Patent ID: 6247722
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B29C,B29L,B60R

Abstract:
A frangible cover for disposition within a vehicle in covering relation to an inflatable air bag when the air bag is in an uninflated stored position, which cover opens by surface fracture upon application of force by the air bag as the air bag is inflated thereby permitting egress of the air bag through the cover into the vehicle interior, the cover comprising: an outer surface facing the vehicle interior and an inner surface facing away from the outer surface towards the air bag, the inner surface including a substantially centrally disposed tear seam extending across an interior portion of the inner surface, wherein the tear seam comprises a plurality of spaced depressions of substantially uniform depth extending from the inner surface of the cover towards the outer surface of the cover, thereby reducing the total thickness of the cover at the location of the depressions, the depressions being spaced at substantially regular intervals along the length of the tear seam such that the concentration and depth of the depressions is substantially uniform along the length of the tear seam.