Motor vehicle fender having a breakable zone

• US 7,325,642 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium (Burelle)
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium (Burelle)
• Inventors: Roux, Jean-Pierre, Fayt, Arnold, Cheron, Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/767,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,468 Days
• Field of Search: 293/107, 293/132, 293/133, 293/109, 296/187.04, 296/187.03, 296/193.09, 296/198, 180/271, 180/274
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/161 Mud-guards made of non-conventional material, e.g. rubber, plastics

Abstract

The disclosure concerns a motor vehicle fender made of plastics material having a skin separating the inside and the outside of the fender, wherein the skin possesses a breakable zone suitable for opening when subjected to thrust from the inside towards the outside of the fender. The inside of the airbag housing is situated in register with the breakable zone.

Claims

1. A side fender for a motor vehicle comprising a skin separating an inside and an outside of the fender, wherein the skin includes a breakable zone that opens when subjected to thrust from the inside towards the outside of the fender, and the inside of the fender includes an airbag housing.

2. The side fender of claim 1, consisting of plastics material.

3. The motor vehicle side fender of claim 1, wherein the breakable zone comprises a shallow groove.

4. The side fender of claim 3, wherein the inside face of the fender includes the groove and the outside face of the fender is uniform including over the groove.

5. The motor vehicle side fender of claim 1, wherein the breakable zone is substantially rectangular.

6. The fender according to claim 1, in which the airbag housing is integrally molded with the fender and the fender consists essentially of plastics material.