Patent ID: 6158763
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
In combination, an automotive instrument panel and an airbag assembly concealed by said panel;said panel comprising an outer skin (20), an inner flexible wall (24), and a foam core bonded to said outer skin and said inner wall; said inner flexible wall having a lower edge (30), said outer skin and foam core extending downwardly below the lower edge of the flexible inner wall;a concealed stationary panel retainer (34) located behind said panel below the lower edge of said inner flexible wall, said retainer having an upper edge (at 32) extending along the lower edge of said flexible wall and a front surface affixed to the foam core;said outer skin having a U-shaped notch (38) extending therealong to form a tearable seam; said U-shaped notch including a horizontal notch segment (40) aligned with the lower edge of said flexible inner wall, and two upwardly-extending notch segments (42) connected to said horizontal notch segment;said inner flexible wall having two side edges (44) aligned with said upwardly-extending notch segments, so that when the skin is severed along the tearable seam a single upwardly movable hinged flap is formed in said panel;said airbag assembly comprising an airbag canister having an airbag exit mouth registering with said flap, a hinged closure means extending across said exit mouth in spaced relation to said flap, and an expandable airbag disposed within said canister whereby airbag expansion causes said closure means to forcibly strike said flexible wall, so as to produce upward movement of said flap;said closure means comprising an upper hinged lid and a lower hinged lid; said lower hinged lip having a sufficient length to extend forwardly beyond said panel retainer when said lower lid is swung away from the airbag exit mouth.