Instrument panel with passenger airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703318-B2
Application number	US-201815953936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2018
Priority date	Apr 16, 2018
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

An instrument panel includes a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface, a covering, a foam layer between the outer surface and the covering, and a chute elongated to an end. The end is attached to the inner surface. The end includes a protrusion elongated along a perimeter of the end and extending through the substrate into the foam layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An instrument panel comprising:
a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface;
a covering;
a foam layer between the outer surface and the covering; and
a chute elongated to an end, the end attached to the inner surface, the end including a protrusion elongated along a perimeter of the end and extending through the substrate into the foam layer;
wherein the chute is welded to the substrate.

2. The instrument panel of claim 1 , further comprising a housing including the chute and a door, the door at least partially covering the end of the chute and being adjacent the substrate.

3. The instrument panel of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a hinge connecting the door to the end of the chute.

4. The instrument panel of claim 3 , wherein the protrusion and the hinge in combination are elongated along substantially all the perimeter of the end of the chute.

5. The instrument panel of claim 3 , wherein the housing is a single piece.

6. The instrument panel of claim 5 , wherein the housing includes a flange extending outward from the chute.

7. The instrument panel of claim 6 , wherein the door and the flange are attached to the substrate.

8. The instrument panel of claim 7 , wherein the door and the flange are welded to the substrate.

9. The instrument panel of claim 3 , wherein the hinge has an S-shaped cross-section.

10. The instrument panel of claim 3 , wherein the substrate includes a slot elongated along the perimeter of the end of the chute away from the hinge.

11. The instrument panel of claim 10 , wherein the slot is shaped to receive the protrusion.

12. The instrument panel of claim 2 , wherein the door is attached to the substrate.

13. The instrument panel of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has a constant cross-section along the perimeter of the end of the chute.

14. The instrument panel of claim 13 , wherein the cross-section of the protrusion is wedge-shaped.

15. The instrument panel of claim 14 , wherein the wedge-shape of the cross-section of the protrusion has an angle less than 45°.

16. The instrument panel of claim 1 , further comprising an airbag disposed in the chute.

17. An instrument panel comprising:
a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface;
a covering;
a foam layer between the outer surface and the covering;
a chute elongated to an end, the end attached to the inner surface, the end including a protrusion elongated along a perimeter of the end and extending through the substrate into the foam layer; and
a housing including the chute and a door, the door at least partially covering the end of the chute and being adjacent the substrate;
wherein the housing includes a hinge connecting the door to the end of the chute; and
the hinge has an S-shaped cross-section.

18. An instrument panel comprising:
a substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface;
a covering;
a foam layer between the outer surface and the covering;
a chute elongated to an end, the end attached to the inner surface, the end including a protrusion elongated along a perimeter of the end and extending through the substrate into the foam layer; and
a housing including the chute and a door, the door at least partially covering the end of the chute and being adjacent the substrate;
wherein the housing includes a hinge connecting the door to the end of the chute;
the housing is a single piece;
the housing includes a flange extending outward from the chute; and
the door and the flange are attached and welded to the substrate.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Patnala Manoj
• Mazzocchi Nicholas Andrew
• Perelli Alan

Classifications

• B60R13/0256 Primary

  Dashboard liners · CPC title

• B60R2021/21537

  characterised by hinges · CPC title

• B60R21/2165

  characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening · CPC title

• B60R21/205 Primary

  in dashboards · CPC title

• B60R21/237

  characterised by the way they are folded · CPC title