Patent ID: 6139049
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B60R

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing an air bag cover skin for an air bag cover, the air bag cover skin comprising a polymeric material and including an inner and an outer surface, a tear seam region, a non-tear seam region surrounding the tear seam region, the polymeric material of the tear seam region being photodegraded to a greater extent than the polymeric material of the non-tear seam region, said method comprising the steps of:forming the air bag cover skin from a polymeric material;masking the non-tear seam region of the air bag cover skin with a substance generally opaque to wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that are capable of weakening the polymeric material of the air bag cover skin;illuminating at least one the inner and outer air bag cover skin surfaces with electromagnetic radiation of sufficient intensity and within a range of wavelengths that will weaken the polymeric material of the air bag cover skin; andcontinuing to illuminate the air bag cover skin until the electromagnetic radiation has weakened the polymeric material of the unmasked tear seam region.