초록 ▼

A molded motor vehicle instrument panel made of a thermoplastic material has an integral air bag deployment door for a passenger side air bag that is defined by a tear seam and is normally retained by an integral flexible mounting/hinge flange to a part of the vehicle structure when the seam is torn

A molded motor vehicle instrument panel made of a thermoplastic material has an integral air bag deployment door for a passenger side air bag that is defined by a tear seam and is normally retained by an integral flexible mounting/hinge flange to a part of the vehicle structure when the seam is torn by the inflating air bag and wherein this flange then bends to allow the door to swing open to allow deployment of the air bag through an opening in the instrument panel while retaining same to the vehicle structure as the door is then free of the instrument panel. At very low temperatures, a portion of the air bag door can break away from the mounting/hinge flange because of plastic embrittlement at these low temperatures and the high bending stresses encountered at this juncture. This separation of the broken door portion from the vehicle structure is prevented by a tethering hinge that is formed of a strong flexible sheet material that spans this critical juncture between the mounting/hinge flange and door and remains flexible at these very cold temperatures to retain the broken door portion to the vehicle structure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In combination,a motor vehicle structure,an air bag system including an inflatable air bag supported on said vehicle structure,a molded instrument panel made of plastics material mounted on said vehicle structure and covering said air bag, said instrument panel having one

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In combination,a motor vehicle structure,an air bag system including an inflatable air bag supported on said vehicle structure,a molded instrument panel made of plastics material mounted on said vehicle structure and covering said air bag, said instrument panel having one or more frangible regions, at least one of said frangible regions comprising a tear seam defining at least a portion of a perimeter of an air bag deployment door in said instrument panel that is torn outward from said instrument panel along said tear seam by the force of said air bag on inflation to form an opening in said instrument panel allowing deployment of said air bag into a passenger space in said vehicle structure, said door portion of said instrument panel subject to embrittlement at temperatures below a limited temperature range and subject to fragmentation during air bag deployment below said limited temperature range, anda flexible tethering hinge formed of flexible material that remains flexible at temperatures substantially below said limited temperature range, said tethering hinge extending substantially a length of the door portion of said instrument panel along an inner side of a major portion of said door portion of said instrument panel and along a second portion of said instrument panel spaced from said major portion of said door portion of said instrument panel said tethering hinge having one margin that is located against and connected to said second portion of said instrument panel and having a second margin that is located against and connected to said inner side of said major portion of said door portion of said instrument panel without disrupting an outer side of said door portion, and having an intermediate portion that is located between said margins and spans said frangible region disposed between said major portion of said door portion of said instrument panel and said second portion of said instrument panel.