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. 30, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 13, 2001
James Lloyd Webber, Shelby Township, MI (US);
Jeffrey Alan Shepherd, Troy, OH (US);
Mark Thomas Winters, Troy, OH (US);
Laura Adelle Hawthorn, Tipp City, OH (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
This present invention provides a deformable air bag module for use in an instrument panel or door panel of a vehicle. The air bag module has a deformable housing with an inflator and an air bag cushion being disposed within the deformable housing. The module housing has a neck portion defining an opening formed at a first side, wherein the first side is coupled to the instrument panel. The instrument panel includes first and second instrument panel sections and the module housing is disposed about the first and second instrument panel sections so that deployment of the air bag cushion causes deformation of the module housing resulting in the first and second instrument panel sections separating and deployment of the air bag cushion therebetween. When a tear seam is used to define the first and second instrument panel sections, the present invention permits the tear seam to be formed thicker in size and more durable.