Double door closure for an air bag deployment opening

Claim 2

A closure for a deployment opening (20) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22) mounted behind said opening (20); a door assemblage of an upper door (14) and a lower door (16) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completely close off said opening (20); hinging means (34, 36) associated with a side of each door (14, 16) opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16) to swing out from said opening (20) when said doors (14, 16) are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion (46) integral with each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion (46) being weakened to form a frangible seam (18) extending along said line of separation; a protrusion (60, 62) extending inwardly from each of said upper and lower closure doors (14, 16), each protrusion (60, 62) having a peak surface (64, 66) adjacent said line of separation to cause contact with an inflating air bag on said doors (14, 16) so as to insure maximum shearing pressure on said bridging portion (46).

Claim 3

The closure according to claim 1 wherein said door assemblage is comprised of a unitary molded piece.

Claim 4

The closure according to claim 1 or 2 further including a plurality of upstanding ribs (60, 62) forming said protrusions and extending inwardly from the inside of each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16), said ribs (60, 62) each extending in a direction from the line of separation to the hinging means (34, 36) and having an inmost point (64, 66) adjacent to said line of separation comprising one of said peak surfaces, whereby a deploying air bag will contact each of said upper and lower doors (14, 16) adjacent said frangible seam (18).

Claim 5

The closure according to claim 1 or 2, further including a pair of inwardly extending ridges (52, 54), formed in each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16) extending along said line of separation, whereby fracturing of said frangible seam (18) is confined to said line of separation.

Claim 6

The closure according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said bridging portion (46) is formed with a series of inwardly facing molded blind pockets (48) with intermediate connecting portions distributed along said line of separation and forming said frangible seam (18).

Claim 7

The closure according to claim 1 wherein each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) are comprised of a structural layer (72) and a stiffening piece attached to the inside of said structural layer (72) of each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a), said bridging portion comprised of portion of said structural layer (72) and stiffening piece (86, 88) of one of said upper or lower door (14a, 16a) extending across said line of separation from each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to the structural layer (72) and stiffening piece (86, 88) of the other of said upper or lower door (14a, 16a).

Claim 8

The closure according to claim 6 wherein said bridging portion weakening comprises a series of slots (100) connecting said bridging portions.

Claim 9

The closure according to claim 7 further including a decorative layer (94) disposed over said structural layer (72) and uninterruptedly over said bridging portion and line of separation; and further including a piercing piece (110) mounted inside said closure and having at least one piercing point (112) facing towards said decorative layer (94) and extending along said line of separation aligned with one of said slots (100, 106), said piercing piece (110) having a part projecting inwardly from said doors (14a, 16a) located to be able to be engaged by an inflating air bag in advance of contact by an inflating air bag with the inside of said closure upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to pierce and initiate tearing of said decorative layer (94) along said line of separation.

Claim 10

The closure according to one the claims 6 to 8 wherein each stiffener piece (86, 88) incorporated in said upper closure door (14a) and lower closure door (16a) is formed with said inwardly extending protrusion located adjacent said line of separation to cause contact of an inflating air bag therewith to exert maximum shearing stress on said bridging portions.

Claim 11

The closure according to one of the claims 6 to 9 wherein said bridging portion include portions integral with both of said structural layer (72).

Claim 12

The closure according to one of the claims 6 to 10 wherein said bridging portion also includes portions integral with said structural layer (72).

Claim 13

The closure according to claim 7 wherein said bridging portions have slot connections formed therein and wherein said bridging portion of said structural layer (72) is further weakened by being grooved through one side on portions of said structural layer (72) intermediate said slot connections.

Claim 14

The closure according to one of the claims 6 to 12 wherein said hinging means comprises a radiused corner (78, 80, 82, 84) formed in said support layer (72) on the upper and lower sides respectively of said upper and lower doors (14a, 16a), whereby bending around said corners allows hinging of said doors (14a, 16a) without interference from said mounting structure.

Claim 15

A closure for a deployment opening (20) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22) mounted behind said opening (20); a door assemblage of an upper door (14) and a lower door (16) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completely close off said opening (20); hinging means associated with a side of each door (14, 16) opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door and lower door to swing out from said opening when said doors are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion (46) integral with each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion (46) being weakened to form a frangible seam (18) extending along said line of separation; said hinging means comprising an inwardly turned flange (34, 36) integral with each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16), said flange (34, 36) formed with a lip (42, 44), a groove space (38, 40) located just inward of said lip (42, 44), said lip projecting over said groove space (38, 40), and said lip (42, 44) defining a portion of the outermost perimeter of the respective connected together upper door (14) and lower door (16).

Claim 16

A closure for a deployment opening (20) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22) mounted behind said opening (20); a door assemblage of an upper door (14) and a lower door (16) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completely close off said opening (20); hinging means associated with a side of each door (14, 16) opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door and lower door to swing out from said opening when said doors are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion (46) integral with each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion (46) being weakened to form a frangible seam (18) extending along said line of separation; said hinging means comprising an inwardly turned flange (34, 36) integral with each of said upper door (14) and lower door (16), said flange (34, 36) formed with a lip (42, 44), a groove space (38, 40) located just inward of said lip (42, 44), said lip projecting over said groove space (38, 40), and said lip (42, 44) defining a portion of the outermost perimeter of the respective connected together upper door (14) and lower door (16).

Claim 17

A closure for a deployment opening (20a) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20a) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22a) mounted behind said opening (20a); a door assemblage of an upper door (14a) and a lower door (16a) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completeley close off said opening (20a); hinging means associated with a side of each door opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to swing out from said opening when said doors are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion integral with each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion being weakened to form a frangible seam (18a) extending along said line of separation; a decorative layer (94) overlying said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and across said bridging portion; at least one slot (100, 106) formed in said bridging portion; said decorative layer (94) overlying said slot; a piercing piece (110) aligned with said slot (100, 106), said piercing piece (110) having a pointed end (112) lying below said decorative layer (94) and another portion extending inwardly behind said bridging portion to be able to be contacted by a deploying air bag and forced into said decorative layer (94), whereby to pierce said decorative layer.

Claim 18

A closure for a deployment opening (20a) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20a) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22a) mounted behind said opening (20a); a door assemblage of an upper door (14a) and a lower door (16a) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completeley close off said opening (20a); hinging means associated with a side of each door opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to swing out from said opening when said doors are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion integral with each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion being weakened to form a frangible seam (18a) extending along said line of separation; a decorative layer (94) overlying said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and across said bridging portion; at least one slot (100, 106) formed in said bridging portion; said decorative layer (94) overlying said slot; a piercing piece (110) aligned with said slot (100, 106), said piercing piece (110) having a pointed end (112) lying below said decorative layer (94) and another portion extending inwardly behind said bridging portion to be able to be contacted by a deploying air bag and forced into said decorative layer (94), whereby to pierce said decorative layer.

Claim 19

A closure for a deployment opening (20a) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20a) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22a) mounted behind said opening (20a); a door assemblage of an upper door (14a) and a lower door (16a) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completely close off said opening (20a); hinging means associated with a side of each door (14a, 16a) opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to swing out from said opening (20a) when said doors (14a, 16a) are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion integral with each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion being weakened to form a frangible seam (18a) extending along said line of separation; each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) comprising a metal structural layer (72) and a molded plastic main stiffener piece (86, 88) attached to the inside of the structural layer (72), each of said structural layers and stiffening pieces (86, 88) of said respective upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) having an integral intermediate portion extending across said line of separation to form said bridging portion, said intermediate portion of said stiffening piece (86, 88) being reduced in thickness relative the stiffener piece (86, 88) attached to said doors (14a, 16a) and slotted to be weakened; said structural layer (72) intermediate portion having a series of slots and grooved on sections intermediate the slots to weaken the intermediate portion thereof.

Claim 20

A closure for a deployment opening (20a) for an automotive air bag system, said opening (20a) formed in a mounting structure forming a part of the interior structure of an automobile comprising: an air bag cannister (22a) mounted behind said opening (20a); a door assemblage of an upper door (14a) and a lower door (16a) connected together on either side of a line of separation, and together configured to be fit within and completely close off said opening (20a); hinging means associated with a side of each door (14a, 16a) opposite said line of separation allowing each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) to swing out from said opening (20a) when said doors (14a, 16a) are free along said line of separation; said door assemblage including a bridging portion integral with each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) and extending across said line of separation, said bridging portion being weakened to form a frangible seam (18a) extending along said line of separation; each of said upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) comprising a metal structural layer (72) and a molded plastic main stiffener piece (86, 88) attached to the inside of the structural layer (72), each of said structural layers and stiffening pieces (86, 88) of said respective upper door (14a) and lower door (16a) having an integral intermediate portion extending across said line of separation to form said bridging portion, said intermediate portion of said stiffening piece (86, 88) being reduced in thickness relative the stiffener piece (86, 88) attached to said doors (14a, 16a) and slotted to be weakened; said structural layer (72) intermediate portion having a series of slots and grooved on sections intermediate the slots to weaken the intermediate portion thereof.