Airbag module cover

• US 5,678,851 A
• Filed: 04/24/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nihon Plast Company Limited
• Inventors: Saito, Hiroyuki, Inoue, Hiroe, Fujimori, Takeshi, Ochiai, Mikio, Koyama, Motomu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/636,983
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches

Abstract

An airbag module cover includes a cover member and an ornament on the cover member. A plurality of pins are connected to and extend from the ornament to pass through the cover member. A retainer is engaged with the pins and cooperates with the ornament to interpose therebetween a portion of the cover member.

Claims

1. An airbag module cover, comprising:

a cover member;

an ornament on said cover member;

a fastener connected to and extending from said ornament to pass through said cover member; and

a retainer in engagement with said fastener and cooperating with said ornament to interpose therebetween a portion of said cover member.

2. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for preventing said retainer from being disengaged from said fastener.

3. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein said preventing means includes a groove disposed on said fastener, and a retaining ring engaged with said groove.

4. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 3, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

5. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 4, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

6. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein said preventing means includes a flange disposed on said fastener.

7. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

8. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 7, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

9. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retainer is in the form of a plate and in face-to-face contact with said portion of said cover member.

10. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener has a distal end projecting from said retainer, said cover member being so disposed as to be substantially flush with said distal end of said fastener or retracted therefrom.

11. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein said preventing means includes a greater-diameter portion and a smaller-diameter portion which are formed on said fastener, and an opening disposed in said retainer to be engaged with said greater-diameter portion and said smaller-diameter portion.

12. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 11, wherein said opening includes a hole and a guide groove connected to said hole, said hole being so configured as to allow insertion of said greater-diameter portion and said smaller-diameter portion, said guide groove being so configured as to allow insertion of said smaller-diameter portion but prevent insertion of said greater-diameter portion.

13. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 12, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

14. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 13, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

15. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fastener is formed integrally with said ornament.

16. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 15, wherein said preventing means includes a groove disposed on said fastener, and a retaining ring engaged with said groove.

17. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 16, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

18. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 17, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

19. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 15, wherein said preventing means includes a flange disposed on said fastener.

20. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 19, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

21. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 20, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

22. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cover member includes a mounting structure, said mounting structure including a wall which extends from said cover member and is spaced apart from said ornament.

23. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 22, further comprising connecting means for connecting said ornament to said wall.

24. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 23, wherein said connecting means is interposed between said cover member and said ornament, said connecting means having a tongue portion passing through a cutout formed in said portion of said cover member, said connecting means being connected at said tongue portion to said wall.

25. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 24, wherein said connecting means has a membrane type switch opposed to said ornament.

26. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 24, wherein said preventing means includes a groove disposed on said fastener, and a retaining ring engaged with said groove.

27. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 26, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

28. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 27, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

29. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 24, wherein said preventing means includes a flange disposed on said fastener.

30. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 29, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

31. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 30, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

32. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 24, wherein said fastener is formed integrally with said ornament.

33. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 32, wherein said preventing means includes a groove disposed on said fastener, and a retaining ring engaged with said groove.

34. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 33, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

35. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 34, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

36. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 32, wherein said preventing means includes a flange disposed on said fastener, said flange being engaged with said retainer.

37. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 36, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

38. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 37, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

39. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ornament is of an annular shape.

40. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 39, wherein said fastener is in the form of a plurality of pins which are circumferentially disposed on said ornament and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance.

41. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 40, wherein said preventing means includes a greater-diameter portion and a smaller-diameter portion which are formed on each of said plurality of pins, and an opening disposed in said retainer to be engaged with said greater-diameter portion and said smaller-diameter portion.

42. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 41, wherein said opening includes a hole and a guide groove connected to said hole, said hole being so configured as to allow insertion of said greater-diameter portion and said smaller-diameter portion, said guide groove being so configured as to allow insertion of said smaller-diameter portion but prevent insertion of said greater-diameter portion.

43. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 42, wherein said retainer is moved relative to said plurality of pins upon mounting, whereby said ornament is secured to said cover member by said plurality of pins and said retainer.

44. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 40, wherein said plurality of pins are in the form of a screw.

45. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 42, wherein said retainer is held in such a manner as to compress said portion of said cover member between said ornament and said retainer.

46. The airbag module cover as claimed in claim 45, wherein said portion of said cover member is made of a resilient resin material.

47. An airbag module cover, comprising:

a cover member;

an ornament on said cover member;

a fastener connected to and extending from said ornament to pass through said cover member;

a retainer in engagement with said fastener and cooperating with said ornament to interpose therebetween a portion of said cover member; and

means for holding said retainer in such a manner as to compress said portion between said ornament and said retainer.