Vehicle air bag safety system

• US 5,002,307 A
• Filed: 07/13/1989
• Issued: 03/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sheller-Globe Corporation
• Inventors: Heidorn, Michael E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Finlay, Tamara L.
• Application Number:
  US07/379,212
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743, 280/748, 280/751, 280/752, 220/266, 264/259, 264/328.6, 264/DIG. 77
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2375/00 Polyureas; Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2398/20 Thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/00 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/77 Processes of molding urethanes

Abstract

A cover member for an air bag installation, includes a shaped cap-link member of soft urethane molded directly onto and in covering relation to a pair of thermoplastic, L-shaped, angle members, the urethane adhering to the thermoplastic and operating to prevent inadvertent release of the urethane during deployment of the bag.

Claims

1. In a vehicle air bag safety system comprising a cover for covering an air bag module installation, the cover being comprising of an outer cap formed of elastic material and liner means for preventing the cover from being subjected to deformation when the air bag is deployed, said cover being characterized in that the liner means is interiorly of said cap and pre-molded of a durable thermoplastic to include a pair of elongated faces which are confronting and define an elongated thermoplastic to include a pair of elongated faces which are confronting and define an elongated separation, and the outer cap is molded of a urethane which is strongly adherent to the thermoplastic, said cap being formed by injection molding said urethane directly onto the thermoplastic liner means, said cap including a portion of reduced thickness adjacent said separation to form a tearing line and adapted to rip open along said tearing line so as to open when the air bag is deployed, and said liner means being operative to prevent inadvertent release of the urethane due to the adherence of the urethane to the thermoplastic and, wherein said thermoplastic liner means has a flex modulus of about 110,000 to about 130,000 psi at -40 degrees F.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said cap is provided with an opposed pair of sidewalls and an opposed pair of endwalls, said walls being adapted to be fastened to said installation.

3. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said liner means comprises a pair of L-shaped angle members.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein each said angle member includes a pair of legs and said cap defines a lid which adheres to one leg of each said angle member.

5. The invention as recited in claim 4 wherein said cap includes a pair of opposed sidewalls, each sidewall extending from said lid and adhered to the other leg of a respective angle member.

6. The invention as recited in claim 5 wherein each said other leg includes an inturned flange to engage the installation.

7. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic liner means has a flex modulus of about 120,000 psi at -40 degrees F.

8. In a vehicle air bag safety system, the improvement comprising, a cover member for covering an air bag module installation, disposed in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the cover member is comprised of a liner molded of a durable thermoplastic and including inwardly bent edges adapted to be fastened to the air bag module installation, a molded urethane outer layer which is strongly adherent to the liner, and frangible means associated with said outer layer and defining predetermined orthogonal tearing lines for enabling the cover member to rip open along hinges when an air bag of the air bag module installation is deployed, said urethane outer layer being injection molded directly onto said thermoplastic liner and prevented from inadvertent release due to the adherence of the urethane to the thermoplastic, and said thermoplastic liner having a flex modulus in the range of about 110,000 psi to 130,000 psi at -40°

F.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said tearing lines define an "I" and divide the cover into a pair of flaps which rip open about the tearing lines.

10. The invention of claim 8 wherein said liner comprises a pair of longitudinally elongated, L-shaped, angle members, each angle member including first and second legs having, respectively, first and second ends with the first legs each having an elongated edge, said edges being arranged so as to face one another and extend generally parallel to one said tearing line, and the respective first and second ends of each said angle member being adjacent one and the other of the opposite endwalls of the cover.

11. In a vehicle of the type including a steering column, a module which has an air bag adapted to be deployed to protect an occupant, and a cover member for covering the module, the improvement characterized in that said cover member is comprised of a durable molded thermoplastic inner liner, a molded urethane outer layer that substantially covers an upper surface of the inner liner and is adapted to rip open along predetermined tearing lines so as to open along hinges when the air bag of the air bag installation is deployed, securing means for securing the outer layer into covering relation with the inner liner, and fastening means for fastening the cover member to a base member of the module, said thermoplastic liner means being operative to prevent inadvertent release of the urethane layer when the air bag is deployed due to the adherence of the urethane to the thermoplastic;

and wherein, said thermoplastic liner has a flex modulus of about 120,000 psi at -40°

F.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said fastening means comprises said liner including flange means for engaging the module.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of raised gripping protuberances extending from one said liner and urethane layer and operating to interlock with the other of said inner liner and urethane layer.

14. An inflating-type occupant restraint device for a vehicle comprising a cover for a gas bag folded up and encased so as to inflate only when a gas generator operates, said cover member being molded of an elastic material and comprising a lid formed with a pair of opposing sidewalls that are securable to a fixed part of the vehicle and reduced wall thickness portions which define tearing lines which allow the lid to rip open when an air bag of the installation is deployed, and retention means for preventing the cover from being subjected to deformation when the air bag is deployed, characterized in that said retention means comprises a pair of L-shaped angle members premolded of a durable thermoplastic and having, respectively, first and second legs, and said elastic material is a urethane which is strongly adherent to the thermoplastic, and injection molded directly into covering relation onto the angle members, the angle members operating to prevent inadvertent release of the urethane due to the adherence of the urethane to the thermoplastic;

and wherein said thermoplastic has a flex modulus of between about 110,000 and about 130,000 psi at -40°

F.

15. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein said first legs are adhered to the lid and the second legs are adhered to said sidewalls.

16. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein the restraint device includes a base plate, said gas bag deploys in a direction away from said plate, said urethane forms sidewalls when molded to the legs, and each said angle member is provided with a transverse lip adapted to be connected to the base plate member of the restraint device whereby to inhibit vertical movement of the sidewalls.

17. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein a pair of endwalls extend transversely between said sidewalls, each said sidewall and end wall being rigidly securable to a bracket extending from the device.

18. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 17 wherein a lateral tearing line is formed in each said end wall and longitudinally across the lid between the endwalls.

19. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein one said tearing line extends across the lid and the second legs have an elongated edge disposed adjacent to said one tearing line.

20. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein said thermoplastic has a flex modulus of about 120,000 psi at -40°

F.

21. The occupant restraint device as recited in claim 14 wherein the urethane lid completely covers only an upper surface of each said angle member.

22. A method of making a cover for covering an air bag module installation of a vehicle, the steps comprising:

forming a pair of L-shaped angle brackets of a durable thermoplastic material,

molding a layer of urethane onto the brackets to form a lid, a pair of sidewalls, and areas of reduced thickness which define tearing lines which allow the lid to rip open when the air bag of the installation is deployed, the urethane being of a type which strongly adheres to the thermoplastic and covering the brackets.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 wherein the forming step includes molding an inturned lip on each bracket.

24. A cover made by the method of claim 22, said thermoplastic material having a flex modulus in the range of about 110,000 psi to 130,000 psi at -40°

F.