Morton International, Inc.

Robert Boschgmbh

Timothy J Leonard

Daniel W Anderson

Joseph L Ralston

Mark Rogers

Donald J Bolieau

Axel W Kaiser

Kurt E Kottke

A module housing and a module cover for use as part of an airbag module. The module housing has a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and each sidewall includes an outwardly bent portion. A first apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the first sidewall to a distal edge, and a second apron extends downwardly from the outwardly bent portion of the second sidewall to a distal edge. The first apron defines two spaced-apart slots and the second apron defines two spaced-apart slots. The module cover includes a lid, positioned over the module housing. A first and a second attachment finger each have a first segment extending downwardly from the lid to a transverse section. The transverse sections extend through, respectively, the two slots defined by the first apron. Second segments extend downwardly from the transverse sections to hooks caught on the distal edge of the first apron securing the first and the second attachment fingers to the first sidewall of the module housing. A third and a fourth attachment finger each have a first segment extending downwardly from the lid to a transverse section. The transverse sections extend through, respectively, the two slots defined by the second apron. Second segments extend downwardly from the transverse sections to hooks caught on the distal edge of the second apron securing the third and the fourth attachment fingers to the second sidewall of the module housing, whereby the module cover is secured to the module housing.

Attachment fingers for airbag module cover

An integral deployment door in a panel of an airbag assembly which covers and conceals an airbag module. The molded panel having a front surface layer, a foam core, and a rear surface substrate has notches therein in alignment with the proposed tear region or sides of the deployment door. Tabs are provided which extend upwardly into the foam core along the sides of said deployment door and in alignment with the notches. The notches and tab construction weaken the tear region and concentrates the stresses along the sides of the deployment door to reduce the force required to open the deployment door and to reduce the fragmentation of the foam core due to the separation of the door from the rest of the panel.

Apparatus for aiding in the opening of an integral deployment door in a

An essentially unitary airbag cover assembly is provided for concealing an airbag module. The cover has a vehicle panel with a front surface, a foam core and panel substrate with a dropped lip or shelf on a distal end thereof. A deployment door incorporated in the panel is hinged to the panel along one side thereof with at least one of the remaining sides of the door resting in the panel on the dropped lip or shelf of the panel substrate. The deployment door and panel are substantially the same thickness, and the shelf is dropped such that when the deployment door is positioned on the dropped shelf in the panel substrate, the door and panel are on the same level and there is no need for a connection between the panel and deployment door aside from the hinged side of the door.

Passenger airbag module using an essentially unitary cover

An air bag cover attachment includes a housing formed by extrusion. The housing includes a section for receiving a gas generator, and a pair of spaced parallel side walls which define a storage area for the uninflated cushion. The free ends of the side walls include flanges which are notched to form a series of mounting tabs. The cover includes a depending skirt having slots which mate with the tabs. The strength of the extruded tabs permits the tabs and slots, with no other fastener, to secure the cover to the housing. The slots are oversized to permit the cover to float with respect to the housing. The cover also includes a set of placement tabs extending from the skirt. The placement tabs secure the cover to the dashboard in the proper position. The oversized slots and separate placement tabs ensure that the decorative cover is mounted on the dashboard in the proper position by absorbing tolerance buildup in the housing and housing position. The use of tabs and slots also permits the cover to be secured to the housing and mounted to the dashboard using only a translational pressing motion. This arrangement also permits the cover to be attached to the housing either before or after the housing is mounted behind the dashboard.

Cover attachment for an air bag module

A deployment door positioned in a panel of a vehicle is opened by an airbag module located rearwardly of the deployment door. Apparatus is provided for detaching the door at a tear region from the remaining area of the panel, thereby providing a doorway outlet through the panel for the passage of an inflating airbag. A tear structure has a distal end in the form of an outwardly rounded bump cutter positioned and extending outwardly toward the tear region and a front surface of the panel, thereby reducing the distance of travel of the cutter through the foam in the panel to the tear region which reduces the force required to tear the foam. The outwardly rounded bump of the tear structure in one embodiment may be in the form of a closed loop. The deployment door may be completely contained within and surrounded by the panel before opening or may have one edge bordering on the edge of the panel.

Apparatus for improved detachment of the deployment door of an airbag

In a vehicle airbag installation in which a deployment door in a panel becomes detached along a tearable region of the panel for creating an outlet in the panel through which an inflating airbag deploys, apparatus for detaching the deployment door at such a tear region includes a cutter/ripper which is flat-lying in an inactive position. During deployment of the airbag a cutting part of the cutter/ripper is pushed forwardly for swinging into an upright active position for detaching the deployment door. This forward swinging involves a hinge-like bending or folding of an intermediate region of the cutter/ripper causing two simultaneous components of motion. In a first motion, the cutting part is moving away from the outlet being created thereby compressing and inhibiting fragmentation of nearby core foam in the panel. In a second motion the cutting part extends forwardly into a confining position for retaining core foam between front and rear surface layers of the panel. A substrate of the deployment door may serve as a pushing element which thrusts forwardly against the cutting part of the cutter/ripper for swinging it into upright active position. In addition to the flat-lying cutter/ripper, a flat-lying cutter/tearer may be mounted on the door substrate extending beyond a perimeter of the substrate into overlapping relationship with the cutter/ripper for cooperative cutting action of the cutters in detaching the deployment door along the tear region during deployment of the airbag.

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Stuttgart, Germany

Timothy J Leonard