MXPA00002361A - Applique for air bag cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A discrete air bag tear seam (34) is provided in the finishing cover (20) of an interior component (10) of an automotive vehicle. An applique (40) installed on the cover (20) has an elongated external decorator head (42) concealing the tear seam (34). Elongated and laterally spaced retention flanges (44) of the applique (40) stabilize and releasably retain the cover (20) at the tear seam (34). The applique (40) is secured to a fixed retainer part (22) of the component (10) and operates by releasing the cover (20) at the tear seam (34) to form an air bag door (18) in response to the forced outward movement of an underlying door substrate (30) on air bag deployment. The underlying door substrate (30) exerts a force on the cover (20) and particularly the outer skin (26) thereof and causes it to pull away from the applique (40) starting at the concealed tear seam (34) to establish an opening for improved air bag deployment.

Description

ADJUSTMENT FOR AIR BAG COVER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improved finished covers adorned for interior components of vehicles in which a containment air bag is stored. More particularly, the present invention relates to a new and improved embellishment for finished covers having a discrete air bag force detachment seam therein which is retained and hidden by the embellishment secured in the component. In this invention, the cover is pulled from the embellishment starting from the release seam forming a free air bag door edge in an air bag deployment. Prior to the present invention, several finished covers were provided for interior components such as instrument panels and steering wheels of automotive vehicles, which contain air pockets in their stored position. For example, in U.S. Patent 5,611,564 issued March 18, 1997 for "Method and Treatment for Forming an Air Bag Deployment Opening in Leather Covered Trim", a pre-setting for decorative skin in a short automotive part produces an effective preblending of the skin. so that it can easily be provided by the forced opening of the underlying hinged door panel from an airbag deployment.

In addition, the patent 5,487,557 issued on January 30, 1996 for "Air Bag Cover Having an Applied Fastened Thereto and Method of Manufacturing Same", a self-propelled airbag cover is provided with an air bag tracking and a decorative seam attached to it. The cover comprises a stored and collapsed air bag. The decorative ornament is secured to the front cover adjacent to the release seam thereon in a non-overlapping manner so that the decorative ornament does not interfere with the exit of the inflating bag of air from the cover. Although this and other previous descriptions provide several provisions for covering the airbags in their stored condition and allow subsequent deployment of the airbag, they do not disclose or suggest any embellishment to effectively hold a finished cover in position or releasably retain. and hiding the release seam of the cover to increase the deployment of the air bag according to the present invention. In this invention the top cover of an interior component, eg, instrument panel, steering wheel or other interior part of a vehicle, has a discreet air bag release seam formed therein concealed and retained by a new and improved trim secured to the deck. In the deployment of the airbag, the detachment seam forms a free edge and a door that rotates from the cover in the deployment of the airbag. Prior to such deployment, the cover in the release seam is inserted and held releasably in a position hidden by an external decorative ornament secured to a fixed retainer portion of the component. More particularly, the skin material of the cover such as vinyl, is cut along a line to form the release seam in the event that the deployment of the air pocket forms the lower part of the air pocket in the component. The cutting line is completely covered with the new and improved trim that ensures that the skin does not slip or pull prematurely during conventional use of the vehicle. A cam connector associated with some forms of the ornament arches the cams laterally spaced apart in the rims of the retainer thereof when the appliqué is secured to the component to releasably hold the skin material between the rims and the decorative head of the ornament or between the ridges and a retaining groove in the substrate or inner component. In other forms of the invention, the cam connectors are not used since the flanges depending on the ornament are like leaf springs that are loaded when they are forced together when they are inserted in the stop slot and when they overlap a position when the skin material is releasably held by a spring tension. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a graphic view of a portion of a panel of an instrument or of an automotive vehicle covered by an external appearance cover with an adornment secured to it; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the panel of Figure 1 taken generally along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3A is a view of a portion of the cross-sectional view of Figure 2 but showing part of it in explored positions; Figure 3B is a graphical view of a portion of an instrument panel of Figure 1 with part thereof in explored positions; Figure 4 is a graphical view similar to the view of Figure 1 but showing part of it in explored position; Figure 5 is a view similar to the view of theFigure 1 illustrating the deployment of an airbag stored below the cover of the instrument panel; Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the instrument panel similar to the view of Figure 2 but showing the air bag being deployed through the cover thereof; Figure 7 is a graphic view of a portion and another instrument part with parts in positions showing another embodiment of this invention; Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view showing the adoxno of Figure 7 in a position installed in an insulator panel; Figure 8 is a graphical view of another trim and one embodiment of this invention for installation in an instrument panel; Figure 8A is a cross-sectional view of the ornament of Figure 8 as it is installed in an instrument panel. With more attention and more detail now to the drawings, a portion of an instrument panel 10 of a motor vehicle is shown in Figure 1. The instrument panel is conventionally located in the vehicle, before the occupants sit in the front seating areas thereof. Operatively mounted on the instrument panel is a complementary inflatable containment module or air bag 12 with an air bag 14 stored in ready position. The bag is adapted to be inflated by the operation of the conventional activation sensors, not shown, the inflator mechanism 16 and is deployed through the opening of an air bag door 18 in the instrument panel. More particularly, the air bag 14 deploys in response to a predetermined negative acceleration of the vehicle to provide containment and protection of the passenger seated behind the air bag. As best shown in the cross-sectional view of Figure 2, the instrument panel 10 encloses a cover assembly 20 comprising a support substrate or retainer portion 22 which is covered by an intermediate projecting foam layer 24 of resin. polyurethane, for example, and an outer flexible vinyl skin 26, for example. The substrate can be of any suitable material such as sheet metal or suitable plastics secured to the structural parts of the vehicle. The foam layer is attached or secured in another way to the retainer portion and the flexible skin is secured to the foam layer at the interface thereto. The materials and methods used to form the skin and the foam layers are not intended to be limiting and may be any of those used in the art. Operably formed in the retainer portion 22 of the panel 10 is a substrate portion 30 in the air bag door 18 operatively aligned with the air bag module and its stored air bag. The substrate portion 30 of the air bag portion can be formed with three generally rectilinear sides and is designed with a laterally extending hinge 31 at the upper edge thereof. With this configuration, the door 18 can move the hinge from the closed position of Figure 1 to the open position of Figure 5 in response to the deployment of the bag. The hinge 31 can be integrally formed between the retainer portion 22 of the panel 10 and the substrate portion 30 of the air bag door 18 or joined separately to join the two members in any manner known in the art. The skin 26 of the instrument panel is a thin flexible cover that provides a finished appearance for the instrument panel 10 and the interior of the vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the skin 26 is weakened or cut along a longitudinal line (Figure 3A, 3B, 4) to provide a release seam 34 to form the free edges 36 of the air bag door 18 when the Door opens by the air bag. Optionally, the foam layer can be weakened along a predetermined line to establish a discrete edge for the part of the air bag. As best shown in Figure 2, l? outer skin 26 is held in position by an ornament 40 formed of a suitable plastic or metal. The ornament comprises a laterally extending decorating head portion 42 and a pair of laterally spaced and elongated retaining flanges 44 extending in a generally perpendicular direction from the head portion. The retention flange extends into the instrument panel skin on opposite sides (Figure 2) or through (Figure 7A and Figure 8A) of the release seam and operate to hold the cover securely but releasably and particularly the skin 26 of the same in a position installed in the detachment seam. With the trim installed, there are no apparent threads or wrinkles or other defects in the cover or skin thereof that may otherwise result from the provision of a release seam. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the laterally spaced retention flanges 44 are raised or separated by the shoulders 45 of an elongated cam connector 46 that is installed in a laterally extending or pressure slot 48 formed in the cover assembly. 20. The pressure generally conforms to the dimensions of the connector 46 which it can carry out by means of a molding tool or other tool for cutting or detaching the seam 34 or by the cam connector when it is installed on the instrument panel. The cam connector 46 has laterally spaced openings 50 therein that receive the threaded rods 52 extending from the head 42 of the ornament 40. The rods are passed through separate openings.; or line cut 53 formed in the substrate or retainer 22 for receiving the locknuts 54 and cleaners 55 on the interior side of the instrument panel. The trim 40 is consequently secured to the fixed container and a fixed member when the airbag is deployed (see Figures 2 and 6). Preferably, the head portion 42 of the ornament 40 is installed in the cam conductor 46 and this assembly is installed in the slot or depression 48. The nuts 54 are suitably rotated in the threaded rods to remove the decorator head portion in a installed position to fully cover the depression 48 and the detachment posture 34. When the appliqué is installed, the shoulders of the cam connector expand the retaining flanges 44 outwardly and to each other. As shown in Figure 2, the former releasably holds the skin 26 in the detachment posture between the separate flanges and the head of the ornament. In the deployment of the air bag, the substrate 30 is physically contacted by the air bag and the air bag door 18 will be defined and easily rotated to open to an external position. The outer skin of the door parts along a predetermined line of preference is initiated from the detachment posture 34. The vinyl skin is further detached along the side edges generally corresponding to a side 57 of the door substrate. 30. The skin of the door remains attached to the layer of foam which in turn remains secured to the substrate of the door. The door 18 consequently rotates from the fixed ornament to provide the passage for an improved deployment of the airbag. As shown in the embodiment of Figure 7 and 7A, the skin 66, comparable to the skin of the first embodiment, is directly formed or secured in another way to the retainer portion 68 of the instrument panel 70. A release seam 72 The elongate air bag is cut or otherwise made through the skin and is aligned with an elongated opening 73 in the retainer portion 68 of the panel 70. The trim 74 is substantially the same as the trim of the first embodiment described. . In this embodiment, a plurality of small cam connectors 66 can be used in place of the elongated singular connector of the first embodiment. Each of the connectors 76 has an axial opening 78 therein for receiving the threaded rod 80 of the ornament. The shaped connectors with tapered cam shoulders 82 which can be tapered as shown. When the generally cylindrical cam connectors are used they can be formed with inclined rectilinear cam planes. The threaded nuts 83 on the rods 80 prefer the connectors in operative position (Figure 7A). From an outer portion of the embellishment 74 is inserted into the release seam so that the retaining flanges 84 force the edge portions 86 of the skin defining the release seam through the elongated opening 73 in the retainer portion 68. of the instrument panel. Subsequently, the connectors 76 are installed in the rods of the ornament and advance to a predetermined or installed position or provided by the nut advance 83 until it finds contact of the connector with the underside of the head of the ornament. In this position, the cam shoulders force the trim edges to separate them so that the ridges of the skin define the release posture are releasably retained between the ridges and the edges of the elongated aperture 73 of the substrate. In the take-off of the air bag, the substrate door 90 corresponds to the substrate door of the previous mode is opened around the hinge 91. The skin 66 covering the substrate door is pulled from the adornment preferably starting at a seam of detachment. If preferred, the connectors can be joined together to reduce the number of parts of the connectors that can be screwed in to eliminate the nut when they are separated. In case you want an "adjustable" one-piece decoration, the ornament may well be formed with laterally spaced ridges 102 which are similar members of a spring. As shown in Figure 8A the flanges can be flexed together when they are inserted into the release seam and through the elongated opening 104 in the retainer 106. After installation, the flange of the appliqué spring is partially covered and loads are applied of side springs for freely grasping the ridges of the part 108 that define the release seam in position, as illustrated. The detachment seam is changed by the fixed embellishment easily provides a free end of the air bag door in the deployment of the air bag as set forth in connection with other embodiments of this invention. Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is not limited to that which is shown and described except by the following indications.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. A finishing panel in a motor vehicle to cover an air bag adapted to deploy from a stored position or a deployed position to contain the movement of the body of a person placed at a predetermined location relative to the panel comprising: a . a base having a securing portion and a base under the door movably mounted relative to the base and movable from an overlapping closed position of the air bag to an open position to provide an air bag passage, b. a finishing cover for the base that extends over the securing portion and the door, c. an elongated airbag release posture in the form of the finish cover, d. an ornament for the finishing cover secured to the securing portion, e. the ornament having an elongated outer head portion and a pair of laterally spaced flange portions extending substantially perpendicular from the head portion, f. the flange portions extend into the finishing cover adjacent the release seam to releasably retain the nasta finish cover that is pulled by the air bag when deployed.
2. 2. The finishing panel according to claim 1, and further comprising a cam connector for spreading the flange portions outwardly from each other.
3. 3. A particular panel in a motor vehicle to cover an air bag adapted to be deployed from a stored position to a deployed position to contain the body movement of the person positioned at a predetermined location relative to the panel. .-. c me *: a. a base having a securing portion and below the door movably mounted with rel = ition to the base and movable from an overlapping closed position to an air bag to an open position to provide passage of the air bag, b . a flexible skin for the base that extends over the securing portion to the door, c. an elongated air bag release posture formed on the skin, d. a skin ornament secured to the securing portion, e. the ornament having an elongated outer head portion and a pair of flange portions laterally spaced apart and extending substantially perpendicular from the head portion, and f. the flange portions extending into the release posture and through an opening in the securing portion to releasably hold the skin until it is pulled by the air pocket when deployed.
4. 4. A cover for a component of an automotive vehicle disposed on a vehicle occupant restraint unit including an inflatable air bag operatively mounted on the vehicle comprising a retainer plate having a plurality of securing openings, a retainer on the retainer plate to allow the air bag to be deployed through the retainer plate, a flexible skin covering the holding plate and the air bag retainer thereon, a detachment posture of the elongated air bag forming the flexible skin to provide at least one side of the passage, an adornment to cover the detached posture adapted to be secured to the retainer plate, the adornment having naturalness of securing rods spreading through the detachment seam and through the insulating openings formed in it. the retainer plate, the ornament further having substantially flange portions that extend they are perpendicular to effect the reflection thereof, to releasably contain the skin so that the bag can be detached from a door through the skin with the detachment seam forming at least one edge thereof.
5. 5. A cover for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle disposed on a vehicle occupant brake unit incorporating an inflatable air bag operatively mounted to deploy in the vehicle comprising a retainer plate, an air bag retainer in the retainer plate operatively allowing the deployment of the air bag therein, a skin that covers the retainer plate and the air bag retainer in the air bag retainer. same, an elongated air bag detachment seam formed in the flexible skin forming at least one side of the air bag retainer, an embellishment to cover the detachment posture adapted to be secured to the retainer plate, the embellishment obtaining retaining flanges substantially perpendicular, laterally spaced and protrusions to releasably secure the retainer plate and the skin to the appliqué so that the airbag can peel a door through the skin with the release seam forming at least one flange therein.