Arrangement of air-bag device in motor vehicle

• US 4,911,471 A
• Filed: 01/31/1989
• Issued: 03/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hirabayashi, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US07/304,097
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/731, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an arrangement of an air-bag device in a motor vehicle having a passenger room, a windshield and an instrument panel. The arrangement comprises a first structure defining an opening in an upper part of the instrument panel; a base member secured to a fixed member of the vehicle and located at a position below the opening; a gas generator mounted on the base member for generating gas when operated; an air-bag held by the base member, the air-bag being exposed through the opening to the passenger room and fully expanded in the same when the gas generator operates; a lid member for covering the opening of the instrument panel, the lid member being pivoted up to open when pressed by the air-bag under expansion; and a second structure for restricting the opening angle of the lid member relative to the upper part of the instrument panel thereby to direct the air-bag under expansion toward a desired position of the passenger room.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle-having a passenger room, a windshield and an instrument panel,

an arrangement of an air-bag device comprising:

first means defining an opening in an upper part of said instrument panel;

a base member secured to a fixed member of the vehicle and located at a position below said opening;

a gas generator mounted on said base member for generating gas when operated;

an air-bag held by said base member, said air-bag being exposed through said opening to the passenger room and fully expanded in the same when said gas generator operates;

a lid member for covering said opening of the instrument panel, said lid member being pivoted up to open when pressed by said air-bag under expansion; and

second means for restricting the opening angle of said lid member relative to said upper part of said instrument panel thereby to direct the air-bag under expansion toward a desired position of the passenger room.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which said lid member has a hinge portion about which said lid member pivots.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2, in which said second means comprises a strap which connects said lid member to said base member.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 3, in which said strap has longitudinal both ends secured to said base member and a middle part secured to said lid member.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which said middle part of said strap is secured to a free end of said lid member.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5, in which said lid member is a part of a cover structure constructed of molded polyurethane board, said part being bounded by an easily breakable rectangularly extending grooved portion provided by said cover structure.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in which said cover structure is reinforced by a cloth embedded therein.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 7, in which said easily breakable grooved portion is free of said cloth.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, in which said hinge portion of said lid member is provided with said cloth.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, in which said middle part of said strap is sewed to said cloth.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 10, in which said cover structure has a peripheral portion secured to a peripheral portion of said base member.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 11, in which said cover structure has an upper surface which is substantially flush with the outer surface of the upper part of said instrument panel.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 12, in which said base member is connected to a steering column support member through a bracket.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, in which said strap is constructed of woven cloth.