Davidson Textron Inc.

Velcro Industries B.v.

Velcro Bvba

Peter J Iannazzi

Michael J Gallagher

Thomas G Parker

Clinton Dowd

Andrew Collins

James T Grady

Marie J Hersman

John D Gray

Christopher M Gallant

Mark A Clarner

Ernesto S Tachauer

Lawrence R Nichols

James C Carter

Lee E Gridley

Thomas O'Brien

Thomas O Brien

A method of making a laminated touch fastener includes introducing a flexible substrate to a resin applicator, applying flowable resin to a limited region of a surface of the substrate, and molding the applied resin to form a plurality of defined structures extending from a layer of the applied resin. The substrate surface, as the substrate is introduced to the resin applicator, has a surface characteristic that varies across the surface. The surface includes both a first region and a second region adjacent the first region, the surface characteristic varying to a greater degree within the second region than within the first region. The flowable resin may be applied within the first region such that an edge of the resin layer is disposed within, and adjacent an exposed portion of, the first region of the substrate surface.

Laminated touch fasteners

Methods of forming a sheet-form product can include: providing a forming surface having a multiplicity of inwardly extending forming cavities; forming a multi-layer sheet in the interior of which is a parting surface defined by materials of limited compatibility, material of the sheet lying on each side of the parting surface having peelable tensile strength; pressing the multi-layer sheet against the forming surface to cause the multi-layer sheet to substantially conform to and fill the cavities; and peeling the multi-layer sheet apart at the parting surface, whereby material directly engaging the forming surface defines a sheet-form member having a multiplicity of hollow formations.

Molding touch fastener elements

A molded motor vehicle instrument panel made of a thermoplastic material has an integral air bag deployment door for a passenger side air bag that is defined by a tear seam and is normally retained by an integral flexible mounting/hinge flange to a part of the vehicle structure when the seam is torn by the inflating air bag and wherein this flange then bends to allow the door to swing open to allow deployment of the air bag through an opening in the instrument panel while retaining same to the vehicle structure as the door is then free of the instrument panel. At very low temperatures, a portion of the air bag door can break away from the mounting/hinge flange because of plastic embrittlement at these low temperatures and the high bending stresses encountered at this juncture. This separation of the broken door portion from the vehicle structure is prevented by a tethering hinge that is formed of a strong flexible sheet material that spans this critical juncture between the mounting/hinge flange and door and remains flexible at these very cold temperatures to retain the broken door portion to the vehicle structure.

Motor vehicle instrument panel with flexible tethering hinged air bag

An automotive instrument panel includes a molded plastic retainer formed with an integral airbag deployment door surrounded by a channel defining a tear seam enabling the door to separate and hinge outwardly upon deployment of the airbag. A foam-backed cover of flexible plastic material is applied over the outer surface of the panel and is severed along the length of the channel to eliminate any influence that the cover may have on resisting the opening of the door. The severed cover portion can either be removed to expose the door or else be left in tact and bonded to the door.

Instrument panel having integrated airbag deployment door

A method is disclosed for forming a reinforced plastic skin for an automobile interior trim structure. The method includes the steps of supplying a plastic material onto a mold surface, heating the plastic material to fuse it into a unitary layer, embedding a reinforcing material into the layer, and cooling the plastic and reinforcing materials. The method can be used to reinforce an air bag door cover by incorporating a tear seam into the plastic layer and embedding the reinforcing material into the layer such that it surrounds the tear seam. The reinforcing material aids in rupturing of the cover along the designated tear seam during deployment of the air bag. Also disclosed is an air bag door cover formed in accordance with the disclosed method.

Reinforced air bag door cover and method for making same

A cover for an air bag unit is disclosed having a patterned tear seam therein defined by an integrally bonded, thermoplastic filler strip as the cover material and comprising a material having properties different than that of the cover material, Apparatus for forming the cover includes a thin shell mold having an inner surface that is heated to melt thermoplastic material cast thereon, A powder box adapted to contain thermoplastic material therein for distribution onto the thin shell mold carries a gasket having a shape corresponding to the tear seam shape. The powder box and gasket are adapted to be connected to the thin shell mold for forming a sealed footprint on the inner surface during distribution of the cast material against heated surface portions of the thin shell mold to form a thermoplastic cover with an opening therein that have the tear seam pattern, The opening is later filled with the lesser strength thermoplastic material to form an integrally bonded thermoplastic filler strip.

Airbag cover and apparatus for producing an invisible tear seam therein

A cover for an air bag unit having a patterned tear seam therein defined by an integrally bonded, thermoplastic filler strip as the cover material and including a material having properties different than that of the cover material. Apparatus for forming the cover includes a thin shell mold having an inner surface that is heated to melt thermoplastic material cast thereon. A powder box adapted to contain thermoplastic material therein for distribution onto the thin shell mold carries a gasket having a shape corresponding to the tear seam shape. The powder box and gasket are adapted to be connected to the thin shell mold for forming a sealed footprint on the inner surface during distribution of the cast material against heated surface portions of the thin shell mold to form a thermoplastic cover with an opening therein that has the tear seam pattern. The opening is later filled with the lesser strength thermoplastic material to form an integrally bonded thermoplastic filler strip.

Method for forming an outer skin for a cover assembly

An air bag restraint system is housed within an interior trim product with a hidden door that is opened when an air bag is inflated for deployment into the passenger car or a vehicle. The door is formed in a reinforced segment of a layer of low density rigid foam material that forms the load bearing support for the interior trim product and a backing for an outer skin or decorative surface that forms the outer cover of the interior trim product. The hidden door is formed by cast in place segments in the reinforced segment of the layer of low density rigid foam material a door hinge segment and a weakened tear seam segment which separates when the air bag impacts thereagainst to tear the outer skin for forming an opening therethrough for deployment of the air bag into the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

Hidden door for an air bag restraint system

A closure for an air bag assembly includes a flexible outer skin and a layer of foam material covering a retainer member having an air bag deployment opening therein closed by a moveable door that is overlapped with the retainer member to support the door against movement inwardly of the retainer member while providing free hinging movement thereof with respect to the retainer member for stressing and separating the layer of foam and the outer skin for forming a deployment path therethrough for the air bag.

Closure for an air bag assembly

An instrument panel has an integral door cover for concealing a supplemental inflatable restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment. The door cover includes a flap that is an integral part of a flexible plastic skin of the instrument panel. The plastic skin is cast in a special mold with a raised apexed rib that forms grooves outlining the flap that have a thin tear seam at their bottom.

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Hampstead, NH, United States of America

Peter J Iannazzi