Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1991-12-10
1994-02-15
Tyson, Karin L.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280731, B60R 2122, B60R 2120
Patent
active
052860558
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly and particularly, to a modular air bag cover rupturable so that flaps may easily and largely be bent to provide for full deployment of an air bag.
BACKGROUND ART
As shown in FIG. 4, an air bag assembly is disposed centrally on a vehicle steering wheel 10, which upon collision of a vehicle deploys and inflates an air bag. This air bag assembly includes a mounting plate, commonly referred to as a retainer. An inflator and an air bag are mounted to the mounting plate and covered by a modular cover 11. As shown in FIG. 5, the modular cover 11 has engaging portions 11a, 11b at its lateral sides to join spokes 12 of the steering wheel.
The modular cover 11 has tear lines 13 along which the modular cover can be ruptured when the air bag is deployed. The tear lines are in the form of a continuous groove or a semicontinuous groove. The tear lines may alternatively include spaced grooves of greater depth. When the cover has two different layers, i.e. a rigid layer and a soft layer, a slit may be formed in the rigid layer so that the cover may be ruptured along a predetermined line.
In the prior art modular cover 11, the tear lines 13 include tear lines 13a, 13b extending vertically along lateral sides of the cover 11, and a central tear line 13c extending centrally and laterally of the cover 11 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A vertical direction is a direction from an occupant M toward a windshield G. A lateral direction is the width direction of a vehicle. In this case, the steering wheel is so oriented as to permit the vehicle to run on a straight line.
The tear lines 13a, 13b of the prior art modular cover 11 have ends P positioned substantially at the center of the engaging portions 11a, 11b of the modular cover 11 to join spokes 12. The modular cover 11 has portions S which extend from the ends P to the lower ends of the engaging portions 11a, 11b and remain unbroken when the cover 11 is ruptured. As a consequence, a flap (lower flap) of the modular cover 11 adjacent to the occupant is bent along a line P--P. A portion of the modular cover around the line P--P has a relatively high bending rigidity. This may prevent large bending of the lower flap.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the problem encountered in the prior art and to provide a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly, which can fully rupture to allow an air bag to be very easily inflated in all directions.
The present invention provides a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly comprising tear lines along which the cover can rupture, and engaging portions at its lateral sides to join spokes of a steering wheel, wherein the tear lines have ends extending along the engaging portions.
In the modular air bag cover of the present invention the ends of the tear lines extend along the engaging portions. Thus, the modular cover can be ruptured along the engaging portions to provide a fully bent flap when the air bag assembly is actuated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering wheel on which a modular cover for an air bag assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention is mounted;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the steering wheel;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular cover;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steering wheel on which a conventional modular cover is mounted;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the conventional modular cover; and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modular cover according to another embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering wheel on which is mounted a modular cover for an air bag assembly, made according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the steering wheel. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the modular cover
REFERENCES:
patent: 4148503 (1979-04-01), Shiratori et al.
patent: 5183289 (1993-02-01), Zeller et al.
Takata Corporation
Tyson Karin L.
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