Active glove box door with ventilated reaction plate

US9457760B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Ford Global Technologies, LLC · US

Inventors

• Stacey H. Raines · Ypsilanti, US
• Tyler Cohoon · Detroit, US
• Peter Bejin · Northville, US
• Kaitlin M. Cischke · Bloomfield Hills, US
• Nicholas A. Mazzocchi · Ypsilanti, US
• Raffi B. Manoukian · Northville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 2015
• Grant date: Oct 4, 2016
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/21543
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An active glove box door includes a bladder member joined along an outer perimeter with a front wall by a hot weld seam to form an inflatable bladder. The bladder member includes a circumferential pleat for unfolding in response to an inflation gas during a crash event. A door inner liner is joined to a central region of the bladder member and forms a generally continuous plate behind the bladder member. The door inner liner interfaces with the instrument panel to provide a reaction surface for expansion of the bladder. The pleat has a peak disposed proximate to the door inner liner, wherein the peak includes a vent opening that delineates a collision region on the door inner liner. The door inner liner includes a plurality of perforations in the collision region permitting flow of inflation gas from the vent opening through the door inner liner.