Inflatable multilayer bolster and method of manufacture
First Claim
1. An inflatable multilayer bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the multilayer bolster comprising:
- a hollow body comprising;
a back wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle;
a front wall opposite the back wall and devised to face the passenger compartment; and
an air chamber formed between the front and back walls;
wherein the front wall comprises an inner layer made of a structural deformable material and an outer surfacing layer co-extruded with the inner layer; and
an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber and thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being mounted to the hollow body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Described is an inflatable multilayer bolster for a vehicle passenger compartment including a hollow body with back and front walls, an air chamber formed between them, and an inflator for injecting pressurized fluid to inflate the hollow body. Preferably, both the front and back walls have an inner layer made of a structural deformable material and an outer surfacing layer co-extruded with the inner layer. Also described is a method of manufacturing the multilayer bolster by co-extruding first and second polymers through a die to produce a parison, and then blow-molding the parison to form the hollow body. Thus the front wall and preferably the back wall as well have an inner layer made of the first polymer in a structural deformable condition and an outer surfacing layer made of the second polymer. This co-extruded multilayer constructed bolster allows efficient manufacturing, structural, inflation and aesthetic characteristics.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An inflatable multilayer bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the multilayer bolster comprising:
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a hollow body comprising; a back wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle; a front wall opposite the back wall and devised to face the passenger compartment; and an air chamber formed between the front and back walls; wherein the front wall comprises an inner layer made of a structural deformable material and an outer surfacing layer co-extruded with the inner layer; and an inflator for injecting a pressurized fluid into the air chamber and thereby inflating the hollow body, the inflator being mounted to the hollow body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of manufacturing an inflatable multilayer bolster for use in a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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co-extruding a first polymer and a second polymer through a die to produce a parison; blow-molding the parison to form a hollow body comprising; a back wall devised to face a mating surface of the vehicle; a front wall opposite the back wall and devised to face the passenger compartment; wherein the front wall comprises an inner layer made of the first polymer in a structural deformable condition and an outer surfacing layer made of the second polymer; an air chamber formed between the front and back walls; and an inflation port in fluid communication with the air chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid to inflate the hollow body. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification