Deployment door assembly
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
- deployment means for rupturing under the influence of the restraint when the restraint is being inflated;
said deployment means comprising a plastic part having a seam along which said plastic part is rupturable under stress induced by movement of the restraint forcefully against said deployment means, said plastic part including first and second bodies of plastic foam which are joined to each other at said seam;
said first body of plastic foam having a first durometer hardness, said second body of plastic foam having a second durometer hardness unequal to said first durometer hardness.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A deployment structure (28) for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) is rupturable by the restraint (12) when the restraint (12) is being inflated. The deployment structure (28) includes a plastic part (52). The plastic part (52) has a seam (158) along which it is rupturable under stress induced by movement of the restraint (12) forcefully against the deployment structure (28). The plastic part (52) includes first and second bodies (150,152) of plastic foam which are joined to each other at the seam (158). The first and second bodies (150,152) of plastic foam preferably have respective values of durometer hardness that differ from each other.
42 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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deployment means for rupturing under the influence of the restraint when the restraint is being inflated; said deployment means comprising a plastic part having a seam along which said plastic part is rupturable under stress induced by movement of the restraint forcefully against said deployment means, said plastic part including first and second bodies of plastic foam which are joined to each other at said seam; said first body of plastic foam having a first durometer hardness, said second body of plastic foam having a second durometer hardness unequal to said first durometer hardness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. Apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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deployment means for rupturing under the influence of the restraint when the restraint is being inflated; said deployment means comprising a plastic part having a seam along which said plastic part is rupturable under stress induced by movement of the restraint forcefully against said deployment means, said plastic part including first and second bodies of plastic foam which are joined to each other at said seam; said deployment means comprises a pivotal door panel, a substrate, and means for defining a rupturable portion of said substrate which extends partially around said door panel, said plastic part overlying said substrate with said seam extending partially around said door panel adjacent to said rupturable portion of said substrate; said first body of plastic foam having a first durometer hardness, said second body of plastic foam having a second durometer hardness unequal to said first durometer hardness. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for use with an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said apparatus comprising:
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a deployment structure which is rupturable under the influence of the restraint when the restraint is being inflated, said deployment structure comprising a plastic part having a seam along which said plastic part is rupturable under stress induced by movement of the restraint forcefully against said deployment structure; said plastic part including first and second bodies of plastic foam having first and second edges, respectively, said first and second edges adjoining each other and being bonded together to define an interface at which said first and second bodies of plastic foam are joined to each other, said interface defining said seam. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification