Tear seam for air bag module cover

• US 6,135,489 A
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Bowers, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,270
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) comprises a protection device (12) which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition into an occupant compartment of the vehicle to help protect an occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus (10) includes a cover (20) for covering the protection device (12). The cover (20) has an inner side surface (24) and an opposite outer side surface (26) which is exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment. The cover (20) has a predetermined weakened portion (30) which is rupturable upon inflation of the protection device (12) to enable inflation of the protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant. The predetermined weakened portion (30) of the cover (20) includes an opening (56) in the outer side surface (26) of the cover (20). A member (80) on the outer side surface (26) of the cover (20) overlies the opening (56) in the cover.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition into an occupant compartment of a vehicle to help protect an occupant of the vehicle;

a cover for covering said protection device;

said cover having an inner side surface and an opposite outer side surface which is exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable upon inflation of said protection device to enable inflation of said protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion of said cover including an opening in said outer side surface of said cover; and

a member on said outer side surface of said cover, said member overlying said opening in said cover,

said opening comprising a series of perforations.

2. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a cover for covering a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition to help protect a vehicle occupant;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable due to inflation of the protection device to enable inflation of the protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion including a first part which is generally invisible from the exterior of said cover and a second part which is visible from the exterior of said cover;

said apparatus further comprising a member covering said second part of said predetermined weakened portion of said cover,

said second part of said predetermined weakened portion comprising a series of perforations.

3. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition into an occupant compartment of a vehicle to help protect an occupant of the vehicle;

a cover for covering said protection device;

said cover having an inner side surface and an opposite outer side surface which is exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable upon inflation of said protection device to enable inflation of said protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion of said cover including an opening in said outer side surface of said cover; and

a member on said outer side surface of said cover, said member overlying both said predetermined weakened portion of said cover and said opening in said cover.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opening comprises an elongate slot.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opening comprises a central portion of a first section of said predetermined weakened portion, said first section including end portions on opposite sides of said central portion, said end portions being free of openings in said outer side surface of said cover.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member is a decorative emblem.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said member is a trim piece.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said opening at least partially defines first and second relatively movable parts of said cover, said member being fixed to said first movable part of said cover and being releasably secured to said second movable part of said cover.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said opening extends through said cover between said inner and outer side surfaces of said cover, said predetermined weakened portion of said cover further comprising grooves which are formed on the inner side surface of said cover and which do not extend to said outer side surface of said cover.

10. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition into an occupant compartment of a vehicle to help protect an occupant of the vehicle;

a cover for covering said protection device;

said cover having an inner side surface and an opposite outer side surface which is exposed to the vehicle occupant compartment;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable upon inflation of said protection device to enable inflation of said protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion of said cover including an opening in said outer side surface of said cover; and

a member on said outer side surface of said cover, said member overlying said opening in said cover,

said member including a plurality of fasteners, at least one of said fasteners being a fastener that breaks upon inflation of said vehicle occupant protection device.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said opening comprises an elongate slot.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said opening comprises a central portion of a first section of said predetermined weakened portion, said first section including end portions on opposite sides of said central portion, said end portions being free of openings in said outer side surface of said cover.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said member is a decorative emblem.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said member is a trim piece.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said opening at least partially defines first and second relatively movable parts of said cover, said member being fixed to said first movable part of said cover and being releasably secured to said second movable part of said cover.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said opening extends through said cover between said inner and outer side surfaces of said cover, said predetermined weakened portion of said cover further comprising grooves which are formed on the inner side surface of said cover and which do not extend to said outer side surface of said cover.

17. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a cover for covering a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition to help protect a vehicle occupant;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable due to inflation of the protection device to enable inflation of the protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion including a first part which is generally invisible from the exterior of said cover and a second part which is visible from the exterior of said cover;

said apparatus further comprising a member covering both said first part and said second part of said predetermined weakened portion of said cover.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second part of said predetermined weakened portion comprises an elongate slot.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said member is a decorative emblem which includes indicia such as the name or logo of the vehicle manufacturer.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second part of said predetermined weakened portion at least partially defines first and second relatively movable parts of said cover, said member being fixed to said first movable part of said cover and being releasably secured to said second movable part of said cover.

21. A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:

a cover for covering a vehicle occupant protection device which is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition to help protect a vehicle occupant;

said cover having a predetermined weakened portion which is rupturable due to inflation of the protection device to enable inflation of the protection device into a condition to help protect the vehicle occupant;

said predetermined weakened portion including a first part which is generally invisible from the exterior of said cover and a second part which is visible from the exterior of said cover;

said apparatus further comprising a member covering said second part of said predetermined weakened portion of said cover,

said member including a plurality of fasteners, at least one of said plurality of fasteners being a fastener that breaks upon inflation of said vehicle occupant protection device.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second part of said predetermined weakened portion comprises an elongate slot.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said member is a decorative emblem which includes indicia such as the name or logo of the vehicle manufacturer.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second part of said predetermined weakened portion at least partially defines first and second relatively movable parts of said cover, said member being fixed to said first movable part of said cover and being releasably secured to said second movable part of said cover.