Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-12
2002-11-26
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06485047
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to airbag systems and more particularly to a self-retaining automotive airbag plate.
BACKGROUND
The airbag plate is a ridge element that is placed between an undeployed airbag and the skin of an instrument panel. In some recent developments, the airbag plate formed from aluminum that is mounted onto the inside surface of a polypropylene skin, commonly referred to as an “upper.” The mounting of the airbag plate typically involves the rolling over of plastic bosses, which have been molded into the upper, forming a button cap which retains the airbag plate. Sonic and heat stake forming are typically used to roll the plastic bosses.
There are several problems identified with present methods for attaching the airbag plate to the upper. These include, for example, variations in time and dwell of energy, variations in wall thickness due to drafting of the molded parts, variation in plastic boss height due to styling contours in the polypropylene skin, and the ability of the plastic boss to absorb the forming energy due to the closeness of the metal plate all impact the creation of the button cap.
Further, the process for forming the button cap requires that the instrument panel Upper, which typically exceeds 50 inches, be placed within an apparatus to roll the bosses, a restrictive process requiring plant floor space and excess time. Finally, since the plastic bosses are formed integral to the instrument panel upper, there is the possibility that the IP upper may be scraped due to an incorrectly formed boss.
It is therefore highly desirable to provide a method for mounting the airbag plate onto the surface of the instrument panel skin without the need to form plastic bosses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method for mounting the airbag plate onto the surface of the instrument panel skin without the need to form plastic bosses.
The above object is accomplished by providing a modified airbag plate that incorporates a push retainer feature. The airbag plate is secured to the instrument panel upper by forcing the airbag plate over the bosses and retaining it with a push retainer.
The process for retaining the airbag plate to the boss therefore does not require preforming the part for retention. Also, the present invention does not restrict the design of the polypropylene skin to an even-walled circular boss.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon considering the following detailed description and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5613701 (1997-03-01), Bentley
patent: 5651562 (1997-07-01), Hagen et al.
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patent: 5813693 (1998-09-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 5947509 (1999-09-01), Ricks et al.
patent: 6070901 (2000-06-01), Hazell et al.
patent: 6193271 (2001-02-01), Shimane
patent: 6250669 (2001-06-01), Ohmiya
Belanger, Jr. Thomas D.
Bennett Kelvin J.
Stull Gerald W.
Kajander, Esq. John E.
Lum L.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
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