Dashboard having an integral air bag discharge channel

• US 5,580,081 A
• Filed: 05/17/1995
• Issued: 12/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Fibrit Gesellschaft Abers & Dr Muller GmbH
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Fibrit Gesellschaft Abers & Dr Muller GmbH
• Inventors: Harnisch, Hartmut, Reinhardt, Werner, Berg, Matthias, Madge, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/443,902
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/752, 296/70, 296/72, 180/90
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

A motor vehicle dashboard has a cutaway portion on the passenger'"'"'s side, into which a hinged flap is inserted. Connected to the underside of the dashboard is a reinforcing half-shell with a discharge channel for an air bag. The characterizing feature of the invention is that the discharge channel forms an integral structural component with the reinforcing half-shell.

Claims

1. A dashboard for air bag deployment comprising:

a support member having a cutaway portion for emergence of said air bag on a passenger side,

a flap fitted into said cutaway portion, said flap being attached to said support member by a hinge,

a constructional member attached to the underside of said support member, said constructional member comprising a reinforcing half-shell and a discharge channel formed in said half-shell, said discharge channel being an integral structural component of said constructional member, said discharge channel including a supporting shoulder against which said flap bears, and a bent collar at a passage opening for said airbag.

2. The dashboard of claim 1 wherein said constructional member is glued to the underside of said support member.