Air bag cover

• US 5,855,391 A
• Filed: 05/01/1996
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Custom Trim Ltd.
• Inventors: Holland, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/640,529
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/731, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/007 Forming single grooves or ribs, e.g. tear lines, weak spots by moulding B29C37/0057; folding lines B29C53/06; in metal articles B21D17/00; by cutting B26D3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

A leather covered air bag enclosure is provided by forming a leather cover over a semi-rigid synthetic cap and providing lines of weakness in the leather cover conforming to lines of weakness in the synthetic cap. The lines of weakness may be formed of a plurality of rows of perforations so as to provide uniform performance and decorative appearance.

Claims

1. An enclosure for an air bag safety device comprising:

a cap of semi-rigid synthetic material having lines of weakness formed therein;

a leather cover of similar shape mounted on said cap;

said leather cover having lines of weakness formed by a plurality of rows of perforations overlying and conforming to the lines of weakness in said cap.

2. A method of forming a leather covered enclosure for an air bag safety device comprising:

cutting and splitting a piece of leather to desired shape and thickness;

forming said leather cover over a mould for a time and under atmospheric conditions sufficient to form the leather into the shape of said cover;

installing said leather cover on a semi-rigid cap of similar shape;

die-stamping a series of perforations in said leather to form lines of weakness.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 in which said lines of weakness in said leather overlie and conform to lines of weakness in said cap.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which each line of weakness in said leather is composed of a plurality of rows of perforations.