Patent ID: 6761375
Filing Date: 2004-07-13
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An automobile airbag apparatus disposed within an instrument panel, steering wheel, or side pillar covered with an interior cover, comprising:an airbag case having an opening portion located in opposition to a back surface of said interior cover; an airbag accommodated within said airbag case in a folded state, said airbag being able to be inflated by means of gas from an inflater; a fracture-opening section defined in said interior cover to be located in opposition to the opening portion of said airbag case, said fracture-opening section being defined by at least a fragile groove formed from the back surface of said interior cover to surround said fracture-opening section; a reinforcement plate member attached to a back surface of said fracture-opening section through deformation of a portion of said fracture-opening section through application of heat thereto, said reinforcement plate member having a shape corresponding to that of said fracture-opening section, wherein said reinforcement plate member has a main-body portion attached to the back surface of said fracture-opening section and an attachment portion extending from said main-body portion via a hinge portion; and a deformation absorbing structure is formed at least in the main-body portion of said reinforcement plate member wherein said deformation absorbing structure includes a plurality of slits devoid of material and formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of said reinforcement plate member such that the slits extend in parallel in the transverse direction of said reinforcement plate member.