Cover for vehicle occupant impact protection device

US5335937A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mercedes-Benz Group AG · DE

Inventors

• Hans-Wilhelm Uphues · Magstadt, DE
• Zivojin Petkovic · Böblingen, DE
• Wolfgang Henseler · Tübingen, DE
• Manfred Muller · Wuppertal, DE
• Stephan Schreiner · Frechetsfeld, DE
• Thomas Witkovsky · Grafenau, DE
• Thomas Fischer · Tübingen, DE
• Rolf Schumacher · Marly, CH
• Bruno Moltgen · Tiefenbronn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 3, 1993
• Grant date: Aug 9, 1994
• Expiry date: Sep 3, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/215
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Impact protection devices, arranged in steering wheels or dashboards of motor vehicles, for vehicle occupants are provided with covers which open in the event of an accident in order to release an inflating air bag of the protection device. The cover, which consists of at least one cover flap, is injection molded onto a carrier part by a tough elastic plastic. The plastic surround has along an edge, intended as pivot axis, of the cover flap a cross-sectional tapering which serves as a hinge. At the other edges, the plastic surround is constructed towards the corresponding edges of the carrier part as a groove which, in the event of pressure on the cover flap in the opening direction, easily releases the carrier part edge.