Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Morton International, Inc.

Davidson Technology Center

Gene Shope

Hitoshi Higuchi

James R Pritchard

Makoto Kan

Scott L Hansen

Iwao Imaizumi

Alan Choiniere

A cover for an inflatable air bag housing is formed of integrally molded resinous plastic material and defined therein is a hinge area and a thin fracture line forming a door which pivots to an open position upon fracture of the cover along the fracture line when an air bag is inflated. A metal reinforcing element is embedded in the resinous plastic material and includes segments diverging and below the hinge area forming an open space or void which is filled in with a low density collapsible, energy absorbing, rigid foam which exhibits minimal spring back. The filler helps prevent sagging or read-through of the cover above the void when prolonged exposure to heat and sun is experienced. Moreover, the foam filler absorbs energy during bag deployment and aids in preventing plastic resin from leaking into the void space during the initial fabrication of the cover as the metal reinforcement element is molded in place.

Cover for an inflatable air bag housing

Growing community of inventors

East Rochester, NH, United States of America

Gene Shope