Patent EP0408064B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0408064B1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Arrangement for forming an air bag deployment opening
Assignee: TIP Engineering Group Inc
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Filing: 1990-07-13
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Granted: 1994-11-02
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Expires: 2010-07-13
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Bauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165; B29; B29C; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0838; B60R2021/21654
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
In an automotive passenger compartment installation for an air bag comprised of a receptacle (18) containing a folded cushion adapted to be expanded with gas, said air bag thereby able to be deployed into said passenger compartment (12) of an automobile, said receptacle mounted behind a trim panel (14) within said passenger compartment (12), said trim panel (14) having a smooth uninterrupted expanse of outer surface of an overlying skin (34) facing the inside of said passenger compartment (12), a rigid underlayment (32, 36) beneath said trim panel skin (34) having an opening in the shape of said pattern and aligned with said receptacle (18), and a linear element (46, 58) shaped in the pattern of one or more closures (28A, B) mounted above said underlayment (32, 36) and beneath said trim panel skin (34) and overlying said opening, characterised by said linear element comprising a length of tubing (46, 58) having an explosive material (54, 60) enclosed therein, said length of tubing (46, 58) having one or more openings (52, 62) configured to direct the energy generated when said explosive material (54, 60) is detonated outwardly along the length thereof to degrade only said trim panel skin (34) in said pattern, and means (24) for detonating said explosive material (54, 60) in said length of tubing (46, 58) just prior to deployment of said air bag and thereby enable deployment of said air bag through the opening formed in said trim panel (14).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In an automotive passenger compartment installation for an air bag comprised of a receptacle (18) containing a folded cushion adapted to be expanded with gas, said air bag thereby able to be deployed into said passenger compartment (12) of an automobile, said receptacle mounted behind a trim panel (14) within said passenger compartment (12), said trim panel (14) having a smooth uninterrupted expanse of outer surface of an overlying skin (34) facing the inside of said passenger compartment (12), a rigid underlayment (32, 36) beneath said trim panel skin (34) having an opening in the shape said pattern and aligned with said receptacle (18) and a linear element (30) shaped in the pattern of one or more closures (28A, B) mounted above said underlayment (32, 36) and beneath said trim panel skin (34) and overlying said opening, characterised by said linear element including an elongated element (30) located just below said trim panel skin (34) generating a great amount of heat without an explosive reaction when activated to apply heat energy along the length thereof sufficient to degrade only said trim panel skin (34) in said pattern, and means (24) for activating said elongated element (30) just prior to deployment of said air bag and thereby enable deployment of said air bag through the opening formed in said trim panel (14).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The air bag installation according to claim 1, wherein said length of tubing (46) has a series of outwardly directed holes (52) formed along the length thereof, and further includes a linear explosive charge (54) extending within said tube (46), said charge (54) generating pressurized gases when detonated said pressurized gases passing out through said holes (52) and resulting in degradation of said trim panel skin (34).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The air bag installation according to claim 1, wherein said length of tubing (58) is slit along the length thereof on the outer side, and further including an explosive charge (60) distributed along and within said tubing (58) discharged by said activation of said linear element, directing a flame front at said trim panel skin (34).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The air bag installation according to claim 2, wherein said linear element is composed of a plurality of elongated metal elements (30) of dissimilar metals, in intimate contact, said metals alloying together with the release of heat energy upon acitivation by electrical excitation until a reaction temperature is achieved.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The air bag installation according to any one of the foregoing claims, wherein said trim panel (14) is a rigid unitary construction having a soft foam core (32) underlying said skin (34).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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