Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-12-04
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728300, C280S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325407
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to inflatable passive restraint systems for use in vehicles for restraining the movement of a seated occupant such as in the event of a collision. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved attachment arrangement for securing a decorative cover to or within an inflatable occupant restraint airbag module assembly.
It is well known to protect a vehicle occupant by means of safety restraint systems which self-actuate from an undeployed to a deployed state without the need for intervention by the operator, i.e., “passive restraint systems.” Such systems are commonly composed of one or more module assemblies mounted within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. Typical module assemblies used in such systems contain or include an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, such as in the form of a cushion or bag, commonly referred to as an “airbag cushion.” In practice, airbag cushions are normally housed in an uninflated and folded condition to reduce or minimize space requirements. Typically, upon actuation of the system, such as when the vehicle encounters a sudden deceleration as in the event of a collision, an associated airbag cushion is designed to inflate or expand in a matter of no more than a few milliseconds with an inflation fluid, e.g., a gas, produced or supplied by a device commonly referred to as an “inflator.” In practice, such an airbag cushion is desirably deployed into a location within the vehicle between the occupant and certain parts of the vehicle interior, such as a door, steering wheel, instrument panel or the like, to prevent or avoid the occupant from forcibly striking such part(s) of the vehicle interior.
In such module assemblies, it is common for the airbag cushion and, at least a portion, of the associated inflator device to be stowed or contained within a module housing such as composed, at least in part, by a housing member such as in the form of a reaction plate or other appropriately selected shape or form. Such housing member components typically have joined or connected therewith an associated or corresponding cover member or element. As will be appreciated, the inclusion of such a cover member can be desirable in various respects. For example, such a cover member may desirably serve to enclose various of the respective module assembly components such as to prevent damage thereto, such as damage to the airbag cushion. Further, it has become common to provide for the inclusion of such a cover member as a decorative feature such as forms a part of the dashboard, steering wheel, seat, door, roof, etc. of the vehicle. Such cover members typically include a frangible section, such as having tear lines of reduced strength such as to permit one or more sections of the cover member to move upon system actuation such as to permit the associated airbag cushion to expand past the cover upon inflation. In practice, the frangible section of such cover members must be sufficiently strong to resist accidental opening prior to proper actuation of the restraint system. Consequently, the frangible sections of such cover members generally require the proper application of a relatively large force onto the cover, such as by the inflating airbag cushion, before the frangible section releases and permits the airbag cushion to deploy therethrough.
The application of such large forces may, however, create a risk that the cover or at least a portion thereof may undesirably become dislodged or unattached from the associated housing member. In order to reduce, minimize or eliminate the risk of such dislodgement or detachment, a need and a demand has existed for a cover attachment arrangement wherein the cover is securely attached to or with the module housing. Unfortunately, the need for strength in the connection between an associated cover and housing has often resulted in more complicated than desired connection schemes. For example, in order to ensure proper cover attachment and retention, common cover and housing connection schemes have incorporated or relied on the inclusion of one or more of the following features:
1) various secondary components, such as rivets or other fasteners or the like;
2) various secondary operations, such as crimping or the like; and
3) relatively intricate or complicated shapes or forms.
Unfortunately, the inclusion of such features typically undesirably increases the costs associated with the connection scheme. Further, the inclusion of such features typically undesirably complicates or makes more expensive the rework of such installations. For example, the rework of such designs is typically laborious and may require scrapping of one or more components involved in the rework.
The problem of complicated connection between a cover and associated housing is at least in part addressed by commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,669, issued Dec. 31, 1996, to Leonard et al., the disclosure of which patent is incorporated herein in its entirety. This patent discloses a hook and window airbag cover attachment arrangement wherein the housing includes a side wall which forms a series of outwardly extending mounting tabs or hooks and the cover includes a series of windows or slots which mate with the outwardly extending hooks.
FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrate a simplified module assembly, designated by the reference numeral
50
, utilizing one such common cover and housing connection. More particularly,
FIG. 1
is a fragmentary bottom view of the module assembly
50
of complimentary sized and shaped reaction housing
52
and cover
54
. As shown, the reaction housing
52
is generally rectangular in shape, with opposed first and second longitudinal sides
56
and
60
and opposed first and second lateral sides
62
and
64
. The reaction housing
52
includes outwardly extending tabs or hooks
66
on the first and second longitudinal sides
56
and
60
, respectively. As shown in
FIG. 2
, the cover
54
includes a main panel
70
and a skirt
72
extending therefrom. The cover main panel
70
forms or includes a brim
73
, exterior to the skirt
72
. Note that the view shown in
FIG. 1
is fragmentary in nature as, for example, the cover brim
73
has not there been shown in an effort to facilitate illustration and comprehension. While various forms of covers may be used, the cover
54
is of the form or type commonly referred to as a “clamshell cover” in that such cover normally or commonly forms two separate complementary cover pieces upon opening. The skirt
72
includes a series of windows or slots
74
which mate with the outwardly extending hooks
66
of the reaction housing
52
.
While
FIG. 1
shows the inclusion of a circular opening
76
in the reaction housing
52
for the placement of an associated inflator device and
FIG. 2
includes airbag cushion deployment direction arrows
80
to illustrate the typical deployment directions which an associated airbag cushion will deploy and exert forces onto the assembly,
FIGS. 1 and 2
have been simplified by not showing the associated inflator, airbag cushion and associated connection or retention devices or features.
FIGS. 3 and 4
illustrate the module assembly
50
upon actuation and deployment of the associated airbag cushion
82
(shown in FIG.
4
and which
FIG. 4
also includes direction arrows
83
illustrating typical or usual direction inflation medium forces upon the airbag cushion
82
). As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, and in accordance with typical such assemblies, upon actuation of the module assembly
50
, the airbag cushion
82
acts against the cover
54
such as results in the tearing or otherwise opening of the cover such as to form first and second cover pieces,
84
and
86
, respectively, and to permit the airbag cushion
82
to deploy into desired position. Upon such deployment, the outwardly extending housing hooks
66
interact with the cover windows
74
to normally retain the first and second cover pieces
84
and
86
joined to the housing
52
upon deployment.
While the attachment arrangement of U.S. Pat
Autoliv ASP Inc.
Brown Sally J.
Rice Kenneth R.
LandOfFree
Airbag module cover attachment does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Airbag module cover attachment, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Airbag module cover attachment will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2587121