Cover assembly for an occupant restraint system

• US 3,966,227 A
• Filed: 10/24/1974
• Issued: 06/29/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Cameron, Donald K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Jr., M. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/517,794
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 280/150 AB, 180/90
• US Class Current: 280/752
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An occupant restraint cushion housing is mounted within an instrument panel structure and provided with flanges on the side and upper edges of an elongated opening thereof. An inflatable occupant restraint cushion is housed within the housing. A cover assembly for the housing is secured to the instrument panel structure and includes an integrally hinged closure normally closing an opening in the cover assembly generally co-extensive with that of the housing. Flanges of the cover assembly define the side and upper edges of the opening. The closure is provided with flanges which respectively underlie the flanges of the cover assembly to releasably hold the closure against movement outwardly of the cover assembly until the cushion is inflated. Ribs on the side edge flanges of the closure engage flanges of the housing to block inward movement of the side edges of the closure. The flange on the upper edge of the closure engages a filler member secured to a flange of the housing to block inward movement of the upper edge of the closure. Juxtaposed shoulders on the closure and filler member releasably block inward sliding movement of the upper edge of the closure relative to the filler member.

Claims

1. In a vehicle body having an instrument panel structure, an occupant restraint cushion housing, an inflatable occupant restraint cushion deployable from the housing, a cover assembly mounted on the instrument panel structure and including flanges defining the side and upper edge portions of an opening to the housing, a flexible closure hinged to the lower edge portion of the opening for movement to an open position, and including flanges underlying the cover assembly flanges to releasably hold the closure against such movement, the flanges at the side edge portions of the closure engaging the housing to block lateral movement of the side edge portions of the closure inwardly of the opening under inward pressure applied thereto, the improvement comprising, an elongated filler member secured to the housing and including an elongated shoulder extending angularly to the plane of the opening, said filler member also including an adjacent flange juxtaposed to the upper edge flange of the cover assembly and resiliently clamping the upper edge flange of the closure therebetween, and an elongated shoulder on the closure adjacent the upper edge flange thereof engaging the angular filler member shoulder to resist sliding movement in the general plane of the opening of the closure upper edge flange relative to the filler member flange under both inward and outward pressure applied to the closure, movement of the closure to an open position by deployment of the cushion forcing the closure shoulder past the filler member shoulder angularly and outwardly of the plane of the opening.