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:
Aug. 24, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 14, 1992
William J Barnes, Clarkston, MI (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
The door assembly for an air bag opening includes a door having a rigid substrate panel extending across the opening and carrying a decorative trim to normally conceal the air bag opening. A primary hinge acts between an edge of the rigid substrate panel and the vehicle to enable opening movement of the door about an axis defined by the primary hinge means. The rigid substrate panel has a weakened portion extending across the panel in parallel spaced relation from the primary hinge axis to enable folding of the door by the deploying air bag about a secondary hinge axis defined by the weakened portion. The primary hinge means is preferably a hinge panel of rigid but bendable metal construction which extends into engagement along the underside of the rigid substrate panel into proximity with the weakened portion thereof so that the rigid hinge panel reinforces the portion of the door underlaid by the hinge strap. Upon deployment of the air bag, the door pivots about the primary hinge axis while the portion of the door extended beyond the secondary hinge axis is enabled to pivot further and faster than the opening movement of the other portion of the door and then upon any contact with the windshield, the door may continue to bend about the secondary hinge axis.