Limiting energy leakage during laser scoring of vehicle airbag coverings
US8567815B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2011 |
| Grant date | Oct 29, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 17, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/249953
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A covering for use over a vehicle airbag includes a skin layer and an attached foam layer. The foam layer is constructed from a polymer-based material that includes a polymer portion and an additive, and the additive may be selected to affect the energy transmission characteristics of the foam layer material when the covering is subjected to a laser scoring process that uses a laser light beam having a characteristic wavelength. The additive may decrease the amount of light energy transmitted through the material at the characteristic wavelength to limit the amount of energy leakage from one cut location to another during laser scoring. The decrease in light transmission through the material may be accompanied by an increase in the light absorption of the material, an increase in the amount of light reflected by the material, and/or an increase in a laser cutting rate of the material per unit energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.