Patent US5378012A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5378012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lid structure of air bag system
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1992-07-09
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Granted: 1995-01-03
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Expires: 2012-07-09
Abstract
Abstract A turning center line is provided at a front edge side of a lid mounted on an upper surface of an instrument panel for permitting spreading of an air bag, and the lid is provided at a rear edge side thereof with a free end which is adapted to abut against a front windshield when the lid is opened. By contructing the lid-turning center line to be substantially parallel to the widthwise line of the front windshield, and the free end of the lid to be, in its closed position, substantially parallel to a line extending in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, or by constructing the lid-turning center line to be substantially parallel to the line extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the free end of the lid to be, in its closed position, substantially symmetrical to the widthwise line of the front windshield with respect to the lid-turning central line, it is ensured that the free end of the lid is permitted to abut against the front windshield substantially concurrently over the widthwise entire length. This avoids application of a localized load to the lid, thereby preventing any deformation or breaking of the lid.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhiro Seiki
- 👤 Yukihiro Yamaguchi
- 👤 Minoru Kanda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/205; B60R21/215
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
A lid structure in an air bag system in which an air bag stored in an instrument panel is expanded and spread between a top surface of the instrument panel and a front windshield inclined relative to the width of the vehicle upon colliding of a vehicle, said lid structure comprising: a lid mounted on the top surface of the instrument panel; a lid-turning center line provided at a front edge side of the lid; and a rear edge side of the lid provided with a free end which is to abut against the front windshield when the lid is opened, a relative position, in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the lid-turning center line and the free end being determined so that the lid-turning center line and the free end are not parallel to each other in a widthwise direction of the vehicle so as to bring the free end into abutment against the front windshield substantially concurrently along a widthwise entire length of the free end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
A lid structure in an air bag system in which an air bag stored in an instrument panel is expanded and spread between a top surface of the instrument panel and a front windshield inclined relative to the width of the vehicle upon colliding of a vehicle, said lid structure comprising: a lid mounted on the top surface of the instrument panel; a lid-turning center line provided at a front edge side of the lid; and a rear edge side of the lid provided with a free end which is to abut against the front windshield when the lid is opened, a relative position, in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, of the lid-turning center line and the free end being determined so that the lid-turning center line and the free end are not parallel to each other in a widthwise direction of the vehicle so as to bring the free end into abutment against the front windshield substantially concurrently along a widthwise entire length of the free end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the lid-turning center line is substantially parallel to a line extending in a widthwise direction of the vehicle, and the free end of the lid is set, in its closed position substantially symmetrical to a widthwise line of the windshield with respect to the lid-turning center line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the lid has left and right side edges which are formed such that one of the left and right side edges which is closer to a widthwise center of the vehicle is longer than the other of the left and right side edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 1, wherein that portion of the front windshield against which the free end of the lid comes to abut, is inclined relative to a line extending in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
A lid structure in an air bag system for a vehicle, the air bag system including an air bag which is stored in an instrument panel and is, upon collision of the vehicle, expanded and spread between a top surface of the instrument panel and a windshield of the vehicle, said lid structure comprising a lid mounted on the top surface of the instrument panel at a position behind a portion of said windshield which is inclined at an angle to a widthwise line that extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said lid comprising: a front edge; a rear edge as a free end; and a lid-turning center line near said front edge; one of said free end and said lid-turning center line extending not parallel to said widthwise line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
A lid structure in an air bag system for a vehicle, the air bag system including an air bag which is stored in an instrument panel and is, upon collision of the vehicle, expanded and spread between a top surface of the instrument panel and a windshield of the vehicle, said lid structure comprising a lid mounted on the top surface of the instrument panel at a position behind a portion of said windshield which is inclined at an angle to a widthwise line that extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, said lid comprising: a front edge; a rear edge as a free end; and a lid-turning center line near said front edge; one of said free end and said lid-turning center line extending not parallel to said widthwise line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 5, wherein said free end extends parallel to said widthwise line of the vehicle and said lid-turning center line extends parallel to said portion of the windshield.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 5, wherein said lid-turning center line extends parallel to said widthwise line of the vehicle and said free end extends symmetrically to a widthwise line of said portion of the windshield with respect to the lid-turning center line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A lid structure in an air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of a distance from the lid-turning center line to the free end on a right side of the lid with respect to a distance from the lid-turning center line to the windshield on the right side is set equal to the ratio of a distance from the lid-turning center line to the free end on a left side of the lid with respect to a distance from the lid-turning center line to the windshield on the left side.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |