Patent · US Expired

Stiffening frame for an integral tether and tearstop in an air bag door

US7156415B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
21References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 6, 2004
Grant dateJan 2, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 7, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R2021/21537
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An air bag door construction for air bag deployment comprises a trim panel and air bag door of unitary construction, at least a portion of the door defined by an area of reduced cross-section outlining at least a portion of the periphery thereof. One or more tethers are formed in the panel, outlined by an area of reduced cross-section, preferably in a dovetail shape which does not direct the propagation of tearing into the tether. A tear stop may be formed at the ends of the tether. The improvement comprises a stiffening frame that is attached to the backside and/or the topside of the panel just outboard of the air bag door periphery but not located across the tethers to improve deployment performance.

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