Method for illuminating colors in a backlit driver airbag emblem

• US 20100102538A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Paxton, Donald J., Matsu, Richard L., Phillips, Henry Vernon
• Granted Patent: US 8,061,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.300
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems

Abstract

An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus comprising:

an illumination source;

an emblem aligned with the illumination source, the emblem comprising an emblem outline; and

color plaques adjacent the emblem outline and disposed to form a colored emblem illuminated by the illumination source.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises EL foil.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises a light guide illuminated by an LED.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emblem outline is disposed on a front surface of the emblem.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the emblem outline comprises one or more pockets for receiving the color plaques.

6. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the color plaques are positioned on a back plate behind the front surface, the color plaques being inserted into openings in the emblem.

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emblem comprises a dome, the emblem outline and color plaques disposed on the rear surface of the dome.

8. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the emblem comprises a translucent chrome portion protected by a coating finish.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising studs on the emblem, the studs connectable to an airbag cover.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising studs positioned on the airbag cover, the studs connectable to the emblem.

11. An emblem for connection to an airbag cover, the emblem comprising an emblem outline and an illumination source aligned with the illumination source, further comprising one or more color plaques adjacent the emblem outline and disposed to form a colored emblem.

12. An emblem as in claim 11 wherein the color plaques are positioned within pockets in the emblem opening.

13. An emblem as in claim 11 wherein the emblem outline has at least one opening for receiving one or more of the color plaques.