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. 30, 1994
Filed:
Jun. 10, 1993
David P Gentile, Fraser, MI (US);
Jeffrey C Synor, Utica, MI (US);
Chien H Lee, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflatable air bag (18) and a housing (16) in which the air bag (18) is stored in a folded condition. The housing (16) has a movable panel (82) with a slot (90). The apparatus further includes a door (104) with a tab (110). The door (104) has a closed position in which it blocks movement of the air bag (18) outward from the housing (16). When the door (104) is in the closed position, the tab (110) on the door (104) is received in the slot (90) in the movable panel (82). The tab (110) and the slot (90) thus establish a mechanical interlock which secures the door (104) in the closed position. When the air bag (18) is inflated, it moves against the movable panel (82) and moves the movable panel (82) relative to the door (104). The mechanical interlock between the door (104) and the housing (16) is then released by the inflating air bag (18). The door (104) is thus released for movement from the closed position by the inflating air bag (18).