Patent ID: 8181987
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An air bag deployment apparatus for use in an air bag deployment system of an automotive vehicle, comprising: a support base for attachment to a rear surface of an occupant facing substrate of the vehicle, the support base having upper and lower surfaces and being configured to surround an air bag deployment door in the substrate, the air bag door being defined by an area that is pre-weakened; a door support panel having upper and lower surfaces and four side edges for attachment to the rear surface of the substrate within the area of the air bag deployment door, wherein the door support panel is generally co-planar with the support base when attached to the rear substrate surface and all four side edges are separated from the support base along the rear substrate surface; an air bag chute extending downward from the support base and containing a plurality of skirt walls for defining a path for deployment of an air bag from beneath the substrate; and a hinge element extending from one of the skirt walls to one edge of the door support panel wherein the hinge element has upper and lower surfaces joined by a left side surface and a right side surface, wherein at least one of the left and right side surfaces protruding from the skirt wall includes an undercut so that a lower corner of the hinge element where it emerges from the one of the skirt walls forms an obtuse angle.