Airbag cover with stress relief features
US9333937B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 2014 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/21656
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Airbag covers with stress relief features are disclosed. An airbag cover includes a cover face that opens during deployment and one or more sidewalls extending from the cover face to engage a housing of an airbag assembly. One or more tear seams formed in the airbag cover are rupturable upon expansion of the airbag to form the cover face as a hinged door that opens. Excess force can cause a tear seam to propagate through a stop, creating a risk that a portion of the airbag cover will separate from itself or the housing. Stress relief features are disposed in a sidewall to dissipate excess deployment energy and limit undesired breakage of the airbag cover or continued tearing of the tear seam beyond a tear seam stop. The stress relief features disclosed include tear seams and slits oriented transverse to front cover tear seams.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.