Tear seam for air bag module

• US 20040056454A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Martinez, Juan C., Schwark, Diane M., Dagosto, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,029,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

A rupturable cover (10) for an air bag module (22) comprises an inner cover (30) and an outer cover (80) overlying the inner cover. The inner cover (30) has a first tear seam (70) for enabling rupturing of the inner cover in response to inflation of an air bag (24). The outer cover (80) has a second tear seam (100) for enabling rupturing of the outer cover. The second tear seam (100) has a configuration different from the first tear seam (70). At least a portion of the second tear seam (100) overlies the first tear seam (70) when the outer cover (80) is adhered to the inner cover (30) in any one of a plurality of different positions of alignment. The second tear seam (100) may have a wavy configuration.

Claims

1. A rupturable cover for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus that includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflator for providing inflation fluid to inflate the protection device from a deflated condition to an inflated condition, said cover for overlying said protection device when in the deflated condition, said cover comprising:

an inner cover; and

an outer cover overlying said inner cover, said outer cover having an inner side surface adjacent to and overlying said inner cover, said outer cover having an exposed outer side surface;

said inner cover having a first tear seam for enabling rupturing of said inner cover in response to inflation of said protection device;

said outer cover having a second tear seam for enabling rupturing of said outer cover in response to inflation of said protection device and rupturing of said inner cover;

said second tear seam having a configuration different from said first tear seam so that at least a portion of said second tear seam overlies said first tear seam when said outer cover overlies said inner cover in any one of a plurality of different positions of alignment relative to said inner cover.

2. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tear seam is relatively narrow and said second tear seam is relatively wide.

3. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second tear seam has a curvilinear, serpentine, or wavy configuration.

4. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second tear seam has a configuration including a plurality of undulations, at least some of said undulations overlying said first tear seam.

5. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tear seam extends along said inner cover over a first path having a first width, and said second tear seam extends along said outer cover over a second path having a second width that is substantially greater than the first width.

6. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second tear seam intersects said first tear seam at a plurality of locations spaced along the length of said first and second tear seams.

7. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tear seam is relatively narrow and said second tear seam is relatively wide, said second tear seam including a plurality of undulations, at least some of said undulations overlying said first tear seam.

8. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first tear seam extends along said inner cover over a first path having a first width, said second tear seam extends along said outer cover over a second path having a second width that is substantially greater than the first width, and said second tear seam intersects said first tear seam at a plurality of locations spaced along the length of said first and second tear seams.

9. A cover as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer cover is made from leather and said second tear seam has a wavy configuration.

10. A rupturable cover for a vehicle occupant protection apparatus that includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflator for providing inflation fluid to inflate the protection device from a deflated condition to an inflated condition, said cover for overlying said protection device when in the deflated condition, said cover comprising:

an inner cover; and

an outer cover overlying said inner cover, said outer cover having an inner side surface adjacent to and overlying said inner cover and having an exposed outer side surface;

said inner cover having a first tear seam for enabling rupturing of said inner cover in response to inflation of said protection device;

said outer cover having a second tear seam for enabling rupturing of said outer cover in response to rupturing of said inner cover;

said second tear seam having a wavy configuration different from the configuration of said first tear seam.

11. A cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein said outer cover is made from leather and said second tear seam has a wavy configuration.

12. A cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first tear seam is relatively narrow and said second tear seam is relatively wide.

13. A cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second tear seam has a configuration including a plurality of undulations, at least some of said undulations overlying said first tear seam.

14. A cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first tear seam extends along said inner cover over a first path having a first width, and said second tear seam extends along said outer cover over a second path having a second width that is substantially greater than the first width.

15. A cover as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second tear seam intersects said first tear seam at a plurality of locations spaced along the length of said first and second tear seams

16. A cover as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first tear seam is relatively narrow and said second tear seam is relatively wide, said second tear seam including a plurality of undulations, at least some of said undulations overlying said first tear seam.