Occupant restraint system

• US 3,904,222 A
• Filed: 12/03/1973
• Issued: 09/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald K. Cameron, Leslie W. Bursott, Robert M. Caldwell
• Original Assignee: Donald K. Cameron, Leslie W. Bursott, Robert M. Caldwell
• Inventors: Bursott, Leslie W., Caldwell, Robert M., Cameron, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/420,798
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 180/90 220/55.3 222/556
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/145 having a crossbeam incorporated therein

Abstract

An instrument panel structure mounts an occupant restraint cushion housing having a flanged elongated opening. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion is housed within the housing and communicates with an inflator mounted to the housing. A cover assembly for the housing is secured to the instrument panel structure and includes an integrally hinged closure closing an opening therein generally coextensive with that of the housing. The cover assembly includes flanges defining the free side and upper edge portions of the opening therein. The free edge portions of the closure are provided with inwardly offset flanges underlying the flanges of the assembly to releasably hold the closure in closed position against outward movement. In one embodiment, integral ribs of the side and upper flanges of the closure engage the side and upper flanges of the housing to block movement of the side and upper flanges of the closure inwardly of the housing. In a second embodiment, a spacer on the upper flange of the housing blocks inward movement of the upper flange of the closure. In a third embodiment, the integral rib on one side flange of the closure engages a respective side flange of the housing and spacers on the cover assembly and housing block inward movement of the outer side flange and upper flange of the closure.

Claims

1. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel structure, an occupant restraint cushion housing having an elongated opening, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion mounted within the housing for deployment therefrom through the opening when the cushion is inflated, a cover assembly mouNted on the instrument panel structure in covering relationship to the housing, said cover assembly including flange means defining the side and upper edges of an elongated opening generally coextensive of the housing opening and a closure hinged to the lower edge of the opening for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening thereof, said closure including an outer flexible member and an inner layer of foam plastic material formed into flanges at the side and upper edges thereof which underlie respective flange means of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure against movement to an open position outwardly of the cover assembly opening and being ineffective to hold the closure against movement inwardly of the cover assembly opening, and rib means formed integral with the inner layer of the closure at the edges thereof and engageable with the restraint cushion housing to block movement of the closure inwardly of the cover assembly opening.

2. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel structure, an occupant restraint cushion housing having an opening, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion mounted within the housing for deployment therefrom through the opening when the cushion is inflated, a cover assembly mounted on the instrument panel structure in covering relationship to the housing, said cover assembly including an elongated opening generally coextensive of the housing opening and a closure hinged to one edge portion of the opening for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening, the cover assembly including an outer thin member provided with free edge portions defining the free edge portions of the opening and an inner layer of resilient material secured thereto, the closure including an outer member formed integral with the outer member of the cover assembly and forming a continuation thereof, the outer member of the closure including inwardly offset flanges underlying the inner layer of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure generally coplanar of the cover assembly and against movement to an open position outwardly of the opening thereof, the flanges being ineffective to hold the closure against movement inwardly of the cover assembly opening relative to the restraint cushion housing, the closure including an inner layer of resilient material overlying the flanges thereof and being provided with integral rib means on the flanges thereof at the side edge portions of the closure for engagement with the restraint cushion housing to block movement of the side edge portions of the closure inwardly of the cover assembly opening, and additional means for blocking movement of the upper edge portion of the closure inwardly of the opening of the cover assembly.

3. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having instrument panel structure, an occupant restraint cushion housing having an opening, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion mounted within the housing for deployment therefrom through the opening when the cushion is inflated, a cover assembly mounted on the instrument panel structure in covering relationship to the housing said cover assembly including flanges defining the free edge portions of an elongated opening generally coextensive of the housing opening and a closure hinged to one edge portion of the opening for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening, the closure including an outer member having inwardly offset flanges respective to and underlying the flanges of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure generally coplanar of the cover assembly and against movement to an open position outwardly of the opening thereof, the closure flanges being ineffective to hold the closure against movement inwardly of the cover assembly opening relative to the restraint cushion housing, an inner layer of resilient material overlying the closure flanges and being provided with integral ribs, certain of the ribs engaging the restraint cusHion housing to block movement of the respective flanges of the closure inwardly of the cover assembly opening, and filler means of rigid material located between the restraint cushion housing and the outer of the closure ribs and engageable by the latter for blocking movement of the respective flanges of the closure inwardly of the opening of the cover assembly.

4. The combination comprising, a vehicle body having an instrument panel structure, an occupant restraint cushion housing having an opening, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion mounted within the housing for deployment therefrom through the opening when the cushion is inflated, a cover assembly mounted on the instrument panel structure in covering relationship to the housing, said cover assembly including flanges defining the free side and upper edge portions of an elongated opening generally coextensive of the housing opening and a closure hinged to the lower edge portion of the opening for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the opening, the closure including an outer member having inwardly offset flanges respective to and underlying the flanges of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure generally coplanar of the cover assembly and against movement to an open position outwardly of the opening thereof, the closure flanges being ineffective to hold the closure against movement inwardly of the cover assembly opening relative to the restraint cushion housing, the closure including an inner layer of resilient material overlying the flanges thereof and being provided with integral ribs, the ribs on the flanges at the side edge portions of the closure engaging the restraint cushion housing to block movement of the side edge portions of the closure inwardly of the cover assembly opening, the rib on the flange at the upper edge portion of the closure engaging a rigid filler member secured to the housing to block movement of the upper edge portion of the closure inwardly of the opening of the cover assembly.