Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1991-12-10
1993-06-08
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280731, B60R 2116
Patent
active
052172503
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly and particularly, to such a modular cover which provides for full deployment of an air bag, which has good appearance, and which is durable.
BACKGROUND ART
As shown in FIG. 4, an air bag assembly is disposed centrally on a vehicle steering wheel 10 so as to deploy and inflate an air bag when sensing impact or deformation upon collision of a vehicle. 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. The modular cover 11 is fit over 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, a rigid layer i.e. and a soft layer, a slit may be formed in the rigid layer so that the cover may be ruptured along a predetermined line.
As shown in FIG. 4, the tear lines 13 of the prior art modular cover 11 are formed on a top or main surface 11A and includes tear lines 13a,13b extending vertically along lateral sides of the main surface 11A, and another tear line 13c centrally and laterally of the cover 11. A vertical direction is a direction from an occupant M toward a windshield G, and a lateral direction is the width direction of a vehicle. In this case, the steering wheel is so oriented as to allow the vehicle to run on a straight line.
When such a conventional modular cover is molded, sinkmarks may be formed to cause wrinkles around the tear lines 13 on the top or main surface 11A of the modular cover 11. Those wrinkles, if quite visible, may deteriorate the esthetic appearance of the modular cover.
The occupant of a vehicle may rub such wrinkles with his fingers. This causes the tear lines to be repeatedly bent and deformed to reduce the durability of the modular cover 11.
A leather may overlie the main surface 11A of the modular cover to provide a high quality modular cover. In such a case, however, the leather may prevent the modular cover 11 from opening along the tear lines 13. As such, the leather can not be used in the prior art modular cover.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to solve the problems encountered in the prior art and to provide a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly, which is free from any wrinkle on its main surface to provide good appearance, which is not repeatedly bent and deformed and is, thus, durable, and which includes a genuine leather on its main surface, but can be ruptured along tear lines.
The present invention provides a modular cover for use in an air bag assembly including a tear line and a shape in the form of a box with an open bottom and a closed top, wherein the tear line extends along a peripheral side wall of the modular cover except some part thereof, so that the entire main surface of the modular cover may be opened in the same direction when the modular cover is ruptured along the tear line.
With the modular cover of the present invention, the peripheral side wall of the modular cover, rather than the main surface, is ruptured along the tear line when the air bag assembly is operated. As a result, the entire main surface is opened toward one side on which no tear line is formed.
According to the present invention, the modular cover has no tear line on its main surface. Thus, the main surface is free from any wrinkles to provide good appearance. In addition, the tear line of the modular cover is not repeatedly bent and deformed to maintain the durability of the modular cover.
Also, according to the present invention, a high quality material such as a genuine leather may be applied to the main surface of the modular cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a modu
REFERENCES:
patent: 3888508 (1975-06-01), Kizu et al.
patent: 4903986 (1990-02-01), Cok et al.
Dickson Paul
Focarino Margaret A.
Takata Corporation
LandOfFree
Modular cover for an air bag assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Modular cover for an air bag assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Modular cover for an air bag assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1929240