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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1998
Yasushi Kawakubo, Osaka, JP;
Shiro Ozaki, Osaka, JP;
Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An instrument panel for an air bag device has a surface member having a first surface component and a second surface component each with backsides. A foamed member is formed on the back sides of the surface member and cleavable by expanding pressure of an air bag of the air bag device where the air bag device is disposed adjacent the foam member. The first surface component and the second surface component respectively having first and second side edge portions with respective first and second engaging portions engaging one another to form an adjoining portion of the surface member whereat the surface member is cleaved by the expanding pressure of the air bag. The first engaging portion included a fitting groove having a generally U-shaped section extending from the backside of the first surface component into the foamed member. The second engaging portion includes a fitting protrusion extending from the backside of the second surface component and adapted to be inserted into the fitting groove. The foamed member is foamed onto the backside of the surface member with the fitting protrusion inserted into the fitting groove such that the fitting groove with the fitting protrusion inserted therein is embedded in the foamed member.