초록 ▼

A vehicle airbag system and method of removably securing the same is disclosed. The method and system include an instrument panel disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle having an opening to receive an airbag module and a cover removably secured thereto. The cover is configured to cov

A vehicle airbag system and method of removably securing the same is disclosed. The method and system include an instrument panel disposed within a passenger compartment of the vehicle having an opening to receive an airbag module and a cover removably secured thereto. The cover is configured to cover the opening and to flushly mount with a surface defining the instrument panel. A chute extends from a bottom surface of the cover and is configured to operably connect with the airbag module. A securement feature extends from one side wall defining the chute and is configured to slidingly engage one edge defining the opening of the instrument panel to mechanically wedge the one edge between the bottom surface of the cover and the securement feature. A plurality of apertures are configured in an opposite side of the cover that are configured to receive a mechanical fastener therethrough to secure the opposite side of the cover to the instrument panel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A deployable door for an instrument panel, the instrument panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening, the deployable door comprising:a cover having a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough proximate a first end of said cover, said

1. A deployable door for an instrument panel, the instrument panel having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an opening, the deployable door comprising:a cover having a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough proximate a first end of said cover, said cover further having a plurality of datums extending from said bottom surface of said cover proximate said first end of said cover, said cover configured to cover said opening of said instrument panel, said top surface of said cover being flushly mounted with respect to said outer surface of said instrument panel; a chute extending from said bottom surface of said cover, said chute configured to operably connect with an air bag module, said chute having first, second, third and fourth side walls defining a periphery of said chute; and a securement feature extending from said first side wall of said chute along substantially an entire width of said first side wall, said securement feature configured to engage one edge of the instrument panel defining said opening to mechanically wedge said one edge between said bottom surface of said cover and said securement feature, wherein said plurality of datums of said cover are configured to be received in complementary configured reliefs in said instrument panel to indicate a desired engagement position of said securement feature with said one edge of the instrument panel. 2. The deployable door of claim 1, further comprising a first plurality of attachment hooks that are disposed on said bottom surface of said cover proximate a second end of said cover and a second plurality of attachment hooks that are disposed on said bottom surface of said cover proximate a third end of said cover opposite said second end, said first and second plurality of attachment hooks being configured to be received in receptacles of said instrument panel.3. The deployable door of claim 1, wherein a first portion of said top surface of said cover is lower than a second portion of said top surface of said cover, said plurality of apertures extending through said first portion of said cover.4. The deployable door of claim 3, further comprising a trim plate configured to cover said first portion of said top surface and to be substantially flush with said second portion of said top surface.5. The deployable door of claim 1, wherein said securement feature comprises a lip extending outwardly from said first side wall of said chute.6. The deployable door of claim 5, wherein said lip comprises a chamfered top surface configured to engage a bottom surface of said one edge of said instrument panel opening while said bottom surface of said cover engages a top surface of said edge of said instrument panel.7. The deployable door of claim 1, wherein said first side wall of said chute includes a first plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and said second wall of said chute opposite said first side wall includes a second plurality of apertures extending therethrough.8. The deployable door of claim 7, further comprising a housing configured to hold said airbag module, said housing having a first plurality of hook flanges configured to be received in said first plurality of apertures of said chute, said housing further having a second plurality of hook flanges configured to be received in said second plurality of apertures of said chute.9. The deployable door of claim 1, wherein said bottom surface of said cover includes a tear seam configured to tear during deployment of said airbag module.10. The deployable door of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners configured to be received in said plurality of apertures extending through said cover to secure a portion of said cover to said instrument panel and allowing said cover to pivotally open during deployment of said airbag module.11. A method to secure a deployable door to an instrument panel, the instrument panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and an opening, comprising:disposing said deployable door proximate said opening of said instrument panel, said deployable door having a cover, a chute, and a securement feature, said cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of apertures extending through said cover proximate a first end of said cover, and a plurality of datums extending from said bottom surface of said cover proximate said first end of said cover, wherein said top surface of said cover is flushly mounted with respect to said outer surface of said instrument panel, said chute extending from said bottom surface of said cover and having first, second, third and fourth side walls defining a periphery of said chute, said securement feature extending from said first side wall of said chute substantially an entire width of said first side wall; disposing said securement feature proximate one edge of the instrument panel defining said opening of said instrument panel; and moving said deployable door in a first direction toward a first position to mechanically wedge said one edge between said bottom surface of said cover and said securement feature, wherein said plurality of datums of said cover are received in complementary configured reliefs in said instrument panel when said deployable door is disposed at said first position to prevent further movement of said deployable door in said first direction. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:moving a first plurality of attachment hooks that are disposed on said bottom surface of said cover at a second end of said cover and a second plurality of attachment hooks that are disposed on said bottom surface of said cover at a third end of said cover into corresponding receptacles of said instrument panel, said second end being opposite said third end. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising affixing said deployable door to said instrument panel by disposing mechanical fasteners through said plurality of apertures in said cover into said instrument panel.14. The method of claim 13, further comprising affixing a trim plate to said instrument panel such that said trim plate covers a portion of said top surface of said cover proximate said apertures.15. An instrument panel for a vehicle, comprising:an outer surface having an opening; and a deployable door comprising a cover, a chute, and a securement feature, said cover having a top surface and a bottom surface and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough proximate a first end of said cover, said cover further having a plurality of datums extending from said bottom surface of said cover proximate said first end of said cover, said cover configured to cover said opening of said outer surface, said top surface of said cover being flushly mounted with respect to said outer surface, said chute extending from said bottom surface of said cover, said chute having at least a first side wall, said securement feature extending from said first side wall of said chute, said securement feature configured to engage one edge of said outer surface defining said opening to mechanically wedge said one edge between said bottom surface of said cover and said securement feature, wherein said plurality of datums of said cover are configured to be received in complementary configured reliefs in said outer surface to indicate a desired engagement position of said securement feature with said one edge of said outer surface. 16. A method for assembling an instrument panel for a vehicle, comprising:providing an instrument panel with an outer surface and an inner surface, said instrument panel having an opening; disposing a deployable door proximate said opening of said instrument panel, said deployable door having a cover, a chute, and a securement feature, said cover having a top surface, a bottom surface, a plurality of apertures extending through said cover proximate a first end of said cover, and a plurality of datums extending from said bottom surface of said cover proximate said first end of said cover, wherein said top surface of said cover is flushly mounted with respect to said outer surface, said chute extending from said bottom surface of said cover having at least a first side wall, said securement feature extending from said first side wall of said chute; disposing said securement feature proximate one edge of said outer surface defining said opening; and moving said deployable door in a first direction toward a first position to mechanically wedge said one edge between said bottom surface of said cover and said securement feature, wherein said plurality of datums of said cover are received in complementary configured reliefs of said instrument panel when said deployable door is disposed at said first position to prevent further movement of said deployable door in said first direction.