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. 21, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 03, 1993
Scott L Hansen, Huntsville, UT (US);
Makoto Kan, Wako, JP;
Hitoshi Higuchi, Wako, JP;
Iwao Imaizumi, Wako, JP;
Gene Shope, East Rochester, NH (US);
James R Pritchard, Somersworth, NH (US);
Alan Choiniere, Stratham, NH (US);
Morton International, Inc., Chicago, IL (US);
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, JP;
Davidson Technology Center, Dover, NH (US);
Abstract
A cover for an inflatable air bag housing is formed of integrally molded resinous plastic material and defined therein is a hinge area and a thin fracture line forming a door which pivots to an open position upon fracture of the cover along the fracture line when an air bag is inflated. A metal reinforcing element is embedded in the resinous plastic material and includes segments diverging and below the hinge area forming an open space or void which is filled in with a low density collapsible, energy absorbing, rigid foam which exhibits minimal spring back. The filler helps prevent sagging or read-through of the cover above the void when prolonged exposure to heat and sun is experienced. Moreover, the foam filler absorbs energy during bag deployment and aids in preventing plastic resin from leaking into the void space during the initial fabrication of the cover as the metal reinforcement element is molded in place.