Dielock angle variation within foam-in-place inflatable restraint door

• US 4,973,081 A
• Filed: 01/10/1990
• Issued: 11/27/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc. (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc. (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Rafferty, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finlay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/463,132
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743, 280/752, 180/90, 296/70
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An instrument panel and associated inflatable restraint door, capable of producing a "hinging effect" preferential opening of the door upon deployment of an air bag concealed in the instrument panel, has locating peripheral surfaces with a dielock angle which is flared five degrees along one edge and between fifteen and twenty degrees along the opposite edge to impove door release action.

Claims

1. An instrument panel for an automotive vehicle comprising

said panel defining an opening therein for overlying an air bag assembly,

a door having a first edge and second edge opposite to said first edge for closing said opening,

said instrument panel being characterized by guide means for guiding said door out of said opening in response to a uniformly applied force over the area of one side of said door and for retaining said second edge in said opening until said first edge clears said opening while thereafter allowing free and independent movement of said door apart from said panel.

2. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 1 further defined by said door and said opening having coacting peripheral surfaces.

3. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 2 further defined by said coacting peripheral surfaces being flared outwardly at a dielocked angle around the periphery thereof.

4. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 3 further defined by said coacting peripheral surfaces being flared outwardly at a dielock angle which varies around the periphery thereof.

5. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 4 further defined by said first edge being a coacting peripheral surface flared outwardly at a dielock angle of five degrees around the periphery thereof.

6. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 4 further defined by said second edge being a coacting peripheral surface flared outwardly at a dielock angle of fifteen to twenty degrees.

7. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 4 further defined by said first edge being a coacting peripheral surface flared outwardly at a dielock angle of five degrees around the periphery thereof and said second edge being a second coacting peripheral surface flared outwardly at a dielock angle of between fifteen and twenty degrees, inclusive, around the periphery thereof.

8. An instrument panel as set forth in claim 3 further defined by said door having four sides.