Patent US5335937A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5335937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cover for vehicle occupant impact protection device
Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
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Filing: 1993-09-03
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Granted: 1994-08-09
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Expires: 2013-09-03
Abstract
Abstract Impact protection devices, arranged in steering wheels or dashboards of motor vehicles, for vehicle occupants are provided with covers which open in the event of an accident in order to release an inflating air bag of the protection device. The cover, which consists of at least one cover flap, is injection molded onto a carrier part by a tough elastic plastic. The plastic surround has along an edge, intended as pivot axis, of the cover flap a cross-sectional tapering which serves as a hinge. At the other edges, the plastic surround is constructed towards the corresponding edges of the carrier part as a groove which, in the event of pressure on the cover flap in the opening direction, easily releases the carrier part edge.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Wilhelm Uphues
- 👤 Zivojin Petkovic
- 👤 Wolfgang Henseler
- 👤 Manfred Muller
- 👤 Stephan Schreiner
- 👤 Thomas Witkovsky
- 👤 Thomas Fischer
- 👤 Rolf Schumacher
- 👤 Bruno Moltgen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A cover for an air bag of an impact protection device for occupants of a vehicle, comprising a carrier part, at least one upwardly pivotable cover flap operatively arranged in the dashboard of a vehicle, and a tough elastic plastic surround which is injection molded onto the at least one cover flap and onto the carrier part, wherein the plastic surround has, along a pivot axis edge of the cover flap, a cross-sectional tapering configured to serve as a hinge, and said plastic surround is constructed at at least one further edge of the cover flap as a groove which, in the event of pressure on the at least one cover flap in an opening direction, easily releases an edge which is held in the groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A cover for an air bag of an impact protection device for occupants of a vehicle, comprising a carrier part, at least one upwardly pivotable cover flap operatively arranged in the dashboard of a vehicle, and a tough elastic plastic surround which is injection molded onto the at least one cover flap and onto the carrier part, wherein the plastic surround has, along a pivot axis edge of the cover flap, a cross-sectional tapering configured to serve as a hinge, and said plastic surround is constructed at at least one further edge of the cover flap as a groove which, in the event of pressure on the at least one cover flap in an opening direction, easily releases an edge which is held in the groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the edge held in the groove is an edge of the carrier part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the carrier part is a separate carrier frame securely connected to a frame of the dashboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover according to claim 3, wherein the edge held in the groove is an edge of the carrier part.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover flap comprises two cover flaps arranged one on top of the other, the upper one of which can pivot upwardly and the lower one of which can pivot downwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover according to claim 5, wherein the edge held in the groove is an edge of the carrier part.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover according to claim 5, wherein the carrier part is a separate carrier frame securely connected to a frame of the dashboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover flap comprises a plurality of cover flaps which can pivot upwardly, downwardly and to the side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover according to claim 8, wherein the edge held in the groove is an edge of the carrier part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover according to claim 8, wherein the carrier part is a separate carrier frame securely connected to a frame of the dashboard.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The cover according to claim 5, wherein facing edges of the cover flaps are connected to one another by a tough elastic plastic which is securely connected to the edge of the one cover flap and towards the edge of the other cover flap has a groove which holds said latter edge and clears said latter edge in the opening direction in the event of pressure on the cover flap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
The cover according to claim 8, wherein facing edges of the cover flaps are connected to one another by a tough elastic plastic which is securely connected to the edge of the one cover flap and towards the edge of the other cover flap has a groove which holds said latter edge and clears said latter edge in the opening direction in the event of pressure on the cover flap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the groove, which releases an edge, comprises a flexible leg which, in the event of pressure on the cover flap in the opening direction, brings about release of the edge grasped by the groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover flap has a periphery with a tough elastic plastic surround.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the edges of the cover flaps and of the carrier part which are securely connected to the plastic surround have holes into which the plastic surround is injection molded.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The cover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cover flap, the carrier part and the tough elastic plastic of the plastic surround constitute a single-component construction at tapering sections.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cover according to claim 16, wherein the edge held in the groove is an edge of the carrier part.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cover according to claim 16, wherein the carrier part is a separate carrier frame securely connected to a frame of the dashboard.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cover according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cover flap comprises two cover flaps arranged one on top of the other, the upper one of which can pivot upwardly and the lower one of which can pivot downwardly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cover according to claim 16, wherein the at least one cover flap comprises a plurality of cover flaps which can pivot upwardly, downwardly and to the side.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-08-08 | 1998-02-07 | 1998-08-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-08-08 | 2002-02-07 | 2002-08-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-08-08 | 2006-02-07 | 2006-08-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |