US20050253365A1 - Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly - Google Patents
Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050253365A1 US20050253365A1 US11/161,445 US16144505A US2005253365A1 US 20050253365 A1 US20050253365 A1 US 20050253365A1 US 16144505 A US16144505 A US 16144505A US 2005253365 A1 US2005253365 A1 US 2005253365A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- deployment door
- instrument panel
- air bag
- panel retainer
- deployment
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R21/2165—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R21/2165—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
- B60R2021/21652—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening the tearing being done or assisted by cutters
Definitions
- the invention is related to air bag deployment doors and, in particular, to an air bag deployment door molded with the molding of an instrument panel retainer and which includes an integral tear initiator.
- Air bag restraint systems are currently being required on all passenger automotive vehicles. These air bag restraint systems are conventionally disposed behind the instrument panel or embedded in the steering wheel. For aesthetic purposes, these air bag systems are disposed behind a cover or protective door which in turn are covered by a foam layer and a decorative cover layer. For rapid deployment of the air bag when activated, it is necessary to tear away the decorative layer and the protective cover.
- the prior art teaches a wide variety of mechanisms to pierce the decorative layer and provide for the rapid removal of the protective door. In some of these mechanisms, such as taught by Bauer, et al, in U.S. Pat. No.
- a separate first inflator is used to activate a mechanism to pierce the decorative or external layer of the instrument panel and a second inflation to inflate the air bag.
- Other mechanisms such as taught by Parker et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,128 discloses a cutter mechanism displaced by the inflating air bag to cut through the foam layer and external layer of the instrument panel.
- the severing of the cover layer by a sharp edge of the door as it is forced open by the inflating air bag is disclosed.
- Vavalidis in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,240 protrusions attached to the cover pierce the external layers.
- the instant invention is directed to improvements which make the deployment of the air bag quicker, is less complex, has the potential to reduce deployment time and the potential to reduce the size of the inflator.
- a deployment door mechanism for an automotive vehicle air bag system having a door which is molded integral with the instrument panel retainer.
- a series of closely spaced holes define the periphery of the deployment door. The spacings of these holes determine the degree of physical connection between the deployment door and the instrument panel retainer such that the door will break free from the instrument panel retainer upon the application of a predetermined force by the inflating air bag.
- molded into the deployment door is a tear initiator.
- the tear initiator has a base end attached to the deployment door, a free end, and an actuator portion disposed between the base end and the free end. The free end terminates in a sharp piercing portion at a location adjacent to one edge of the deployment door.
- the tear initiator is pivotably connected to the door which permits it to be pivoted causing the sharp piercing portion to pierce through the foam layer overlaying the instrument panel retainer and the protective layer overlaying the deployment door. As a result, the tearing of the foam layer and the decorative layer is accomplished prior to the deployment door being severed from the instrument panel retainer.
- One object of the deployment door mechanism is to provide for a faster removal of the deployment door upon inflation of the air bag.
- Another object of the deployment door mechanism is to pierce the foam layer and the protective cover prior to severing of the deployment door from the instrument panel retainer.
- Another object of the deployment door mechanism is to reduce the number of parts and assembly time.
- Still another object of the deployment door mechanism is that the door is defined by laser-scoring a plurality of closely spaced holes about the periphery of the door.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a portion of an automotive vehicle instrument panel
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the instrument panel
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the deployment door mechanism in the pre-activated state
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the deployment door mechanism with the tear initiator activated.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tear initiator.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective of a portion of an instrument panel 10 of an automotive vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, only the passenger side of the instrument panel 10 is shown.
- the instrument panel is of a conventional laminated construction having a non-rigid external layer 12 overlaying a rigid instrument panel retainer 14 .
- a foam layer 16 such as a urethane layer is interposed the external layer 12 and the instrument panel retainer 14 . This foam layer 16 is from 4 to 6 millimeters thick.
- the external layer 12 is normally a decorative layer and is most commonly a vinyl or similar material.
- the external layers 12 faces the interior of the vehicle's passenger compartment and may include a tear seam in the region of an air bag deployment door.
- the instrument panel retainer 14 is preferably a molded engineering grade structural plastic component.
- the air bag mechanism Located behind the instrument panel 10 is an air bag mechanism (not shown) which is activated by an impact sensor in a conventional manner.
- the air bag mechanism includes a deployment door 20 , the outline of which is shown by the phantom line 18 in FIG. 1 .
- the deployment door 20 is located below the external layer 12 and the foam layer 16 .
- the instrument panel 10 may also include a glove box as indicated by glove box door 22 .
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the instrument panel retainer 14 taken in the direction of arrow 24 in FIG. 1 .
- the deployment door 20 is formed integral with the retainer 14 but is separable therefrom.
- the door 20 is effectively a breakaway door.
- the deployment door 20 is weakly attached to the retainer 14 such that when a sufficient force is applied by an inflating air bag, the physical connection between the deployment door 20 and the instrument panel retainer 14 is severed.
- This breakaway capability of the deployment door 20 is achieved by laser scoring about the periphery of the deployment door a series of closely spaced holes 26 through the instrument panel retainer 14 and part way through the foam layer 16 .
- the depth of the holes 26 is terminated at a location 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters below the external layer 12 , as shown in FIG. 3 . Using this procedure, the location of the deployment door 20 is not perceptible when viewed from the vehicle's passenger compartment.
- the series of holes 26 is illustrated by lines 28 in FIG. 2 outlining the shape of the door 20 in FIG. 2 .
- the tear initiator 30 Formed integral with the deployment door 20 is a tear initiator 30 .
- the tear initiator 30 has a base portion 32 attached to the door 20 at a location offset from the lower edge 34 .
- the tear initiator 30 has a free end 36 which is adjacent to lower edge 34 .
- the free end 36 has a pointed pressing portion 38 which is from 2 to 5 millimeters wide as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the base portion 32 is flexibly attached to the deployment door 20 permitting the tear initiator 30 to have independent flexibility relative to the door 20 . This flexibility is achieved by providing a transverse groove 40 at the location where the tear indicator 30 is attached to the deployment door 20 . This groove 40 may be formed when the instrument panel retainer 14 is molded or it may be laser scored.
- the center portion of the tear initiator 30 is a bowed portion 42 bowed inwardly away from the external layer 12 and protrudes into the air bag housing.
- This bowed portion 42 of the tear initiator 30 is contacted by the inflating air bag prior to applying pressure to the inner surface of the deployment door 20 .
- this bowed portion assures the tear initiator 20 is pivoted outwardly and the pointed piercing portion 38 cuts through the foam layer 16 and pierces the exterior layer 12 , as shown in FIG. 4 . This occurs prior to the pressure asserted by the air bag applied to the deployment door 20 being sufficient to break away the deployment door 20 from the instrument panel retainer. Once the external layer 12 is pierced, the external layer is easily torn the rest of the way by the break-away deployment door 20 .
- the pointed piercing portion 38 in the pre-activated state of the tear initiator is located below the outer surface of the instrument panel retainer 14 as shown in FIG. 3 . This prevents injury to a passenger in the event of force able, accidental head contact with the instrument panel 10 .
- the deployment door 20 and the tear initiator 30 are molded in the instrument panel retainer 14 and therefore no additional parts or assembly is required. It also has been found that the tear initiator 30 requires less effort to tear the external layer 12 upon inflation of the air bag and as a result, a smaller inflator can be used. It also has been found that the tear initiator reduces deployment time of the air bag.
Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/328,683 filed Dec. 23, 2002.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The invention is related to air bag deployment doors and, in particular, to an air bag deployment door molded with the molding of an instrument panel retainer and which includes an integral tear initiator.
- 2. Background Art
- Air bag restraint systems are currently being required on all passenger automotive vehicles. These air bag restraint systems are conventionally disposed behind the instrument panel or embedded in the steering wheel. For aesthetic purposes, these air bag systems are disposed behind a cover or protective door which in turn are covered by a foam layer and a decorative cover layer. For rapid deployment of the air bag when activated, it is necessary to tear away the decorative layer and the protective cover. The prior art teaches a wide variety of mechanisms to pierce the decorative layer and provide for the rapid removal of the protective door. In some of these mechanisms, such as taught by Bauer, et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,106 a separate first inflator is used to activate a mechanism to pierce the decorative or external layer of the instrument panel and a second inflation to inflate the air bag. Other mechanisms such as taught by Parker et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,128 discloses a cutter mechanism displaced by the inflating air bag to cut through the foam layer and external layer of the instrument panel. In other patents such as taught by Ohmija in U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,669 the severing of the cover layer by a sharp edge of the door as it is forced open by the inflating air bag is disclosed. Still in other mechanisms as taught by Vavalidis in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,240 protrusions attached to the cover pierce the external layers.
- These mechanisms have been found to work well however there is always room for improvement. The instant invention is directed to improvements which make the deployment of the air bag quicker, is less complex, has the potential to reduce deployment time and the potential to reduce the size of the inflator.
- A deployment door mechanism for an automotive vehicle air bag system having a door which is molded integral with the instrument panel retainer. A series of closely spaced holes define the periphery of the deployment door. The spacings of these holes determine the degree of physical connection between the deployment door and the instrument panel retainer such that the door will break free from the instrument panel retainer upon the application of a predetermined force by the inflating air bag. Further, molded into the deployment door is a tear initiator. The tear initiator has a base end attached to the deployment door, a free end, and an actuator portion disposed between the base end and the free end. The free end terminates in a sharp piercing portion at a location adjacent to one edge of the deployment door. The tear initiator is pivotably connected to the door which permits it to be pivoted causing the sharp piercing portion to pierce through the foam layer overlaying the instrument panel retainer and the protective layer overlaying the deployment door. As a result, the tearing of the foam layer and the decorative layer is accomplished prior to the deployment door being severed from the instrument panel retainer.
- One object of the deployment door mechanism is to provide for a faster removal of the deployment door upon inflation of the air bag.
- Another object of the deployment door mechanism is to pierce the foam layer and the protective cover prior to severing of the deployment door from the instrument panel retainer.
- Another object of the deployment door mechanism is to reduce the number of parts and assembly time.
- Still another object of the deployment door mechanism is that the door is defined by laser-scoring a plurality of closely spaced holes about the periphery of the door.
- And yet it is another object of the deployment door mechanism is a reduction in the size of the inflator required to deploy the air bag.
- These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective showing a portion of an automotive vehicle instrument panel; -
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the instrument panel; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the deployment door mechanism in the pre-activated state; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the deployment door mechanism with the tear initiator activated; and -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tear initiator. -
FIG. 1 is a perspective of a portion of aninstrument panel 10 of an automotive vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, only the passenger side of theinstrument panel 10 is shown. The instrument panel is of a conventional laminated construction having a non-rigidexternal layer 12 overlaying a rigidinstrument panel retainer 14. Afoam layer 16, such as a urethane layer is interposed theexternal layer 12 and theinstrument panel retainer 14. Thisfoam layer 16 is from 4 to 6 millimeters thick. Theexternal layer 12 is normally a decorative layer and is most commonly a vinyl or similar material. Theexternal layers 12 faces the interior of the vehicle's passenger compartment and may include a tear seam in the region of an air bag deployment door. Theinstrument panel retainer 14 is preferably a molded engineering grade structural plastic component. - Located behind the
instrument panel 10 is an air bag mechanism (not shown) which is activated by an impact sensor in a conventional manner. The air bag mechanism includes adeployment door 20, the outline of which is shown by thephantom line 18 inFIG. 1 . As is more clearly shown inFIG. 3 , thedeployment door 20 is located below theexternal layer 12 and thefoam layer 16. Theinstrument panel 10 may also include a glove box as indicated byglove box door 22. -
FIG. 2 is a bottom view of theinstrument panel retainer 14 taken in the direction ofarrow 24 inFIG. 1 . Referring toFIGS. 2, 3 , and 4, thedeployment door 20 is formed integral with theretainer 14 but is separable therefrom. Thedoor 20 is effectively a breakaway door. Thedeployment door 20 is weakly attached to theretainer 14 such that when a sufficient force is applied by an inflating air bag, the physical connection between thedeployment door 20 and theinstrument panel retainer 14 is severed. This breakaway capability of thedeployment door 20 is achieved by laser scoring about the periphery of the deployment door a series of closely spacedholes 26 through theinstrument panel retainer 14 and part way through thefoam layer 16. The depth of theholes 26 is terminated at a location 0.2 to 0.4 millimeters below theexternal layer 12, as shown inFIG. 3 . Using this procedure, the location of thedeployment door 20 is not perceptible when viewed from the vehicle's passenger compartment. The series ofholes 26 is illustrated bylines 28 inFIG. 2 outlining the shape of thedoor 20 inFIG. 2 . - Formed integral with the
deployment door 20 is atear initiator 30. Thetear initiator 30 has abase portion 32 attached to thedoor 20 at a location offset from thelower edge 34. Thetear initiator 30 has afree end 36 which is adjacent tolower edge 34. Thefree end 36 has a pointedpressing portion 38 which is from 2 to 5 millimeters wide as shown inFIG. 5 . Thebase portion 32 is flexibly attached to thedeployment door 20 permitting thetear initiator 30 to have independent flexibility relative to thedoor 20. This flexibility is achieved by providing atransverse groove 40 at the location where thetear indicator 30 is attached to thedeployment door 20. Thisgroove 40 may be formed when theinstrument panel retainer 14 is molded or it may be laser scored. - Referring to
FIGS. 3, 4 , and 5, the center portion of thetear initiator 30 is a bowedportion 42 bowed inwardly away from theexternal layer 12 and protrudes into the air bag housing. This bowedportion 42 of thetear initiator 30 is contacted by the inflating air bag prior to applying pressure to the inner surface of thedeployment door 20. In response to the inflation of the air bag, this bowed portion assures thetear initiator 20 is pivoted outwardly and the pointed piercingportion 38 cuts through thefoam layer 16 and pierces theexterior layer 12, as shown inFIG. 4 . This occurs prior to the pressure asserted by the air bag applied to thedeployment door 20 being sufficient to break away thedeployment door 20 from the instrument panel retainer. Once theexternal layer 12 is pierced, the external layer is easily torn the rest of the way by the break-awaydeployment door 20. - For safety of the passengers, the pointed piercing
portion 38 in the pre-activated state of the tear initiator is located below the outer surface of theinstrument panel retainer 14 as shown inFIG. 3 . This prevents injury to a passenger in the event of force able, accidental head contact with theinstrument panel 10. - The
deployment door 20 and thetear initiator 30 are molded in theinstrument panel retainer 14 and therefore no additional parts or assembly is required. It also has been found that thetear initiator 30 requires less effort to tear theexternal layer 12 upon inflation of the air bag and as a result, a smaller inflator can be used. It also has been found that the tear initiator reduces deployment time of the air bag. - While one embodiment of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that this embodiment illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (10)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/161,445 US20050253365A1 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2005-08-03 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/328,683 US6942243B2 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2002-12-23 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
US11/161,445 US20050253365A1 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2005-08-03 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/328,683 Continuation US6942243B2 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2002-12-23 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050253365A1 true US20050253365A1 (en) | 2005-11-17 |
Family
ID=30000337
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/328,683 Expired - Fee Related US6942243B2 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2002-12-23 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
US11/161,445 Abandoned US20050253365A1 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2005-08-03 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/328,683 Expired - Fee Related US6942243B2 (en) | 2002-12-23 | 2002-12-23 | Vehicle instrument panel air bag door assembly |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6942243B2 (en) |
DE (1) | DE10357491A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2396588B (en) |
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US20060061127A1 (en) * | 2004-09-20 | 2006-03-23 | Emerling David M | Molded automotive visor |
US20060068193A1 (en) * | 2004-09-29 | 2006-03-30 | Lear Corporation | Method and apparatus for making a trim panel with a self-skinning blown elastomer component |
US7284784B2 (en) | 2005-06-08 | 2007-10-23 | Lear Corporation | Automotive bolster with soft feel and method of making the same |
US7384061B2 (en) * | 2005-07-14 | 2008-06-10 | International Automotive Components Group North America, Inc. | Trim panel and a method of manufacture |
US20070020420A1 (en) * | 2005-07-21 | 2007-01-25 | Huffel Patrick V | Vehicle glove box and method of fabricating the same |
FR2907363B1 (en) * | 2006-10-18 | 2011-03-18 | Faurecia Interieur Ind | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A TRIM PIECE, AND TRAPPING PIECE WITH A CASSABLE OPENING PART |
EP2008878B1 (en) * | 2007-06-27 | 2012-10-31 | Volvo Car Corporation | Panel for an airbag restraint system |
DE102009014449A1 (en) * | 2009-03-23 | 2010-10-07 | International Automotive Components Group Gmbh | Airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle and method for producing an airbag arrangement |
US7967329B2 (en) * | 2009-06-02 | 2011-06-28 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Protective layer for an airbag assembly |
ES2439068T3 (en) | 2011-05-26 | 2014-01-21 | International Automotive Components Group Gmbh | Airbag cover, in particular for airbags in a car and manufacturing procedure |
WO2013089994A1 (en) * | 2011-12-15 | 2013-06-20 | Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc. | Non-visible tear seams for airbag coverings |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2396588A (en) | 2004-06-30 |
GB0327666D0 (en) | 2003-12-31 |
GB2396588B (en) | 2005-02-23 |
US6942243B2 (en) | 2005-09-13 |
DE10357491A1 (en) | 2004-07-15 |
US20040119268A1 (en) | 2004-06-24 |
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