WO1998010962A1 - Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles - Google Patents
Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1998010962A1 WO1998010962A1 PCT/US1996/014761 US9614761W WO9810962A1 WO 1998010962 A1 WO1998010962 A1 WO 1998010962A1 US 9614761 W US9614761 W US 9614761W WO 9810962 A1 WO9810962 A1 WO 9810962A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- skin
- door
- reinforcing member
- mold
- interior surface
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/215—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member
- B60R21/2165—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components characterised by the covers for the inflatable member characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B2605/00—Vehicles
- B32B2605/003—Interior finishings
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
- B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
- B32B38/10—Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
Definitions
- This invention pertains to the art of methods for manufacturing vehicle trim panels, and more specifically to methods for manufacturing a vehicle trim panel having a concealed air bag door therein.
- a typical air bag supplemental restraint system includes an inflatable bag which is stored in a deflated condition within the vehicle steering wheel or trim assembly. Upon a relatively severe impact to the vehicle, the air bag is rapidly inflated and deployed into the vehicle passenger compartment through various means and openings.
- Early air bag deployment systems included a requirement that the opening through which the air bag would be deployed was weakened or somehow configured to insure its successful deployment. Usually the weakened areas were thin spots or cuts in the vehicle interior trim components. The cuts were visible to the vehicle occupants and they detracted from the appearance of the vehicle interior. As such, a need arose for an effective air bag deployment system which was obscured or hidden from the view of vehicle occupants until such deployment.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,967 to Batchelder et al. discloses a cover assembly for an air bag restraint which has a smooth cover.
- An outer cover member has weakened sections on an inboard surface to facilitate deployment of the air bag through the opening created thereby.
- a filler material is placed between the weakened outer cover member and an insert to prevent inward collapse of the outer cover member at the weakened sections .
- an insert of aluminum is formed in the filler material and, upon deployment of the air bag, is stressed against the weakened sections of the cover member to deploy the air bag.
- the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,967 to Batchelder et al is a more complicated system than that of the invention.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,310 to Bauer discloses an arrangement enclosure for an air bag deployment opening to be formed in the interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle.
- the closure includes a substrate section which is weakened in a pattern to form contiguous doors or subsections which split apart along purportedly invisible seams when an air bag is inflated. Upon such inflation, the resulting pressure on the inside of the opening causes the preweakened skin of the foam plastic layer to split apart along the seams, allowing the air bag to be deployed into the vehicle interior.
- This arrangement requires the skin of the foam plastic layer to be weakened in a matching pattern above the seams in the substrate section. It is believed that the embodiment of U.S. Pat. No. 5,082,310 to Baueris also more complicated than the present invention and requires that the outer skin of the vehicle interior be weakened over a substantial portion of its area for proper deployment of the air bag. Disclosure of Invention
- a method for producing a motor vehicle interior trim panel having a door through which an enclosed air bag supplemental restraint system may be deployed is provided.
- the panel has an outer skin with an exterior surface designed to be viewed by an occupant in the vehicle.
- the interior surface of the skin includes a pre-weakened site, or tear seam, which defmes the door location.
- tear seam Upon deployment of the air bag, the skin tears along the tear seam and the door is displaced. The location of the door is concealed from the occupants of the vehicle.
- One advantage to the present invention is improved control of the depth of the tear seam in the skin.
- Another advantage of the present invention is the reinforcement of the door and the surrounding skin.
- Another advantage of the present invention is the integral hinge for the door. Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
- Fig. 1 shows an interior vehicle trim panel according to the invention.
- Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
- Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of a vehicle trim panel showing the displacement of a door due to air bag deployment.
- Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the skin of a vehicle trim panel according to the invention.
- Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a skin assembly being built in a mold.
- Fig. 6 is a side sectional view of the skin assembly of Fig. 5.
- Fig. 7 is a side sectional view of the cured skin. Detailed Description of the Invention
- FIG. 1 shows a vehicular trim panel 10 through which a supplemental restraint system air bag may be deployed upon impact of the vehicle with another object.
- the vehicle trim panel 10 may incorporate several components including an outer skin 12, an adhesive foam backing 14 and an underlying substrate 16.
- the skin 12 of the vehicle trim panel 10 includes an exterior surface 20 which may be viewed by the occupants of the vehicle and an interior surface 22 which is obscured from view from the perspective of the vehicle occupants.
- the skin 12 further includes a reinforced area 24 bounded by dashed line 24A in Fig. 1, due to the presence of an embedded reinforcing member 25.
- the reinforced area 24 of the skin 12 includes a section which is displaced upon deployment of the air bag.
- the section of the skin 12 which is displaced is referred to as a door 26, having a perimeter designated by dashed line 26 A.
- the door 26 is completely surrounded by the reinforced area 24.
- the interior surface 22 is gaped at a pre-weakened site, or tear seam, 30 which corresponds to at least a first portion 34 of the perimeter of door 26.
- the reinforcing member 25 is likewise not continuous along this first portion 34.
- an occupant of the vehicle is unable to detect the pre-weakened site 30 of the interior surface 22 of the skin 12 by viewing the exterior surface 20.
- Substrate 16 has an opening therein which is generally vertically aligned with the perimeter 26A of door 26.
- An interior door 35 closes the opening and maintains an air bag within a canister located beneath the opening as illustrated by the dashed line in Fig. 2.
- the interior door 35 Upon deployment of the air bag, the interior door 35 is upwardly displaced.
- the interior door 35 is formed of a rigid material such as aluminum or steel.
- the interior surface 22 and the reinforcing member 25 are continuous along a second portion 36 of the perimeter of door 26.
- the part of the reinforcing member 25 which corresponds to the second portion 36 of the perimeter of door 26 acts as a hinge 40 to direct the displacement of the door 26 upon deployment of the air bag.
- the hinge 40 further prevents door 26 from completely separating from the remainder of the skin 12 but rather the door 26 swings out of the way of the deploying air bag. Because the reinforced area 24 of the skin 12 completely surrounds door 26, the skin 12 outside the door 26 is strengthened against damage by a deploying air bag.
- the interior door 35 is attached to substrate 16 along the side which vertically corresponds to the second portion 36 of the perimeter of door 26. Upon deployment of the air bag, the interior door 35 likewise swings out of the way, but remains attached to substrate 16.
- the pre-weakened site 30 of the interior surface 22 may be coated with a mold release material 42 which prevents any adhesive foam backing 14 of the vehicle trim panel 10 from adhering to the pre-weakened site 30 and possibly hindering the displacement of door 26.
- a preferred method for manufacturing a vehicle trim panel 10 in which the skin 12 comprises a concealed pre-weakened site 30 in an interior surface 22 will now be described.
- a skin assembly is built and cured in a first mold.
- a first half of the mold used to form the skin 12 is coated with a first layer of skin material.
- a preferred method for coating the first half of the mold comprises spraying a two component poly-urethane system into the mold.
- a first area of the first layer 46 is overlaid with a reinforcing member 25.
- the reinforcing member 25 may comprise fabric, metallic mesh, or polymeric material such as polyester scrim.
- the tear strip 50 may be formed of materials similar to that which may be used in the reinforcing member 25.
- the tear strip 50 is aligned where at least a first portion 34 of the perimeter of the door 26 will be and thereby defines the door location.
- the first half of the mold is coated with a second layer 54 of skin material.
- the second layer 54 of skin material covers the reinforcing member 25 and the tear strip 50.
- attached to the tear strip 50 is a protruding tab 58 to enable the tear strip to be readily removed from the cured skin 12.
- the cured skin 12 comprises an exterior surface 20 which is able to be viewed by occupants of the vehicle and an interior surface 22 which is obscured from vie .
- the reinforcing member 25 and the tear strip 50 are embedded within the cured skin 12.
- the tab 58 extends from the interior surface 22.
- the cured skin 12 is removed from the mold and the embedded tear strip 50 is removed by pulling the tab 50 which protrudes from the interior surface 22. As shown in Fig. 7, a portion of the interior surface 22 corresponding to the first portion 34 of the door's perimeter is thereby removed. A gap is created in the interior surface 22 thereby creating the pre-weakened site 30.
- the removal of the tear strip 50 also effectively forms a gap in the reinforcing member 25 at least along the first portion 34 of the door's perimeter. In other words, the reinforcing member 25 is not continuous after removal of the tear strip 50.
- the exterior surface 20 of the cured skin 12 remains intact.
- the tear strip 50 does not extend along a second portion 36 of the door's perimeter.
- the interior surface 22 is not pre-weakened along that second portion 36 of the door's perimeter.
- the reinforcing member 25 remains continuous along the second portion 36 of the door's perimeter.
- the skin 12 Upon deployment of the air bag, the skin 12 will tear along the pre-weakened site 30 which corresponds to the first portion 34 of the door's perimeter but not along the reinforced second portion 36. Instead, the door will rotate outwardly along the second portion 36. Therefore, the reinforcing member 25 acts as a hinge 40 to direct the displacement of the door 26 upon air bag deployment. The reinforcing member 25 further acts to prevent the door 26 from separating from the remainder of the skin 12.
- the skin 12 may be used in the formation of a vehicle trim panel 10 by methods known in the art.
- One such method includes a secondary curing operation of a vehicle panel assembly which incorporates a foamed adhesive backing 14 and substrate 16.
- a mold release material 42 may be applied to the interior surface 22 along the pre- weakened site 30 before subsequent processing.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)
Abstract
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/014761 WO1998010962A1 (fr) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles |
EP96933020A EP0925207A1 (fr) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles |
AU71595/96A AU7159596A (en) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Manufacturing process for concealed opening of supplemental restraint system air bag doors for use in automobile interiors |
DE19681764T DE19681764T1 (de) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Herstellungsverfahren für eine verborgene Öffnung von Zusatz-Rückhaltesystem-Airbag-Klappen zur Verwendung in Automobilinnenräumen |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/014761 WO1998010962A1 (fr) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1998010962A1 true WO1998010962A1 (fr) | 1998-03-19 |
Family
ID=22255786
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1996/014761 WO1998010962A1 (fr) | 1996-09-13 | 1996-09-13 | Procede de fabrication d'une ouverture dissimulee de portes d'airbag a systeme de retenue supplementaire menagee dans des interieurs d'automobiles |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0925207A1 (fr) |
AU (1) | AU7159596A (fr) |
DE (1) | DE19681764T1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1998010962A1 (fr) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0970856A2 (fr) * | 1998-07-06 | 2000-01-12 | Lear Corporation | Agencement de support de sac de sécurité gonflable pour tableau de bord avec couvercle de déploiement sans jointure |
US7100941B2 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2006-09-05 | Collins & Aikman | Pre-weakening of fabric covered airbag doors |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102013222117A1 (de) * | 2013-05-31 | 2014-12-04 | Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft | Fahrzeuginnenverkleidung, insbesondere für einen beifahrerseitigen Armaturentafelbereich eines Kraftfahrzeugs, und Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Fahrzeuginnenverkleidung |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4229561C1 (de) * | 1992-09-04 | 1994-02-10 | Daimler Benz Ag | Abdeckung für einen Gassack |
US5429784A (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1995-07-04 | Davidson Textron Inc. | Method for making a reinforced air bag door cover |
EP0715992A1 (fr) * | 1994-09-14 | 1996-06-12 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Garniture intérieure d'un véhicule dissimulant un couvercle de coussin d'air et procédé pour sa fabrication |
-
1996
- 1996-09-13 DE DE19681764T patent/DE19681764T1/de not_active Withdrawn
- 1996-09-13 WO PCT/US1996/014761 patent/WO1998010962A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1996-09-13 AU AU71595/96A patent/AU7159596A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-09-13 EP EP96933020A patent/EP0925207A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4229561C1 (de) * | 1992-09-04 | 1994-02-10 | Daimler Benz Ag | Abdeckung für einen Gassack |
US5429784A (en) * | 1993-12-06 | 1995-07-04 | Davidson Textron Inc. | Method for making a reinforced air bag door cover |
EP0715992A1 (fr) * | 1994-09-14 | 1996-06-12 | The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company | Garniture intérieure d'un véhicule dissimulant un couvercle de coussin d'air et procédé pour sa fabrication |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0970856A2 (fr) * | 1998-07-06 | 2000-01-12 | Lear Corporation | Agencement de support de sac de sécurité gonflable pour tableau de bord avec couvercle de déploiement sans jointure |
EP0970856A3 (fr) * | 1998-07-06 | 2001-10-10 | Lear Corporation | Agencement de support de sac de sécurité gonflable pour tableau de bord avec couvercle de déploiement sans jointure |
US7100941B2 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2006-09-05 | Collins & Aikman | Pre-weakening of fabric covered airbag doors |
US7556284B2 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2009-07-07 | Riha Keith A | Pre-weakening of fabric covered airbag doors |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0925207A1 (fr) | 1999-06-30 |
DE19681764T1 (de) | 1999-10-28 |
AU7159596A (en) | 1998-04-02 |
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