Patent ID: 7165782

Claim:
An airbag apparatus for an automobile, comprising an airbag disposed in a folded condition behind an interior panel at a predetermined position, the interior panel having a generally rectangular fracture-opening section at a position corresponding to that of the airbag, the fracture-opening section being defined by at least one hinge groove and one fracture groove generally parallel to the hinge groove, the hinge groove and fracture groove being formed on an inside surface of the interior panel through irradiation with laser pulses, the fracture-opening section being opened toward two opposite directions or a single direction when the airbag is expanded and deployed, wherein the fracture groove includes bridge portions and continuous hole portions provided alternately, each of the bridge portions including no laser-formed hole and having a thickness equal to the interior panel, each of the continuous hole portions being composed of first holes for fracture which have a first depth and are successively formed between adjacent bridge portions through irradiation with laser pulses, and second holes which have a second depth smaller than the first depth and are each formed between adjacent first holes, through irradiation with laser pulses, so as to remove an original-thickness portion between the adjacent first holes.