Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-02-06
Rice, Kenneth R. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183004
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a gas bag covering system having a gas bag covering and a device for detachably fastening at least one portion of the gas bag covering to a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A gas bag covering system is known from the DE 296 03 316.2. The gas bag covering here represents the lining of the vehicle roof. In the region of the roof frame a profiled mounting clip is fastened to the roof frame itself. This mounting clip has an arm which is hook-shaped in profile and engages the outer edge of the lining. On unfolding of a head/side gas bag which is fastened between the gas bag covering and the roof frame, an outer portion of the gas bag covering folds downwards. For this, the outer edge of the covering springs out from the hook-shaped arm of the mounting clip. Upon opening up of the gas bag covering, the gas bag unfolding opening is exposed, so that the gas bag can extend through it and along the window of the vehicle. On the one hand, the fastening device must fix the lining securely to the vehicle for normal traveling, on the other hand it must not be allowed to offer too great a resistance to the opening of the covering to expose the gas bag unfolding opening. This would in fact impede the unfolding process. In fact at low temperatures, the device, which usually consists of plastic, will however provide for such a high resistance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a gas bag covering system comprising a gas bag covering together with a device for detachable fastening, which makes possible even at low temperatures an easier opening of the gas bag covering, which is formed in particular by lining parts. The gas bag covering system according to the invention comprises a gas bag covering for covering an unfolding opening in a vehicle and a device for detachably fastening at least one portion of the gas bag covering to the vehicle. The device has at least one holding section and the gas bag covering has a portion which covers the gas bag unfolding opening and which has an edge on which the holding section engages. The device is so flexible that the gas bag covering can move out from its mounting formed by the holding section when the gas bag unfolding opening is exposed. The device further comprises a tear-open section and a mounting section, the tear-open section being destroyed on exposure of the gas bag unfolding opening and on displacement of the holding section such that the flexibility of the device being increased. The holding section remains secured to the device by the mounting section after destruction of the tear-open section.
With the covering together with fastening device, according to the invention, the tear-open section in the non-destroyed state increases the holding force of the device. If, however, a threshold force onto the holding section is exceeded on exposure of the gas bag unfolding opening, the tear-open section is destroyed so that only a slight resistance on the part of the device is offered to the complete displacement or swiveling of that portion of the gas bag covering which normally closes the gas bag unfolding opening. So that no flying parts are present, the mounting section is provided which still holds the holding section on the device, even if the tear-open section has moved. The tear-open section preferably lies in the space behind the gas bag covering which is not visible to the vehicle occupant, i.e. is covered, and only the end of the holding section engaging the edge is visible to the occupant.
The tear-open section preferably has a tear-open line which is formed by a material weakening.
According to a development, the holding section is in turn a lip, similar to a sealing lip, running along the edge to be held. The device preferably additionally has a shape like a mounting clip and a hollow section.
According to the preferred embodiment, the device is produced from an endless section which is constructed in a U-shape in cross-section and has two opposing shanks which are connected at least by two cross-pieces, one cross-piece of which defines the tear-open section and the other cross-piece defines the mounting section. The holding section is an end section of an extra long shank which is hook shaped in cross-section.
The invention relates in particular to a gas bag covering in the form of a roof- or column lining of the vehicle, behind which a side gas bag is situated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5490691 (1996-02-01), Sinnhuber et al.
patent: 5755457 (1998-05-01), Specht
patent: 5791683 (1998-08-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 5921575 (1999-07-01), Kretschmer et al.
patent: 6082761 (2000-07-01), Kato et al.
Rice Kenneth R.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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