Patent · US Expired

Method and arrangement for forming an air bag deployment opening

US5478106A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
10References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 22, 1994
Grant dateDec 26, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 22, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/21654
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement is disclosed for forming an air bag deployment opening in an instrument panel behind which a passenger side air bag is stored, just prior to the time the air bag is deployed, the arrangement including a pressure driven cutting edge cutting through the covering layer at the start of air bag deployment. A pyrotechnic charge ignited by the air bag ignition circuitry is used to develop the pressure, and various devices used to drive the cutting edge, including a flattened tube enclosing the charge and expanded by ignition of the charge. A separate door substrate panel and frame are fit into a preformed opening in the instrument panel, and the tube may be mounted to the door substrate panel, the frame, or a separate membrane.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.