Patent ID: 7766372

Claim:
An interior trim panel adapted at least in part to house a supplemental inflatable restraint system when installed in a motorized vehicle, the supplemental inflatable restraint system including an inflatable cushion, the trim panel comprising: a rigid substrate configured to attach to the vehicle and having opposing inner and outer surfaces, said rigid substrate defining a cavity with an opening formed through said inner and outer surfaces, said cavity configured to nest the supplemental inflatable restraint system therein, said rigid substrate including a standing rib protruding from said outer surface and extending around at least a portion of said opening; and an outer skin operatively attached to said rigid substrate and covering said opening and at least a portion of said outer surface, wherein said outer skin includes a reduced thickness portion formed between an external surface thereof and said standing rib, said reduced thickness portion forms a weakened area of said outer skin at preselected locations, and is thereby configured for the inflatable cushion to selectively deploy therethrough; a closeout door operatively attached to said rigid substrate and configured to transition from a first substantially closed position to a second generally open position, wherein: said closeout door is positioned underneath said outer skin spanning substantially the entirety of said opening when in said first position, said closeout door includes one or more snap fasteners oriented along an outer peripheral edge thereof, each of said snap fasteners being configured to mate with said rigid substrate and thereby retain said closeout door in said first position; and each of said snap fasteners being configured to transfer during said selective deployment an inflation pressure from said inflatable cushion to said rigid substrate to thereby tear said outer skin alone: said reduced thickness portion.