Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-07-17
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S731000, C200S061540, C200S061550
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260876
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to thermoplastic air bag covers mountable onto air bag container assemblies wherein a switch, such as a horn blow switch, is also provided with the cover.
BACKGROUND ART
A wide variety of methods are currently employed to attach a switch backing plate to a driver air bag cover. For example, mechanical fasteners, heat-staking or emabonding are frequency used.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,968 discloses an air bag device including a cover having front and rear side walls that include securing grooves which engage projections.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,487 discloses an apparatus for attaching a cover on a part of a vehicle including an attachment rib and an interlocking snap connection.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,596 discloses an air bag device having a horn switch and support plate between the air bag and a pad whereby the support plate is attached to the bag holder by an attaching leg.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,190 discloses a fastenerless air bag cover and air bag module having at least one engagement member for engaging a housing connector;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,365 discloses an air bag cover assembly having a plurality of mounting posts extending downwardly from the cover to a reaction plate captured between the cover and a gasket.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,241 discloses an air bag cover assembly having a substrate layer, an outer layer and a backing plate mounted to the substrate layer and overlying a switch aperture.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,493 discloses a restraint system having a generally L-shaped switch support section.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,933 discloses an air bag cover assembly including a switch fastenable to an air bag housing assembly.
Other related patents include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,661; 5,465,998; 5,642,901; 5,590,902; 5,520,412; 5,685,561; 5,498,026; 5,501,485; and 5,683,101.
However, some if not all of the above-noted prior art still require secondary attachment equipment and processes to attach a switch backing plate to its air bag cover.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic air bag cover mountable onto an air bag container assembly wherein the necessity for secondary attachment equipment and processes to attach a backing plate to the cover is substantially reduced or eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermoplastic air bag cover mountable onto an air bag container assembly wherein a switch backing plate is attached to the cover without the use of special mechanical fasteners, heat-staking or emabonding.
In carrying out the above objects and other objects of the present invention, a thermoplastic air bag cover mountable onto an air bag container assembly is provided. The assembly includes a container having a retaining member and a retaining bracket. The cover includes a front panel having inner and outer surfaces and adapted to overlie an uninflated air bag contained within the container. The cover also includes a plurality of side walls connected to and extending rearwardly from the inner surface of the front panel, a switch lying behind the inner surface of the front panel, and a block connected to at least one of the side walls. The block has a first groove defined in a rearwardly facing surface of the block. The cover further includes a backing section including a back plate cooperating with the front panel to form a hollow compartment for the switch. The switch is activated by depression of the front panel at its outer surface. The backing section also includes a first member attached to and extending rearwardly from the back plate and a second member attached to and extending outwardly from the first member and having a second groove aligned with the first groove. The block and the second member are adapted to receive and retain the retaining bracket within the aligned grooves for securing the backing plate to the air bag cover.
Preferably, the air bag cover is a snap-on air bag cover and a block is connected to each of the side walls. Each of the blocks is a locking block having an extending snap-on groove defined in a second surface of the locking block. The first member has a third groove aligned with the snap-on groove of one of the locking blocks to permit movement of the retaining member therethrough during movement of the cover on the container to secure the retaining member within the snap-on groove of the one of the locking blocks.
The back plate is preferably positioned at the inner surface of the front panel in containing relationship to the switch. The first member is attached to and extending rearwardly from one end of the back plate.
Preferably, the thermoplastic material is thermoplastic rubber and the switch is a membrane-type horn switch.
The above objects and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5062661 (1991-11-01), Winget
patent: 5465998 (1995-11-01), Davis
patent: 5498026 (1996-03-01), Eckhout
patent: 5501485 (1996-03-01), Eckhout
patent: 5520412 (1996-05-01), Davis
patent: 5590902 (1997-01-01), Eckhout
patent: 5642901 (1997-07-01), Bowman et al.
patent: 5683101 (1997-11-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5685561 (1997-11-01), Kauer
patent: 5720493 (1998-02-01), Sugiyama et al.
patent: 5725241 (1998-03-01), Schenck
patent: 5762635 (1998-06-01), Worrell et al.
patent: 5794968 (1998-08-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5853190 (1998-12-01), Rion et al.
patent: 5873596 (1999-02-01), Kantoh et al.
patent: 5899487 (1999-05-01), Fischer
patent: 5979933 (1999-11-01), Murar et al.
Froude Michael G.
Murar Jason T.
Brooks & Kushman P.C.
Culbreth Eric
Patent Holding Company
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