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:
Jun. 29, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1990
Scott Rafferty, Dover, NH (US);
Davidson Textron Inc., Dover, NH (US);
Abstract
A passenger vehicle has a dashboard having a decorative panel for covering an air bag assembly installation and enable deployment outwardly of the panel upon inflation. The panel comprises a thermoplastic inner support layer having discrete surfaces abutting each other along a predetermined H-shaped tear seam line partially framing the opening to define a door in the panel and a flexible vinyl outer skin layer presenting a smooth outer surface and having a weakened section on its inner surface forming the seam line. An intermediate resilient olefin foam layer or a polyurethane foam layer of equivalent strength having discrete surfaces abutting each other along the seam line completely fills the void between the inner and outer layers and is adhesively bonded to the inner and outer layers. The outer skin along the tear seam line is fractured by inflation of the air bag to break the loose to pivot open about a hinge line extending between the ends of the seam line to enable deployment of the air bag outwardly of the panel.