Patent · US Expired

Interior finish member for an automobile with an air bag device and manufacturing method thereof

US5865461A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
7References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 14, 1996
Grant dateFeb 2, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 14, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/2172
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An interior finish member having a door suitable for an air bag comprises a main body and a cover portion. The main body surrounds the periphery of the cover portion, and the main body and the cover portion form a continuous surface. The cover portion covers a folded air bag of an air bag device. The cover portion comprises: a door portion which covers the folded air bag; a breakable portion defined by a recessed periphery of the door portion whose thickness is thinner than adjacent portions of the interior finish member so that it may be broken easily in deployment of the air bag; and a hinge portion for connecting the door portion with the main body and for providing a pivot around which the door portion rotates when the door portion opens under a force of an expanding air bag. The main body is made of thermoplastic resin, and the cover portion is made of thermoplastic elastomer. Because they are capable of thermally fusing with each other, the main body and the cover portion can be integrally formed.

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