The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 03, 1990
John A Gardner, Nottingham, NH (US);
Richard D Rhodes, Jr, Somersworth, NH (US);
Everett Hastings, Farmington, NH (US);
Davidson Textron Inc., Dover, NH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle steering wheel has a decorative panel concealing a storage compartment for an inflatable air bag. The panel has a covering which comprises a backing plate having a U-shaped cut line framing the storage compartment and defining a cover door having a hinge line connecting the ends of the cut line U. An inner layer of foam is interposed between the backing plate and an outer skin layer. The skin has a peripheral groove outlining the door and comprises a hinge section overlaying the hinge line and a weakened tear seam line overlying the cut line. The groove is cut through at the bottom along the tear seam line but not along the hinge section. Inflation of the air bag will force the door outwardly, fracturing the foam layer along the tear seam line to swing the door away from the opening about the hinge section to enable deployment of the air bag outwardly of teh panel. The cuts in the panel layers can be made before or after a molding process. Alternate constructions creating the tear seam line are disclosed.