (11a) and folding the tubular tether belt (11a) and the airbag (10) while being pulled back. Then, the tip of the tubular folded tether belt (11a) is secured to a central part of the back side of the airbag cover (16) for containing the airbag (10) therein.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshio Shimazaki, Seiichiro Kamura, Kou Sasaki
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Patent number: 7828318Abstract: The airbag system for vehicles includes an airbag housing, a sliding door and a connection member. The airbag housing has a gas injection hole, through which inflation gas is injected into an airbag cushion when a vehicle collision occurs. The sliding door moves over the gas injection hole to control the amount of inflation gas injected into the airbag cushion. The connection member is connected between the airbag cushion and the sliding door such that the sliding door is moved by the inflation of the airbag cushion.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Kyung Taek Lim
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Patent number: 7828323Abstract: An integrated air bag support structure that includes a support base for attachment to the rear side of a substrate. The support base is configured to surround a door support panel and both are configured for attachment to the rear side of a substrate in an area that is pre-weakened to define an air bag deployment door in a vehicle instrument panel or a steering wheel air bag module. The upper surfaces of the support base and door support panel are attached to the rear surface of the substrate, and a test tab extends from the base that is attached to the rear surface of the substrate in the same manner as the support base and the door support panel. The test tab has an unattached extension portion for the purpose of gripping and pulling to test the integrity of the attachment without affecting the attachment of the support panel.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLCInventors: Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Brian C. Slane
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Publication number: 20100276914Abstract: In a glove door-installed knee air bag apparatus, a stud bolt of an inflator is fixed to an inflator supporting member in a state that the stud bolt is inclined in a vertical direction relative to a general plane of a glove door inner member. Due to the structure, a thickness W0 of an air bag module measured at the inflator installing portion is made small. The inflator supporting member includes a first portion and a second portion. In a case where a hook portion is formed in the first portion, the number of parts can be reduced. In a case where the inflator is located at a lower portion of a housing space, a handling force for opening and closing the glove door is light. In a case where the first portion comprises a bottom wall of the air bag casing and the second portion comprises a side wall of the air bag casing, the number of parts is reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Hitoshi Matsushima, Osamu Fukawatase
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Publication number: 20100276913Abstract: In an airbag module arrangement, an airbag module is arranged on a vehicle component, in particular a seatback, the airbag module including an airbag carrier, an airbag and a gas generator, which are jointly attached to a support structure in an installation space of the vehicle component, from which the airbag exits in the event of a triggering and subsequently opens at least one material layer situated over the airbag module and inflates in a passenger compartment, etc. There is a provision for the installation space of the airbag module to be surrounded by a foam part that is closed at least in the direction of inflation, and a fleece-like layer to be situated on the inner side of foam part at least in the desired exit region of the airbag module from the foam part, which has a specifiable perforation in the desired exit region of the airbag module.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2008Publication date: November 4, 2010Inventors: Nils Zothke, Karl-Heinz Pauly
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Patent number: 7823921Abstract: An air bag system is provided wherein a support belt for coupling an airbag to a vehicle body is accommodated in an accommodation part provided in the vehicle body. A belt cover is engaged from above so as to cover the accommodation part. The belt cover is configured to be removed from the accommodation part along with swelling and expansion of the airbag. A wire is coupled to the vehicle body inside the accommodation part so as not to be moved apart from the vehicle body over a predetermined length at the time of removing. The wire is arranged inside the accommodation part, and is coupled to a fixation plate to be connected to a frame of the vehicle body. By inserting the wire into through-holes of the fixation plate, the wire is coupled to the vehicle body, and both ends thereof are connected to the belt cover.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichi Kato, Hiroshi Goto, Takeshi Kuroe
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Patent number: 7823911Abstract: A knee protecting air bag apparatus M1 is mounted to a column cover 16 for covering a column cover 16 for covering a steering column. In operating the apparatus M1, a contained air bag 45 is supplied with an expanding gas G and is projected from the column cover 16 to be able to protect the knee of a driver while being expanded to develop. The column cover 16 includes a door portion 34 opened by being pressed by the air bag to be able to form a projecting opening 22 of the air bag 45 at two left ad right side faces 18b, 18c from a side of a lower face 18a. Inside of the air bag 45 is arranged with a gas flow restricting member 64 such that the expanding gas G is made to flow to a left door portion 36 and a right door portion 37 of the door portion 34 by being directed in outer directions of both left and right sides.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichi Adachi, Kazuaki Bito, Osamu Fukawatase, Kenji Imamura, Akiyoshi Sanada
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Patent number: 7823910Abstract: A vibration welding method, a vibration-welded structure, and an airbag apparatus capable of reducing the positional deviation of junction between workpieces different in the die releasing direction are provided. An airbag apparatus according to one form of the present invention includes an airbag that is normally folded and is inflated and developed at an emergency; an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag; a retainer for accommodating the airbag and the inflator therein; an outer panel mounted on an instrument panel; and an inner case vibration-welded to the inside of the outer panel for retaining the retainer, in which when a die releasing direction of the outer panel differs from a die releasing direction of the inner case, a positioning plane of the inner case is molded to agree with the die releasing direction of the outer panel while the outer panel is provided with a positioning rib formed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2008Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Yuki Kanno
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Patent number: 7819456Abstract: A cover for use in an opening of a vehicle instrument panel. The cover may include a top surface, an underside and one or more clips for securing the cover in an opening of the vehicle instrument panel. The cover may also include one or more lock-out ribs extending from the underside of the cover. The lock-out ribs prevent the cover from being improperly installed in an instrument panel opening where an accessory is present.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2008Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Winston Robertson
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Publication number: 20100253049Abstract: A vehicle interior cladding is provided for one or more vehicle components situated in or adjacent to the vehicle passenger compartment, in particular for the dashboard of a vehicle, with an airbag cover, under which an airbag is arranged in an airbag module for a restraint function. The vehicle interior cladding exhibits at least two separate cladding components that are provided for cladding different areas of one or more arranged vehicle components, in particular for a passenger side dashboard. A first cladding component at least partially envelops the airbag cover and a second cladding component forms a visible boundary line with the airbag cover. An airbag through opening is formed in the vehicle interior cladding at least partially in the area of the boundary line during the deployment of the airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventor: Ulrich RICK
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Patent number: 7806428Abstract: A technology is provided effective for suppressing a load received by an airbag housed in a motor vehicle seat with an airbag module having a construction in which the airbag is developed and expanded from a down side to an upside of a seat cushion against movement of a motor vehicle occupant toward a front side of a motor vehicle, which is in a condition seated in the motor vehicle seat when in occurrence of an accident. In one form, the motor vehicle seat according to the present invention is constructed to house an airbag module in a housing portion provided in a seat pan, and to be provided with an airbag cover that intercepts a housing opening of the housing portion and that covers a housing opening side of the airbag. The airbag cover is joined to a joining surface of the seat pan in a surface contact manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2007Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Hiromichi Yoshikawa, Teruhiko Hiruta
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Patent number: 7806430Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention relates an airbag assembly comprising a panel having a tear seam forming at least one airbag door, and a door chute assembly comprising a laterally extending flange connected to the panel proximate the airbag door. The door chute assembly includes a chute depending from the flange away from the panel and the chute has at least one opening. The airbag assembly further comprises a door panel assembly including at least one door panel disposed within the chute and connected to the airbag door. The door panel has a downwardly depending flange having at least one projection extending laterally through the at least one opening of the chute. The airbag assembly further comprises an inflatable airbag mounted on the door chute.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc.Inventors: Glenn A. Cowelchuk, Todd L. DePue, Robert J. Adams, Michael W. Cass, Paul W. Nagy, Sarkis B. Mikhjian
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Publication number: 20100244413Abstract: An air bag system M includes an air bag 40 which can cover a front surface 1a side of a front pillar 1 of a vehicle V, an inflator 55, an air bag cover 65, a case 61 which stores and holds the air bag and the inflator and holds the air bag cover, and bolts 59 which are provided so as to extend from the case for mounting the air bag system on to an installation portion of a front side door 11. A portion of an outer reinforcement 19 which reinforces an outer panel 18 of the front side door is configured as a mounting portion 20 of the front side door where the bolts are attached, and the air bag system M is installed at a portion of the front side door which lies in proximity to a belt line 14 on a side facing a vehicle's outer side by the bolts 59 being attached to the mounting portion 20 on the outer reinforcement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTDInventors: Takeki Hayashi, Michio Inoue, Shigeyuki Suzuki
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Publication number: 20100244412Abstract: A side airbag apparatus is provided in a side portion of a vehicle seat back located on the vehicle outer side. The side airbag apparatus includes an airbag unit elongated in the up-down direction and a plate fixed to the airbag unit. The airbag unit has an airbag and an inflator. The plate has a fixing portion and a rear wall portion. The inner side surface of the airbag unit is fixed to the fixing portion. The rear wall portion covers an upper half portion of the airbag unit. The rear wall portion also partly covers the rear surface of the lower half portion of the airbag unit. The plate is made of resin and has flexibility and elasticity.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.Inventor: Akira Yamashita
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Patent number: 7802810Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle. The airbag module includes an airbag. The airbag includes an airbag sleeve enclosing an interior of the airbag. The airbag module further comprises a module receptacle on which the airbag is accommodated as an airbag package, a top surface, and a cover extending along the top surface. When the airbag module is installed, the top surface is arranged such that it faces the associated seat. At least one layer of the airbag forming a component of the airbag sleeve extends in front of the outer surface of the cover facing the seat. Components of the airbag module arranged in front of the outer surface of the cover, insofar as they are not located between the outer surface of the cover and the at least one airbag layer, remain connected to the airbag sleeve during inflation of the airbag.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Takata-Petri AGInventors: Dirk Meissner, Christian Schreiber, Andreas Pradel, Kazuhiro Abe
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Publication number: 20100237593Abstract: An automotive Passenger Side Inflatable Restraint (PSIR) hidden door system contained in an automotive instrument panel and a method of scoring the PSIR door system. The system includes forward and rearward doors hingedly connected at first and second hinges, respectively, to a PSIR airbag chute. The system further includes a common tear line of reduced material thickness integrally joining the forward and rearward doors. The common tear line has a substantially non-linear shape with first and second linear ends.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: September 23, 2010Inventors: Gregg S. Evans, Andrew L. Dargavell
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Patent number: 7798518Abstract: A trim panel including a substrate layer having a first portion, a second portion, and a frangible pre-weakened segment between the first portion and the second portion; a bridge covering at least a portion of the pre-weakened segment frangibly connecting the first portion and second portion; and a skin layer covering at least a portion of the substrate layer and the bridge. A method of manufacturing a component of a trim panel is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Magna International, Inc.Inventors: Walter P. Kornylo, Jean-Nicolas Germain Montbrun
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Patent number: 7798519Abstract: A device includes an airbag and an outer cover. The airbag is accommodated between a body and a rear seat of a vehicle. The outer cover covers a space defined between the body and the rear seat from the passenger compartment and is exposed to the passenger compartment. When an impact greater than a predetermined level is applied to the vehicle body, a thin portion of the outer cover is ruptured by the pressure from inflation of the airbag. This forms an opening in the outer cover. The airbag is then inflated into the passenger compartment from the opening of the outer cover. The end at the part of the outer cover corresponding to the opening and facing toward the rear seat is entirely formed by the end of the outer cover.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hitoshi Kawabe, Takanobu Ikeda
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Publication number: 20100230937Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing the deployment of an airbag includes an airbag housing in which a folded up airbag is housed. The housing has an open side through which the airbag is deployed and a door is pivoted to the housing and is pivoted open by the deploying airbag. An extension panel is mounted on the door by a track mechanism so that the extension panel is movable between a normal retracted position along side the door and an extended position in which the extension panel extends beyond the door. An extension mechanism for causes the extension panel to be moved to the extended position when the airbag is deploying so that the door and the extension panel direct and stabilize the deploying airbag.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Scott D. Thomas, Robert L. Demick, Anthony P. Clark, Stuart L. Smith
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Patent number: 7793972Abstract: A vehicular interior trim piece with a tether for use with a side curtain airbag. The tether is attached to an integral first panel portion and a second panel portion which rotates about a hinge out of the path of the airbag. The tether prevents complete detachment of the second panel from the first panel.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2007Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventor: Brian Downey
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Patent number: 7789416Abstract: An air bag module cover structure is applied to a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped air bag module. The three side surfaces of the air bag module that do not face the vehicle front side are provided with tear lines at upper portions thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tadanori Horiuchi, Takeshi Kuroe, Satoshi Iijima
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Publication number: 20100219618Abstract: A dashboard support part is provided for fastening on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, having an airbag exit opening for unfolding a passenger airbag, and a flap configuration, which is hinged on the dashboard support part and closes the airbag exit opening. The dashboard support part has a depression, in which the flap configuration is received. The flap configuration comprises a separate flap, which closes the entire airbag exit opening, is only connected to the dashboard support part along a hinge line, and rests in the depression along its remaining circumference.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2008Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Udo Wagner
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Patent number: 7784820Abstract: An integrated air bag support structure that includes a support base for attachment to the rear side of a substrate. The support base is configured to surround a door support panel and both are configured for attachment to the rear side of a substrate in an area that is pre-weakened to define an air bag deployment door in a vehicle instrument panel or a steering wheel air bag module. The upper surfaces of the support base and door support panel are attached to the rear surface of a substrate and a test tab extends from the base that is attached to the rear surface of the substrate in the same manner as the support base and the door support panel. The test tab has an unattached extension portion for the purpose of gripping and pulling to sample test that the attachment of the test tab without affecting the attachment of the support panel.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLCInventors: Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Brian C. Slane
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Patent number: 7784821Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag deployment device for decreasing peak pressure of an airbag in which an inflation tube is provided to a tear seam of a cover and an inflation tube is connected to an inflator through a gas supply tube. When the inflator is operated, the tear seam is torn due to the inflation of inflation tube before the airbag is deployed toward the outside of the cover. Accordingly, when the airbag is deployed, the peak pressure is significantly decreased. As a result, even though a passenger collides with the airbag to be deployed, it is possible to obtain an advantage of decreasing the degree of injury.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jaehoon Jeong
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Patent number: 7784819Abstract: An embodiment of an airbag system includes a cavity configured to store an airbag, wherein the cavity has an aperture that provides an outlet for the airbag during deployment. The embodiment also includes a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength. The initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Jennifer P. Lawall, Diane K. McQueen, Steven E. Morris, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson, Scott D. Thomas, Kenneth A. Strom
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Patent number: 7784818Abstract: At least one guide member extends longitudally along at least a portion of a stowed side curtain airbag. At least one guide ramp directs deployment of the side curtain airbag toward the openable passage defined at least in part by one or more trim pieces. The guide member surrounds the side curtain airbag on three sides to define an airbag deployment opening facing a rear surface of the one or more trim pieces adjacent the openable passage. The interior trim stucture covers the stowed side curtain airbag and allows deployment of the side curtain airbag through an interface joint to a position along a sidewall of a passenger compartment adjacent a rear seat location of a two-door coupe style vehicle. The interface joint defines an openable passage along the first and second abutting edges allowing deployment of a side curtain airbag through the interface joint.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: August 31, 2010Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.Inventors: Brian Downey, Kristi Elliott-Rumberger, Neal Osterhout
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Publication number: 20100213690Abstract: In the case of an airbag covering which comprises an opening flap (9) connected to an interior trim panel (10) via predetermined breaking points (17), a hinge plate (1) which is connected in a planar manner to the opening flap (9) via a hinge flap (2), and a firing channel (14) which is formed from a frame part (4) and hinge plate (1) and forms a combined component (15) with the hinge plate (1), the opening flap (9) is displaced in the direction of the vehicle interior upon opening of the airbag covering by the formation of an expansion fold (6) arranged parallel to the hinge pin (5).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2006Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventor: Engelbert Grüner
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Publication number: 20100213691Abstract: Dashboard (1) for a motor vehicle, of the type including a line of less resistance which delimits a flap (4) which is intended to open under the pressure of the deployment of a safety airbag (10) when the motor vehicle is subjected to an impact, the flap including a wall (18) which has an inner face (24) at the side of a casing (8) which includes the airbag and an outer face (26) opposite the inner face, characterised in that it includes a relief (6) with which the flap comes into contact when it opens, and in that the wall of the flap includes at least one break starting point (40) which is located in the region of a contact point (P) between the flap and the relief and which allows the wall to be broken into several pieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: FAURECIA INTERIEUR INDUSTRIEInventor: Thierry Schupbach
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Patent number: 7780186Abstract: A cover for an airbag module includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a predefined tear line and the third layer is configured to face into a passenger compartment of a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventor: Paul George Maertens
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Publication number: 20100207366Abstract: An automotive PSIR hidden chute assembly contained behind an automotive instrument panel. The PSIR may include chute forward and rearward doors, first and second chute flanges, and an instrument panel, each constructed of a first hard material, and first and second chute hinges, first and second chute sidewalls and a chute end wall, each constructed of a second tough ductile material, such that the first material and the second material have different thermal expansion properties and different elastic modulus properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Gregg S. Evans, Mathew Gabriel
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Publication number: 20100207365Abstract: Disclosed are a thermoplastic elastomer composition and a composite molded body. Specifically disclosed is a thermoplastic elastomer composition containing the following component (A1), component (B1) and component (C1). Component (A1): 70-90% by weight of a propylene polymer unit (?1) obtained in a first step by polymerizing a monomer mainly composed of propylene, and an ethylene copolymer unit obtained in a second step by copolymerizing ethylene with propylene and/or an ?-olefin having 4 or more carbon atoms Component (B1): an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber having a Mooney viscosity (ML1+4, 125° C.) of 20-100 and a weight ratio between the monomer unit derived from ethylene and the monomer unit derived from propylene of from 30/70 to 75/25 Component (C1): an ethylene copolymer as a copolymer of ethylene and an ?-olefin having 4 or more carbon atoms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2008Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITEDInventors: Kohsuke Ohtani, Yasuhito Ijichi
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Patent number: 7775550Abstract: The present invention relates to an airbag cover (11) for automotive vehicles comprising means to predetermine its breaking during deployment of the airbag cushion, incorporating an emblem (13) formed by at least two independent parts (21, 23) and which is fixed to the cover (11) by means of the aid of one or more rods arranged on its inner face and comprising at least two areas (31, 35), each of which includes snap-fitting means cooperating with the rods of each of said at least two parts (21, 23) and an intermediate area (33) between them which is configured such that it can work as a bending area of the snap-fitting plate (17) during deployment of the airbag cushion, allowing relative movement between the parts (21,23) of the emblem (13).Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.Inventors: Francisco Domínguez Aparicio, Andreas Maria Joachim Jonietz
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Publication number: 20100201105Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag that is normally in a folded state and inflates and deploys in the event of an emergency, an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag, a retainer that houses the airbag, and an airbag cover that normally conceals the airbag and, in the event of an emergency, causes the door portions to thereof to split open for releasing the airbag into the passenger compartment, wherein the airbag has a vent hole that can release gas supplied to the inside thereof, and the vent hole is disposed along a side surface portion of the airbag cover, and the door portion is configured so as not to rotate to the side of the side surface portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Inventor: Masaru Iwazato
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Patent number: 7770915Abstract: A cover body of a vehicle air bag apparatus, including a covering portion which is formed integrally with an interior panel body and which has a door portion defined by a tear seam formed in a back of the interior panel body, and, a backing portion joined to a back of the covering portion. The covering portion is made of polyolefin resin having a flexual elastic modulus of from 1500 to 3500 MPa, a tensile strength of from 17 to 40 MPa, an Izod impact strength of from 3.0 to 15.0 kJ/m2, and an elongation of 400% or less. The backing portion is made of thermoplastic olefin which is softer and has a greater elongation. The backing portion includes a reinforcing portion at a back of the door portion, a surrounding base at the back of the covering portion, and a hinge portion joining the reinforcing portion and the surrounding base.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2007Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kazuyoshi Nishijima, Shuji Yamada, Masami Tonooka, Satoshi Kitazawa, Takahiro Suwama, Sadayuki Kawakami, Hiroshi Yakushiji, Ryuji Hori, Masatoshi Ishigaki
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Patent number: 7770916Abstract: A front face distance is obtained by measuring the position of a front face of an instrument panel held by an end effecter of a robot. An error on an optical axis, at the position of the front face is obtained based on the front face distance. Based on the error, the position of the instrument panel is adjusted so that a focal point of a laser meets the position at a predetermined depth defined with the front face as the standard. A back face of the instrument panel is irradiated with a laser to form a fine hole of a fragile section.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tokuji Okumura, Kazushiro Wakabayashi, Mitsutaka Igaue, Hisashi Masuda, Yutaka Ebato, Masahiko Nakayama
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Publication number: 20100194080Abstract: Methods for illuminating (backlighting) an emblem on a steering wheel cover include the use of a light guide, organic LEDs, or a fiber optic rope structure. The fiber optic rope may include many fiber optic filaments bunched together with a light source at one end. When this light source is activated, the filaments glow. For the organic LEDs, several layers of organic paint positioned on a substrate and the organic paint will emit light when a DC current is applied. For the light diffuser, LEDs are placed behind and opaque substrate that diffuses and disperse the light. All of these methods will provide sufficient illumination to backlight an emblem.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: August 5, 2010Inventors: Donald J. Paxton, Krzysztof W. Karwaczynski
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Patent number: 7766380Abstract: An airbag is expanded upward on the side of a passenger from a door part. A cover body which covers the airbag is formed by overlaying an outer part made of a hard resin to an inner part made of a soft resin. A supporting piece part is protruded from the cabin external side of the inner part. A to-be-ripped part is formed on the supporting piece part. On expansion of the airbag, the to-be-ripped part is ripped, thereby allowing the door part to move rotationally on the cabin internal side. Therefore, the airbag equipped at the door part can be smoothly expanded along the side face part of the cabin. Thus, an airbag apparatus is improved in appearance.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2008Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daiei Tonooka, Fumiharu Ochiai, Yohei Kiuchi, Takashi Ueda
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Patent number: 7766371Abstract: An airbag cover comprises a cover main body having a cover core covering an airbag and an outer layer disposed on an outer surface of the cover core, an ornament provided on an outer surface of the outer layer, and a fixing structure for fixing the ornament on the outer surface of the outer layer. And, an edge of the outer layer on the outer surface is covered by the ornament. According to this airbag cover having the ornament, it can be easy to form the outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeshi Fujimori, Saori Wakuda