US5685560A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Airbag module cover assembly
Assignee: Nihon Plast Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1996-01-19
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Granted: 1997-11-11
•
Expires: 2016-01-19
Abstract
Abstract A driver's side airbag module cover assembly including a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area and an inner surface. The airbag module cover is formed with an easy-to-break line extending at least through the horn actuation area. A membrane type switch is mounted behind the horn actuation area and behind the easy-to-break line, extending across the easy-to-break line.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiyuki Sugiyama
- 👤 Hiromitsu Harada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:12
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2165; B60R21/21656; B60R21/21658
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; a first membrane type switch half and a second membrane type switch half mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said first and second membrane type switch halves having outer perimeters and mutually mated portions extending along adjacent segments of said outer perimeters, said adjacent segments of said outer perimeters being undulated, said mutually mated portions being positioned adjacent said easy-to-break line; and at least one interconnecting member adapted to interconnect said mutually mated portions, said at least one interconnecting member including an airbag inner cover having an airbag projection area positioned behind said horn actuation area and formed with an easy-to-break line extending at least across said airbag projection area, said at least one interconnecting member including an attachment element adapted to attach said first and second membrane type switch halves to said airbag projection area with said mutually mated portions positioned along said easy-to-break line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; a first membrane type switch half and a second membrane type switch half mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said first and second membrane type switch halves having outer perimeters and mutually mated portions extending along adjacent segments of said outer perimeters, said adjacent segments of said outer perimeters being undulated, said mutually mated portions being positioned adjacent said easy-to-break line; and at least one interconnecting member adapted to interconnect said mutually mated portions, said at least one interconnecting member including an airbag inner cover having an airbag projection area positioned behind said horn actuation area and formed with an easy-to-break line extending at least across said airbag projection area, said at least one interconnecting member including an attachment element adapted to attach said first and second membrane type switch halves to said airbag projection area with said mutually mated portions positioned along said easy-to-break line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said airbag inner cover has an outer surface and projections on said outer surface, said projections being located where said first and second membrane type switch halves are attached to said airbag inner cover.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; a first membrane type switch half and a second membrane type switch half mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said first and second membrane type switch halves having outer perimeters and mutually mated portions extending along adjacent segments of said outer perimeters, said mutually mated portions being positioned adjacent said easy-to-break line, said mutually mated portions overlapping one another; and at least one interconnecting member adapted to interconnect said mutually mated portions, said at least one interconnecting member including an attachment element adapted to attach said mutually mated portions to each other at an area where said mutually mated portions overlap one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; a first membrane type switch half and a second membrane type switch half mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said first and second membrane type switch halves having outer perimeters and mutually mated portions extending along adjacent segments of said outer perimeters, said mutually mated portions being positioned adjacent said easy-to-break line, said mutually mated portions overlapping one another; and at least one interconnecting member adapted to interconnect said mutually mated portions, said at least one interconnecting member including an attachment element adapted to attach said mutually mated portions to each other at an area where said mutually mated portions overlap one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: mounting members adapted to mount said first and second membrane type switch halves along said outer perimeters thereof to said inner surface of said airbag module cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said flexible airbag module cover has a plurality of ribs extending from said inner surface toward said first and second membrane type switch halves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plurality of ribs have edges cooperating with each other to define a generally part cylindrical imaginary surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first and second membrane type switch halves extend along said edges of said plurality of ribs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said adjacent segments of said outer perimeters of said mutually mated portions are line segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said adjacent segments of said outer perimeters of said mutually mated portions are undulations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly, comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; and a membrane type switch mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said membrane type switch extending across said easy-to-break line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly, comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area, an inner surface, and an easy-to-break line extending at least across said horn actuation area; and a membrane type switch mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line, said membrane type switch extending across said easy-to-break line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
89 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said membrane type switch comprises: a first membrane type switch half and a second membrane type switch half mounted behind said horn actuation area and behind said easy-to-break line; said first and second membrane type switch halves having outer perimeters and mutually mated portions extending along adjacent segments of said outer perimeters, said mutually mated portions being positioned adjacent said easy-to-break line; and at least one interconnecting member adapted to interconnect to said mutually mated portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said at least one interconnecting member includes an airbag inner cover having an airbag projection area positioned behind said horn actuation area and formed with an easy-to-break line extending at least across said airbag projection area, and said at least one interconnecting member includes an attachment element adapted to attach said first and second membrane type switch halves to said airbag projection area so that said mutually mated portions are positioned along said easy-to-break line extending at least across said airbag projection area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a back panel mounted behind said membrane type switch to provide a rigid pressure surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein said back panel is more rigid than said horn actuation area of said flexible airbag module cover.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said back panel is mounted to said inner surface of said flexible airbag module cover.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said back panel and said flexible airbag module cover are comprised of the same synthetic resin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said flexible airbag module cover includes a mounting structure, said mounting structure including a wall extending from said inner surface and surrounding an area on said inner surface comprising to said horn actuation area.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein said membrane type switch has a tongue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said wall has a receiving member adapted to receive said tongue in such a manner as to prevent concentration of stress on said tongue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said receiving member comprises a window formed in said wall to permit said tongue to pass therethrough.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said receiving member comprises a recess formed in said wall.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein said receiving member comprises a cutout extending to a distal end edge of said wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
99 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly, comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area and an inner surface; and a membrane type switch mounted behind said horn actuation area and having a tongue; said flexible airbag module cover including a mounting structure, said mounting structure including a wall extending from said inner surface and surrounding an area on said inner surface corresponding to said horn actuation area, said wall having a receiving member adapted to receive said tongue in such a manner as to prevent concentration of stress on said tongue.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
99 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly, comprising: a flexible airbag module cover having an outer surface with a horn actuation area and an inner surface; and a membrane type switch mounted behind said horn actuation area and having a tongue; said flexible airbag module cover including a mounting structure, said mounting structure including a wall extending from said inner surface and surrounding an area on said inner surface corresponding to said horn actuation area, said wall having a receiving member adapted to receive said tongue in such a manner as to prevent concentration of stress on said tongue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein said receiving member comprises a window formed in said wall to permit said tongue to pass therethrough.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein said receiving member comprises a recess formed in said wall.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A driver's side airbag module cover assembly as claimed in claim 23, wherein said receiving member comprises a cutout extending to a distal end edge of said wall.
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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) | 2000-11-10 | 2001-05-12 | 2001-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-10 | 2005-05-12 | 2005-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-10 | 2009-05-12 | 2009-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |