Patent US5447328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5447328A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Trim panel having integral door cover
Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-31
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2014-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An instrument panel has an integral door cover for concealing a supplemental inflatable restraint system in a vehicle passenger compartment. The door cover includes a flap that is an integral part of a flexible plastic skin of the instrument panel. The plastic skin is cast in a special mold with a raised apexed rib that forms grooves outlining the flap that have a thin tear seam at their bottom.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Iannazzi
- 👤 Thomas G. Parker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:26
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165; B29; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/42; B29C37/00; B29C37/0025; B29C37/0028; B29C37/0032; B29C37/0053; B29C37/0057; B29C39/00; B29C39/02; B29C39/026; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3005; B29L2031/3038
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment and a flexible plastic skin that includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover comprising: the flexible plastic skin having a depending portion that contains a groove for providing a tear seam between the flap and the remaining part of the polymeric skin, a layer of energy absorbing elastomeric foam underlying the plastic skin, and the groove being formed so that it has a weakened section in the layer of energy absorbing elastomeric foam that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment and a flexible plastic skin that includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover comprising: the flexible plastic skin having a depending portion that contains a groove for providing a tear seam between the flap and the remaining part of the polymeric skin, a layer of energy absorbing elastomeric foam underlying the plastic skin, and the groove being formed so that it has a weakened section in the layer of energy absorbing elastomeric foam that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The trim panel as defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible plastic skin is cast in a mold having a raised rib that forms the groove so that it has a thinner section at its bottom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The trim panel as defined in claim 2 wherein the flexible plastic skin is cast in a mold having a raised rib that forms the groove so that the groove is gull wing shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The trim panel as defined in claim 1 wherein the flexible plastic skin is cast in a mold with a raised rib so that the groove has a bottom that includes a thin section that provides a tear seam that can be fractured by deployment of an air bag without any need for cutting the plastic skin after it is cast.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The trim panel as defined in claim 1 wherein the thin section has a thickness that is in the range of about 25% to 50% of the nominal thickness of the remainder of the skin.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for making a trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment and a flexible plastic skin that includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover comprising: casting a flexible plastic skin in a mold that has a raised rib so that the skin has a depending portion that contains a groove that conforms to the shape of the raised rib, and the raised rib having a top that has an apex so that the groove is formed with a bottom that is cast with a thin section that forms over the apex to provide a tear seam for the skin flap that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the bottom of the groove.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for making a trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment and a flexible plastic skin that includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover comprising: casting a flexible plastic skin in a mold that has a raised rib so that the skin has a depending portion that contains a groove that conforms to the shape of the raised rib, and the raised rib having a top that has an apex so that the groove is formed with a bottom that is cast with a thin section that forms over the apex to provide a tear seam for the skin flap that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the bottom of the groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method for making a trim panel as defined in claim 6 further comprising: placing the cast skin in a closeable mold, and foaming an elastomeric layer in place beneath the polymeric skin so that the depending portion is disposed in the layer generated in the foaming process.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method for making a trim panel as defined in claim 6 wherein the top of the raised rib has a V-like apex.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method for making a trim panel as defined in claim 6 wherein the raised rib has concave sides that provide a cusp-like apex at the top of the raised rib.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
A mold for casting a flexible plastic skin for a trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment wherein the flexible plastic skin includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover, the mold comprising: a raised rib that forms a depending portion in the flexible plastic skin that contains a groove that conforms to the shape of the raised rib when the flexible plastic skin is cast in the mold, and the raised rib having a top that has an apex so that the groove is formed with a bottom that is cast with a thin section that forms over the apex to provide a tear seam for the flap that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the bottom of the groove.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
141 words
A mold for casting a flexible plastic skin for a trim panel having a door cover for concealing an airbag system in a vehicle passenger compartment wherein the flexible plastic skin includes a flap that is an integral part of the door cover, the mold comprising: a raised rib that forms a depending portion in the flexible plastic skin that contains a groove that conforms to the shape of the raised rib when the flexible plastic skin is cast in the mold, and the raised rib having a top that has an apex so that the groove is formed with a bottom that is cast with a thin section that forms over the apex to provide a tear seam for the flap that can be fractured by deployment of an airbag without any need for cutting the bottom of the groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mold for making a trim panel as defined in claim 10 wherein the raised rib has a height to width ratio of about 2 to 1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The mold for making a trim panel as defined in claim 10 wherein the top of the raised rib has a V-like apex.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mold for making a trim panel as defined in claim 10 wherein the raised rib has concave sides that provide a cusp-like apex at the top of the raised rib.
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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) | 1998-09-04 | 1999-03-06 | 1999-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-04 | 2003-03-06 | 2003-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-04 | 2007-03-06 | 2007-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |