Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-11-27
Hess, Douglas (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322100
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, and particularly relates to a deployment structure for covering the protection device in a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is inflated when a vehicle experiences a crash. Inflation fluid is directed to flow from an inflator into the air bag to inflate the air bag. When the air bag is inflated, it extends into the vehicle occupant compartment to help protect an occupant of the vehicle from a forceful impact with parts of the vehicle as a result of the crash.
A deployment structure conceals the air bag and the inflator from view in the vehicle occupant compartment. The deployment structure includes one or more pivotal deployment doors which extend over the air bag. As the inflation fluid begins to flow from the inflator into the air bag, it moves the air bag against the deployment structure. The deployment doors are opened by the air bag as the inflation fluid continues to inflate the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment. A decorative emblem may be mounted on one of the deployment doors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus comprises a pivotal deployment door and a decorative emblem structure having an installed position on the deployment door. The deployment door is configured to open under the influence of inflation fluid pressure forces applied by an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device. The apparatus further comprises a first fastener structure on the deployment door and a second fastener structure on the emblem structure. The fastener structures are configured to snap together to establish a mechanical interlock between the deployment door and the emblem structure upon movement of the emblem structure to the installed position on the deployment door.
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patent: 5487557 (1996-01-01), Eckhout
patent: 5516143 (1996-05-01), Lang et al.
patent: 5529336 (1996-06-01), Eckhout
patent: 5542694 (1996-08-01), Davis
patent: 5573268 (1996-11-01), Leonelli
patent: 5678851 (1997-10-01), Saito et al.
patent: 5685056 (1997-11-01), Fischer
patent: 5775721 (1998-07-01), Grout
patent: 5947511 (1999-09-01), Usui et al.
patent: 5139231 (1993-06-01), None
Al-Amin Ahmad K.
Cuevas Jess A.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Van Wynsberghe Roy D.
Gort Elaine
Hess Douglas
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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