초록 ▼

A relatively flexible thermoplastic air bag cover assembly having a switch and method of manufacturing same is provided including a thermoplastic electromagnetic material which forms welds between front and back panels of the assembly. The welded front and back panels define a switch pocket therebet

A relatively flexible thermoplastic air bag cover assembly having a switch and method of manufacturing same is provided including a thermoplastic electromagnetic material which forms welds between front and back panels of the assembly. The welded front and back panels define a switch pocket therebetween to hold the switch such as a membrane-type horn switch therein. The welds occupy a relatively small amount of surface area yet provide strong polymer-to-polymer linkages between the front and back panels, thereby enlarging the effective switch activation area on the outer surface of the front panel. The welds are located very close to the switch pocket without damaging the switch during manufacturing. The bonds provided by the welds between the front and back panels are strong enough to prevent the switch from exiting the switch pocket during air bag deployment.

대표청구항 ▼

A thermoplastic air bag cover assembly comprising: a thermoplastic front panel having inner and outer surfaces; a thermoplastic back panel mounted on the inner surface of the front panel, the back panel also having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces of the front and back panels defining at

A thermoplastic air bag cover assembly comprising: a thermoplastic front panel having inner and outer surfaces; a thermoplastic back panel mounted on the inner surface of the front panel, the back panel also having inner and outer surfaces, the inner surfaces of the front and back panels defining at least one channel and a switch pocket therebetween; a switch disposed in the switch pocket so that pressure on the outer surface of the front panel actuates the switch; and a weld disposed within the at least one channel and being defined by a thermoplastic electromagnetic material which, when melted and placed under pressure, is caused to conform to the configuration of the at least one channel to bond to and secure together surface layers of the front and back panels at the at least one channel by polymer-to-polymer linkages.