Hinge mechanism for inflatable restraint apparatus
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable restraint apparatus having a deployable airbag, the apparatus comprising:
- an interior panel;
an airbag deployment door formed in the interior panel and designed to break free from the interior panel upon deployment of the airbag;
an airbag chute suitably supported behind the deployment door and directing deployment of the airbag outwardly towards the deployment door;
a metal hinge connecting the airbag chute and the deployment door, the hinge including a first hinge portion connected to the deployment door, a second hinge portion adjacent to the air bag chute and a third hinge portion connected to the air bag chute, the hinge having a first transition area and a second transition area independent of one another, the first transition area interconnecting the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion, the second transition area being spaced inwardly from the first transition area and the deployment door and interconnecting the second hinge portion to the third hinge portion;
the first transition area structured to promote rotation of the first hinge portion relative to the second hinge portion;
the second transition area structured to promote outward translation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion without significant rotation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion; and
the deployment door first moving outwardly and then rotating upon deployment of the airbag.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable restraint apparatus provides deployment in a very short duration while at the same time controlling and decelerating the moving parts upon deployment. The apparatus includes an interior panel and an airbag deployment door formed in the interior panel and designed to break free from the panel upon deployment of the airbag. An airbag chute is suitably supported behind the employment door and directs deployment of the airbag outwardly towards the deployment door. A metal hinge connects the airbag chute and the deployment door, and is structured to control and decelerate the door during deployment.
83 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An inflatable restraint apparatus having a deployable airbag, the apparatus comprising:
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an interior panel; an airbag deployment door formed in the interior panel and designed to break free from the interior panel upon deployment of the airbag; an airbag chute suitably supported behind the deployment door and directing deployment of the airbag outwardly towards the deployment door; a metal hinge connecting the airbag chute and the deployment door, the hinge including a first hinge portion connected to the deployment door, a second hinge portion adjacent to the air bag chute and a third hinge portion connected to the air bag chute, the hinge having a first transition area and a second transition area independent of one another, the first transition area interconnecting the first hinge portion and the second hinge portion, the second transition area being spaced inwardly from the first transition area and the deployment door and interconnecting the second hinge portion to the third hinge portion; the first transition area structured to promote rotation of the first hinge portion relative to the second hinge portion; the second transition area structured to promote outward translation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion without significant rotation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion; and the deployment door first moving outwardly and then rotating upon deployment of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inflatable restraint apparatus having a deployable airbag, the apparatus comprising:
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an interior panel; an airbag deployment door formed in the interior panel and designed to break free from the interior panel upon deployment of the airbag; an airbag chute suitably supported behind the deployment door and directing deployment of the airbag outwardly towards the deployment door; a metal hinge connecting the airbag chute and the deployment door, the hinge having a first transition area and a second transition area independent of one another, the first transition area interconnecting a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, the second transition area interconnecting the second hinge portion and a third hinge portion, the first hinge portion connected to the deployment door; the second transition area comprising a wave structure formed into the metal hinge including at least two crests and one trough, the trough extending along the airbag chute, the wave structure being drawn out upon deployment of the airbag; the first transition area structured to promote rotation of the first hinge portion relative to the second hinge portion; the second transition area structured to promote outward translation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion; and the deployment door first moving outwardly and then rotating upon deployment of the airbag.
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13. An inflatable restraint apparatus having a deployable air bag, the apparatus comprising:
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an interior panel; an air bag deployment door formed in the interior panel and designed to break free from the interior panel upon deployment of the airbag; an airbag chute suitably supported behind the deployment door and directing deployment of the airbag outwardly towards the deployment door; a metal hinge connecting the airbag chute and the deployment door, the hinge having a first transition area and a second transition, the first transition area interconnecting a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion, the second transition area interconnecting the second hinge portion and a third hinge portion, the first hinge portion connected to the deployment door; the first transition area structured to promote rotation of the first hinge portion relative to the second hinge portion; the second transition area structured to promote outward translation of the second hinge portion relative to the third hinge portion; a corner plate attached to the second hinge portion, the corner plate limiting rotation of the first hinge portion relative to the second hinge portion; and the deployment door first moving outwardly and then rotating upon deployment of the airbag, the corner plate braking the rotation of the deployment door. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification