Air bag door
First Claim
1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored position to an inflated position;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a molded portion molded as a single piece of plastic material and associated with said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
said molded portion including a base portion and a reinforcing portion, said base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first surface forming a class A surface in the vehicle, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces;
said reinforcing portion including a main wall portion spaced from said second surface and at least one side wall extending from said main wall portion to said second surface and merging with said second surface, said at least one side wall having a second thickness about equal to said first thickness, said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall defining a chamber in said molded portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) includes a molded portion (60) associated with an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). The molded portion (60) is molded as a single piece of plastic material. The molded portion includes a base portion (64) and a reinforcing portion (100). The base portion has a first thickness measured between a first class A surface (42) and an opposite second surface (80). The reinforcing portion (100) includes a main wall portion (126) spaced from the second surface and at least one side wall (110, 112, 114, 116) extending from the main wall portion, merging with the second surface, and having a second thickness about equal to the first thickness. The main wall portion (126), base portion (64), and at least one side wall (110, 112, 114, 116) define a chamber (170) in the molded portion.
27 Citations
27 Claims
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1. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored position to an inflated position;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a molded portion molded as a single piece of plastic material and associated with said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
said molded portion including a base portion and a reinforcing portion, said base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first surface forming a class A surface in the vehicle, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces;
said reinforcing portion including a main wall portion spaced from said second surface and at least one side wall extending from said main wall portion to said second surface and merging with said second surface, said at least one side wall having a second thickness about equal to said first thickness, said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall defining a chamber in said molded portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable from a stored position to an inflated position;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; and
a door for helping to enclose said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device in said stored position, said door comprising;
a molded portion molded as a single piece of plastic material;
a bracket at least partially embedded in said molded portion; and
a tether secured to said bracket, said tether being for connecting said door to the vehicle;
said molded portion including a base portion and a reinforcing portion, said base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first surface forming a class A surface in the vehicle, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces;
said reinforcing portion including a main wall portion spaced from said second surface and at least one side wall extending from said main wall portion to said second surface and merging with said second surface, said at least one side wall having a second thickness about equal to said first thickness, said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall defining a chamber in said door. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An air bag door for helping to enclose an air bag in a stored position in a vehicle, said air bag door comprising:
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a molded portion molded as a single piece of plastic material; and
a bracket embedded in said molded portion;
said molded portion comprising a base portion and a reinforcing portion, said base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first surface forming a class A surface in the vehicle, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces;
said reinforcing portion including a main wall portion spaced from said second surface and at least one side wall extending from said main wall portion to said second surface and merging with said second surface, said at least one side wall having a second thickness about equal to said first thickness;
said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall defining a chamber of said door, said chamber receiving a pressurized gas during molding of said molded portion while said plastic material is in a molten condition, said pressurized gas exerting a force on said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. An air bag door for helping to enclose an air bag in a stored position in a vehicle, said air bag door comprising:
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a molded portion molded as a single piece of plastic material; and
a metal bracket at least partially embedded in said molded portion, said bracket being connectable with a tether for securing said air bag door in the vehicle, said molded portion comprising;
a base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces;
a bracket support portion, said bracket support portion at least partially surrounding said bracket; and
at least one side wall for reinforcing said air bag door and supporting said bracket support portion and said bracket spaced from said second surface;
said base portion, said bracket support portion, and said at least one side wall defining a chamber of said door, said chamber receiving a pressurized gas during molding of said door while said plastic material is in a molten condition.
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26. A method for producing an air bag door for helping to enclose an air bag in a stored position in a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a mold comprising a first mold piece and a second mold piece, said mold having a closed condition in which a mold cavity is defined between said first and second mold pieces;
placing a metal bracket in said mold cavity;
placing said mold in said closed condition;
injecting a molten plastic material into said mold cavity to fill said mold cavity at least partially, said molten plastic material forming a molded portion of said air bag door in said mold cavity that at least partially surrounds said bracket, said molded portion including a base portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite said first surface, said base portion having a first thickness measured between said first and second surfaces, said molded portion further including at least one side wall for reinforcing said air bag door and supporting said bracket, said at least one side wall extending transverse to said base portion and merging with said second surface, said at least one side wall having a second thickness about equal to said first thickness; and
injecting a pressurized gas into said mold cavity, said gas when injected into said mold cavity helping to form a chamber of said air bag door, said chamber being bounded by said at least one side wall, said second surface, and a portion of said molded portion overlying said bracket, said pressurized gas pressurizing said chamber and exerting a force on said main wall portion, said base portion, and said at least one side wall during cooling of said plastic material. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification