US5487558A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument panel in a motor vehicle
Assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
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Filing: 1994-09-29
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Granted: 1996-01-30
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Expires: 2014-09-29
Abstract
Abstract The instrument panel in a motor vehicle exhibits an interior, rigid reinforcement panel, a foamed-plastic layer located thereabove and an outer skin which covers said layer. A cover which likewise exhibits this construction is integrated into the instrument panel in front of an airbag unit, which cover, in the event of a crash, can move away and releases an opening through which an airbag can unfold out of its receiving container behind the instrument panel. The reinforcement portion of the cover is a separated-off part of the adjoining reinforcement-panel surface. The process for producing an instrument panel of this type is carried out such that, before or after foaming of the entire reinforcement panel, the opening cover is separated from said panel.
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes Ball
- 👤 Wolfgang Henseler
- 👤 Uwe Gerstenberg
- 👤 Thomas Fischer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/34; B60H1/3407; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/04; B60R21/045; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
Instrument panel arrangement in a motor vehicle comprising: an interior rigid reinforcement panel, a foamed-plastic layer located above the reinforcement panel, an outer skin which covers said foamed-plastic layer, a cover section integrated into the instrument panel for covering an airbag unit, said cover section exhibiting a similar reinforcement panel, foamed-plastic layer, and outer skin as the adjacent instrument panel arrangement, wherein the cover section is configured to move away and release an opening through which an airbag can unfold out of a receiving container of the airbag unit behind the instrument panel, and wherein the similar reinforcement panel of the cover section is an adjoining part of said reinforcement panel separated from said reinforcement panel via cuts formed at an angle other than perpendicular to a plane of the reinforcement panel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
Instrument panel arrangement in a motor vehicle comprising: an interior rigid reinforcement panel, a foamed-plastic layer located above the reinforcement panel, an outer skin which covers said foamed-plastic layer, a cover section integrated into the instrument panel for covering an airbag unit, said cover section exhibiting a similar reinforcement panel, foamed-plastic layer, and outer skin as the adjacent instrument panel arrangement, wherein the cover section is configured to move away and release an opening through which an airbag can unfold out of a receiving container of the airbag unit behind the instrument panel, and wherein the similar reinforcement panel of the cover section is an adjoining part of said reinforcement panel separated from said reinforcement panel via cuts formed at an angle other than perpendicular to a plane of the reinforcement panel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
167 words
Process for producing an instrument panel arrangement in a motor vehicle comprising: an interior rigid reinforcement panel, a foamed-plastic layer located above the reinforcement panel, an outer skin which covers said foamed-plastic layer, a cover section integrated into the instrument panel for covering an airbag unit, said cover section exhibiting a similar reinforcement panel foamed-plastic layer and outer skin as the adjacent instrument panel structure, wherein the cover section is configured to move away and release an opening through which an airbag can unfold out of a receiving container of the airbag unit behind the instrument panel, and wherein the rigid reinforcement panel of the cover is a separated-off part of adjoining rigid reinforcement panel structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming the interior rigid reinforcement panel in one piece; and separating the rigid reinforcement panel of the cover section from the surrounding reinforcement panel structure formed in one piece by providing angled cuts other than perpendicular with respect to a plane of said reinforcement panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
167 words
Process for producing an instrument panel arrangement in a motor vehicle comprising: an interior rigid reinforcement panel, a foamed-plastic layer located above the reinforcement panel, an outer skin which covers said foamed-plastic layer, a cover section integrated into the instrument panel for covering an airbag unit, said cover section exhibiting a similar reinforcement panel foamed-plastic layer and outer skin as the adjacent instrument panel structure, wherein the cover section is configured to move away and release an opening through which an airbag can unfold out of a receiving container of the airbag unit behind the instrument panel, and wherein the rigid reinforcement panel of the cover is a separated-off part of adjoining rigid reinforcement panel structure, said method comprising the steps of: forming the interior rigid reinforcement panel in one piece; and separating the rigid reinforcement panel of the cover section from the surrounding reinforcement panel structure formed in one piece by providing angled cuts other than perpendicular with respect to a plane of said reinforcement panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcement portion of the cover is separated out from the reinforcement-panel surface before foaming of the entire reinforcement panel and, for the purposes of foaming, is releasably connected to said surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein said separating is done prior to applying the foamed-plastic layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Process according to claim 3, comprising releasably connecting the rigid reinforcement panel of the cover section adjacent rigid reinforcement panel structure during application of foam to form the foamed-plastic layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein said separating is done after applying the foamed-plastic layer.
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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) | 1999-01-29 | 1999-07-31 | 2000-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-29 | 2003-07-31 | 2004-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-29 | 2007-07-31 | 2008-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |