Enclosure part for automotive vehicles, with a panel suitable for concealing an inflatable airbag

• US 7,374,201 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mollertech SAS
• Original Assignee: Mollertech SAS
• Inventors: Chausset, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US10/922,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.2, 280/732, 280/733, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0275 comprising removable or hinged parts for accessing storage compartments B60R7/04; for airbag deployment B60R21/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0281 made of a plurality of visible parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0293 Connection or positioning of adjacent panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21537 characterised by hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0428 associated with the side doors or panels, e.g. displaced towards the occupants in case of a side collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

An interior enclosure part for automotive vehicles equipped with an airbag includes a rigid frame having an opening located in front of the inflatable airbag, and a panel blocking the opening. The part includes a closed-contour latching assembly surrounding the opening and rigidly attached to the frame. The panel has a peripheral rim pinched between the latching assembly and the frame. The panel includes a layer of plastic material and a flexible covering molded onto the layer of plastic material.

Claims

1. An interior enclosure part for automotive vehicles equipped with an airbag, comprising:

a rigid frame having an opening located in front of an inflatable airbag;

a panel blocking the opening;

a closed-contour latching assembly surrounding the opening and rigidly attached to the frame;

a peripheral rim attaching the panel to the frame, the peripheral rim being pinched between the latching assembly and the frame, the panel including a layer of a flexible plastic material extending at least over the peripheral rim;

a flexible covering molded onto the layer of flexible plastic material, wherein the covering includes a restraining area not molded onto the layer of flexible plastic material and rigidly attached to a fixed point; and

a restraining strap for the panel when the air bag inflates.

2. The part according to claim 1, wherein the restraining area of the covering includes a plurality of folds located in a housing between the frame and the latching assembly, the folds unfolding when the airbag inflates.

3. The part according to claim 1, wherein the restraining area projects with regard to an edge of the layer of flexible plastic material, the restraining area having an elongated shape parallel to the edge.

4. The part according to claim 1, wherein the latching assembly includes attachment legs irreversibly engaged in attachment orifices in the frame and maintaining a constant space between the latching assembly and the frame.

5. The part according to claim 4, wherein the restraining area includes restraining holes through which the attachment legs pass before engaging the attachment orifices.

6. The part according to claim 1, wherein the covering is a non-tearing fabric.

7. The part according to claim 1, wherein the layer of the flexible plastic material is polypropylene combined with an elastic material.

8. The part according to claim 7 wherein the elastic material is ethylene-propylene-diene.

9. The part according to claim 1, wherein the opening has inclined edges forming guides for deploying the airbag.

10. An interior enclosure part for automotive vehicles equipped with an airbag, comprising:

a rigid frame having an opening located in front of an inflatable airbag;

a panel blocking the opening;

a closed-contour latching assembly surrounding the opening and rigidly attached to the frame;

a peripheral rim attaching the panel to the frame, the peripheral rim being pinched between the latching assembly and the frame before the airbag is inflated and disengaged from the latching assembly and the frame when the airbag inflates, the panel including a layer of a flexible plastic material extending at least over the peripheral rim so that the peripheral rim slides relative to the frame and the latching assembly, disengaging from the latching assembly, when the airbag inflates; and

a flexible covering molded onto the layer of flexible plastic material.

11. The part according to claim 10, wherein the covering includes a restraining area not molded onto the layer of flexible plastic material, rigidly attached to a fixed point, and including a restraining strap for the panel when the airbag inflates.

12. The part according to claim 11, wherein the restraining area of the covering includes a plurality of folds located in a housing between the frame and the latching assembly, the folds unfolding when the airbag inflates.

13. The part according to claim 11, wherein the restraining area projects with regard to an edge of the layer of flexible plastic material, the restraining area having an elongated shape parallel to the edge.

14. The part according to claim 11, wherein the latching assembly includes attachment legs irreversibly engaged in attachment orifices in the frame and maintaining a constant space between the latching assembly and the frame.

15. The part according to claim 14, wherein the restraining area includes restraining holes through which the attachment legs pass before engaging the attachment orifices.

16. The part according to claim 10, wherein the covering is a non-tearing fabric.

17. The part according to claim 10, wherein the layer of the flexible plastic material is polypropylene combined with an elastic material.

18. The part according to claim 17 wherein the elastic material is ethylene-propylene-diene.

19. The part according to claim 10, wherein the opening has inclined edges forming guides for deploying the airbag.