Pre-weakening of fabric covered airbag doors
First Claim
1. An air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising:
- a fabric outer layer having a front side and a backside,a substrate containing an opening, said opening closed by an airbag door, said door having a periphery at least a portion of which comprises a door/substrate tear seam and a hinge region, the substrate formed by low pressure molding at a clamp pressure of less than or equal to about 1000 psi.,wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened by partially cutting into the backside of said fabric outer layer at a location a portion of which is located outboard of said door/substrate tear seam, andwherein said fabric outer layer is selectively strengthened by incorporating fibers or yarn of greater strength in a pattern and in a discrete area to form the strengthened area in the region of the air bag door hinge region to provide a tether for said airbag door.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variety of embodiments are disclosed, in both apparatus and method form, that relate to the use of fabric material in the manufacture of an air bag deployment system. In addition, fabric weakening is disclosed according to a technique that does not result in physical alteration of the fabric. This invention therefore includes an air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising a fabric outer layer having a frontside and a backside and a substrate containing an opening wherein the opening has a periphery. The substrate is preferably formed by low pressure molding, wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened at a location that is adjacent or overlies the substrate opening periphery.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An air bag cover for an air bag safety system for a vehicle comprising:
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a fabric outer layer having a front side and a backside, a substrate containing an opening, said opening closed by an airbag door, said door having a periphery at least a portion of which comprises a door/substrate tear seam and a hinge region, the substrate formed by low pressure molding at a clamp pressure of less than or equal to about 1000 psi., wherein the fabric outer layer overlies the opening in the substrate, and wherein the fabric outer layer is weakened by partially cutting into the backside of said fabric outer layer at a location a portion of which is located outboard of said door/substrate tear seam, and wherein said fabric outer layer is selectively strengthened by incorporating fibers or yarn of greater strength in a pattern and in a discrete area to form the strengthened area in the region of the air bag door hinge region to provide a tether for said airbag door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification