Patent ID: 7007970
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B60R

Abstract:
1. An airbag apparatus for an automobile comprising: an airbag case for accommodating an airbag in a folded condition, the airbag case being disposed behind a surface panel provided within the automobile; a fracture-opening section of the surface panel, the fracture-opening section facing an opening of the airbag case and being defined by means of fracture grooves formed on an inside surface of the surface panel; and a reinforcement frame member having a frame portion, at least one fracture-section reinforcement portion, and an edge reinforcement portion, which are integrally formed at an upper end portion of the frame portion, wherein the frame portion has an engagement portion to which the airbag case is connected, the fracture-section reinforcement portion is joined to the inside surface of the surface panel to cover and reinforce the fracture-opening section, and the edge reinforcement portion is joined to the inside surface of the surface panel to cover and reinforce a surface panel portion surrounding the fracture-opening section; wherein the frame portion has a front side wall, a rear side wall, a left side wall, and a right side wall, which form a rectangular tubular shape; the edge reinforcement portion extends outward from the upper end portion of the frame portion in a generally horizontal direction; the fracture-section reinforcement portion extends inward from the upper end portion of the frame portion via a hinge portion having a wavy bent section; and the fracture-section reinforcement portion and the edge reinforcement portion are fixed to the inside surface of the surface panel; and wherein the fracture-opening section of the surface panel is defined to have a rectangular shape and to be opened toward a single direction; and the reinforcement frame member has a single fracture-section reinforcement portion extending from the front or rear side wall of the frame portion via a hinge portion.