Cover for airbag module and method of making

• US 20030234521A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 12/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinsenschaum, Ryan T., Winters, Mark T., Schenck, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,121,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21506 comprising tearing tabs, legs or the like for holding the lid before deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2172 the cover being connected to the surrounding part and to the module, e.g. floating mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising: a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the first member being movably secured to the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion; a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, the second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, the plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein the first member, the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein the second member and the plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from the door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

Claims

1. An airbag module having an inflatable cushion for use in a vehicle having an interior surface, comprising:

a housing;

a deployment door having an exterior surface and an inner surface, said exterior surface comprises a portion of the interior surface of the vehicle;

a forward door flange depending away from said inner surface, said forward door flange being movably secured to said housing and remains secured to said housing during deployment of the inflatable cushion;

a rearward door flange depending away from said inner surface, said rearward door flange being received within a flange opening of said housing; and

a plurality of latch hooks depending away from said inner surface, said plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in said housing.

2. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from said deployment door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

3. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks each have a plurality of tear seam openings, said plurality of tear seam openings enable said plurality of latch hooks and said rearward door flange to detach from said deployment door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

4. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said rearward door flange further comprises a hook portion and said flange opening is configured to receive said hook portion.

5. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said forward door flange, said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of said deployment door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein said rearward member and said plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from said deployment door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

6. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said deployment door is formed by an injection molding process and said forward door flange, said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are integrally molded with said deployment door.

7. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said forward door flange is adapted to receive a securement means for hingably securing said forward door flange to said housing.

8. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said forward door flange comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive a securement assembly for hingably securing said forward door flange to said housing.

9. The airbag module as in claim 8, wherein said securement assembly comprises a support bracket having a plurality of holes or openings each being defined by an elongated portion which depends away from a surface of said support bracket.

10. The airbag module as in claim 9, wherein said elongated portions are drawn out of the material of said bracket.

11. The airbag module as in claim 9, wherein said plurality of openings of said forward door flange are larger than the exterior dimensions of said elongated portions thereby allowing movement of said forward door flange with respect to said housing.

12. The airbag module as in claim 11, wherein said support bracket is secured to said housing by a plurality of threaded studs and complimentary nuts, said threaded studs passing through said housing and said plurality of holes in said support bracket.

13. The airbag module as in claim 8, wherein said securement assembly comprises a support bracket having a plurality of holes or openings each having one tab or standoff that depends away from the periphery of the hole.

14. The airbag module as in claim 13, wherein said plurality of openings of said forward door flange are larger than the exterior dimensions of the tab or standoff thereby allowing movement of said forward door flange with respect to said housing.

15. The airbag module as in claim 8, wherein said securement assembly comprises a support bracket having a plurality of holes or openings each having at least two tabs or standoffs that depend away from the periphery of the hole and the configuration of each adjacent hole and said at least two tabs or standoffs alternates.

16. The airbag module as in claim 15, wherein said plurality of openings of said forward door flange are larger than the exterior dimensions of the tabs or standoffs thereby allowing movement of said forward door flange with respect to said housing.

17. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks each comprise a plurality of tear seam openings, said plurality of tear seam openings enable said plurality of latch hooks and said rearward door flange to detach from said deployment door during the deployment of the inflatable cushion;

wherein said forward door flange, said rearward door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of said deployment door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module; and

wherein said forward door flange comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive a securement assembly for hingably securing said forward door flange to said housing.

18. The airbag module as in claim 17, wherein said securement assembly comprises a support bracket having a plurality of holes or openings each being defined by an elongated portion which depends away from a surface of said support bracket, said plurality of openings of said forward door flange are larger than the exterior dimensions of said elongated portions thereby allowing movement of said forward door flange with respect to said housing.

19. A door for an airbag module having an inflatable cushion, the airbag module being adapted to be used in a vehicle having an instrument panel with an airbag module opening, the door having an inner surface and an outer surface adapted to match the instrument panel, comprising:

a first member depending away from the inner surface of the door, said first member being movably secured the airbag module and remains secured to the module during deployment of the inflatable cushion;

a second member depending away from the inner surface of the door, said second member being received within a flange opening of the airbag module; and

a plurality of latch hooks depending away from the inner surface of the door, said plurality of latch hooks being configured to engage an opening in the airbag module, wherein said first member, said second member and said plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module and wherein said second member and said plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from said door during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

20. The door as in claim 19, wherein said first member comprises a plurality of openings for receiving a securement assembly, said securement assembly movably securing said first member to the airbag module.

21. The door as in claim 19, wherein said second member is configured to be received with an opening of the airbag module.

22. The door as in claim 19, wherein the cover is formed by an injection molding process and said first member, said second member and said plurality of latch hooks are integrally molded with the door and said second member and said plurality of latch hooks are configured to detach from said cover during deployment of the inflatable cushion.

23. The door as in claim 22, wherein said second member and said plurality of latch hooks each comprise a plurality of tear seam openings, said plurality of tear seam openings enable said plurality of latch hooks and said second member to detach from the door during the deployment of the inflatable cushion.

24. The door as in claim 19, further comprising a plurality of integral hooks being configured and positioned to engage a portion of the airbag module opening when the door is positioned in the airbag module opening the outer surface of the door being flush with the instrument panel.

25. The door as in claim 24, wherein the plurality of integral hooks each have a tear seam or tear seam opening.

26. A method for securing a deployable door to an airbag module, the deployable door being adapted to allow an inflatable cushion to deploy from the airbag module, comprising:

inserting a plurality of latch hooks into an opening of the airbag module;

positioning a first door flange in a flange opening of the airbag module;

positioning a second door flange adjacent to the airbag module;

movably securing the second door flange to the airbag module;

wherein said first door flange, said second door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are each configured to allow movement of the deployable door in three separate directions with respect to the airbag module; and

wherein said second door flange comprises a plurality of openings configured to receive a securement assembly for hingably securing said second door flange to the airbag module.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein the deployable door is formed by an injection molding process and said first door flange, said second door flange and said plurality of latch hooks are integrally molded with the deployable door and first door flange and said plurality of latch hooks each have a plurality of tear seam openings, said plurality of tear seam openings enable said plurality of latch hooks and said first door flange to detach from the deployable door during the deployment of the inflatable cushion.

28. The method as in claim 27, wherein said securement assembly comprises a support bracket having a plurality of holes or openings each being defined by an elongated portion which depends away from a surface of said support bracket, said elongated portions being received in said plurality of openings of said second door flange, said plurality of openings in said second door flange are larger than the exterior dimensions of said elongated portions thereby allowing movement of said second door flange with respect to the airbag module.