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:
Oct. 12, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2002
Chris John Short, Dexter, MI (US);
Fred Leslie Sole, Plymouth, MI (US);
Marshall Lawrence Quade, Pinckney, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An air bag module comprising an air bag retainer, an air bag cushion, an inflator, and a cover having a front wall and a side wall connected to the air bag retainer, wherein the air bag cushion normally deploys through the front wall of the air bag cover and wherein the side wall has a weakened area to allow a portion of the side wall to open and allow the air bag cushion to deploy therethrough along a lateral deployment path if an out-of-position occupant exerts an external force against the front wall sufficient to impede normal deployment of the air bag cushion through the front wall. The side wall may include an extendable section that is in a retracted position when the air bag cushion is folded and is movable to an extended position by inflation of the cushion.