Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Edward Friery

Larry D Rose

Lisa M Frary

Brett R Garner

Daniel L Steimke

Thomas M Kriska

Paul M Fanning

A novel cover for a safety restraint device is disclosed. The cover is well-adapted for use in vehicles with modular airbag components. The novel cover configuration of the present invention effectively hides any evidence of the seam through which the airbag deploys, thereby improving the appearance and tamper-resistance of the airbag. The cover includes a seam with a nonlinear portion that impedes folding or bending of the outer layer in conformance with the seam. The nonlinear portion of the seam may include bends and linear segments in a variety of shapes and sizes, in homogeneous or heterogeneous arrangements, as dictated by the design parameters of the airbag and the manufacturing processes used to make the cover. The cover module of the present invention may be used with an outer layer of material designed to conceal the seam. With such a configuration, the nonlinear portion of the seam may keep the outer layer from form fitting to the seam so that no visible indentation over the seam will be shown. Alternatively, the module may be made with a single-shot material, exclusive of any outer layer. An exposed surface of the airbag module may then be configured as a cosmetic surface, with the seam formed on the opposite side of the cosmetic surface. The nonlinear seam then reduces material deformation and obscures translucency to ensure that the cosmetic surface appears even and relatively flat, even without the use of a styling line.

Airbag products with nonlinear tear seams

A fastenerless air bag module attachment assembly for securing a molded plastic cover to a module housing. The housing includes a trough-shaped body having opposed ends, and a top and bottom wall. An end plate is attached to each opposed sides of the body. The cover has a front face and top, bottom and opposed side legs extending therefrom. Two separate attachment features are provided to secure the cover to the housing. First, the top and bottom cover legs each include an integral attachment, for example, a projection, which slides into a channel disposed integrally in the top and bottom walls of the housing. Secondly, the housing end plates each include a pair of protruding tabs formed integrally therewith. The tabs extend through openings provided in the cover side legs when the housing and cover are assembled. One side leg of the cover is hingedly connected to the front face of the cover to permit assembly. After the cover is properly positioned on the housing, the tabs protruding through the cover openings are deflected to secure the cover in place on the housing.

Passenger air bag module fastenerless cover attachment

A passenger airbag module deployment door attachment system includes a molded plastic deployment door unit having a front wall providing a deployment doorway. Attachment legs extend rearwardly from the front wall for interlocking engagement with mating portions of walls of the airbag module. At least one band encircles the attachment legs for holding them in their interlocking engagement. Four attachment legs are shown surrounding a deployment passageway in encircling relationship. This passageway leads from an exit of the airbag module to the deployment doorway. The four attachment legs as shown provide four support surfaces effectively surrounding the deployment passageway for supporting and directing toward the doorway a high-energy expanding cushion (airbag) during its deployment. These attachment legs absorb impact energy and provide reinforcement for the front wall of the molded plastic unit. Each attachment leg has a band-receiving channel with a convex arcuate profile for causing tension 'T' in an attachment band to provide inwardly-directed clamping force 'F' distributed along the band-receiving channel for firmly securing interlocking engagement of the attachment legs to the walls of the airbag module.

Passenger airbag module deployment door attachment system

A passenger-side airbag module assembly consisting of a reaction canister and deployment door is assembled into a motor vehicle's instrument panel. The breakaway deployment door of the airbag module fits flush with the surrounding instrument panel of the vehicle. The reaction canister containing the folded airbag is positioned behind the deployment door and rigidly mounted to the instrument panel sub-structure. The connection between the deployment door and the reaction canister comprises a pair of flexible tethers. Each tether has one edge secured to a different sidewall of the canister. The other edge of each tether engages a portion of the deployment door.

Growing community of inventors

Coalville, UT, United States of America

Edward Friery