Multi-directional air bag module door attachment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag module door for an air bag module unit, said module door comprising:
- a face portion to provide closure to an opening in an interior trim structure of a vehicle wherethrough an air bag is deployable, said face portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces, said module door having at least a portion of the peripheral surface supported by an underlying portion of the interior trim structure, andat least one first flexible leg joined at a first end to said face portion and joinable at a second end to a corresponding mounting section of the module unit, said flexible leg permitting said face portion to be positioned about the air bag deployment opening as the module unit is secured to the vehicle and wherein said flexible leg becomes tensioned as said module door is fixed in position relative to the air bag deployment opening.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module door and installation method whereby an air bag module door is joined to an air bag module unit by of one or more flexible legs. The flexible leg(s) permit the so joined module door to be desirably positioned within an opening in a vehicular interior trim. Once so positioned, the module unit is rigidly secured to the vehicle.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An air bag module door for an air bag module unit, said module door comprising:
-
a face portion to provide closure to an opening in an interior trim structure of a vehicle wherethrough an air bag is deployable, said face portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces, said module door having at least a portion of the peripheral surface supported by an underlying portion of the interior trim structure, and at least one first flexible leg joined at a first end to said face portion and joinable at a second end to a corresponding mounting section of the module unit, said flexible leg permitting said face portion to be positioned about the air bag deployment opening as the module unit is secured to the vehicle and wherein said flexible leg becomes tensioned as said module door is fixed in position relative to the air bag deployment opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An air bag module door for an air bag module unit including a reaction canister, said module door comprising:
-
a face portion to provide closure to an air bag deployment opening in an instrument panel of a vehicle, said face portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces with the peripheral surface including at least two opposed longitudinal sides, said module door having at least a portion of the peripheral surface supported by an underlying mating surface portion of the instrument panel, at least one first flexible leg integral with the lower surface of the face portion and adjacent a first of said opposed longitudinal sides, said first flexible leg permitting said face portion to be positioned about the air bag deployment opening as the module unit is rigidly secured to the vehicle, said first flexible leg having a male form slide-in connector at an end thereof for slide-in fastenerless connection with a corresponding mating female form slide-in connector on the reaction canister, and at least one second flexible leg integral with the lower surface of the face portion and adjacent a second of said opposed longitudinal sides, said second flexible leg further permitting said face portion to be positioned about the air bag deployment opening as the module unit is rigidly secured to the vehicle, said second flexible leg having a male form connector at an end thereof for snap-in engagement with a corresponding mating female form snap-in connector on the reaction canister and wherein, under the influence of an inflating air bag, the male form snap-in connector disengages from the female form snap-in connector as the air bag deploys out of the opening with said face portion pivotally hinging open about at least said first flexible leg. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for positioning an air bag module door within an instrument panel air bag deployment opening of a vehicle and securing the module door to an air bag module unit within the vehicle, wherein the module door includes:
-
a face portion to provide closure to the air bag deployment opening, the face portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces, and at least one integral flexible leg having an end joinable to a corresponding mounting section of the module unit, said method comprising the steps of; a) floatably joining said module door to the module unit by means of joining the end of said leg to the corresponding mounting section of the module unit, and b) positioning the floatably joined module door over the air bag deployment opening with at least a portion of the peripheral surface of said face portion supported by an underlying portion of the instrument panel, whereby said floatably joined door can move in at least two directions relative to the air bag deployment opening selected from longitudinally, laterally, and vertically and wherein said method additionally comprises the step of; c) rigidly securing the module unit to the vehicle whereby the joined flexible leg becomes tensioned and said module door is fixed in position relative to the air bag deployment opening in said at least two selected directions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An air bag module door for an air bag module unit, said module door comprising:
-
a face portion to provide closure to an opening in an interior trim structure of a vehicle wherethrough an air bag is deployable, said face portion having an upper surface, a lower surface and a peripheral surface between the upper and lower surfaces, with at least a portion of the peripheral surface supported by an underlying portion of the interior trim structure, said face portion comprising a tear way adapted to tear under the influence of inflating of the air bag to define at least one air bag release door, and at least one first flexible leg integral with said face portion at a first end and joinable at a second end to a corresponding mounting section of the module unit, said flexible leg and said face portion being a one-piece unit with said flexible leg permitting said face portion to be positioned about the air bag deployment opening as the module unit is secured to the vehicle and wherein said flexible leg becomes tensioned as said module door is fixed in position relative to the air bag deployment opening. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification